Lake Superior State Hockey Sweeps Adrian College

ADRIAN, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey team closed out a home-and-home, non-conference series against the Adrian College Bulldogs (NCAA, DIII) with a 2-1 win in a matinee game on Sunday, Nov. 29 at the Arrington Ice Arena in Adrian, Mich.

 

For the fourth time in the weekend series, the Lakers scored within the first two minutes of the period as senior defenseman Lukas Kaelble scored his first goal of the season to give Lake Superior State an early 1-0 lead over the Bulldogs. The Laker captain's goal was assisted by Ashton Calder and Louis Boudon, who both extended their point streaks to three games. The goal also marked the third consecutive game this season that the Lakers have scored the game's first goal. 

 

The Adrian Bulldogs would erase the Lakers lead at 8:56 of the first period as forward Rex Moe scored his second goal of the season to even the game at one. The goal would be the only shot to beat LSSU netminder Mareks Mitens in the game. 

 

At 13:41 of the second period, junior forward Ashton Calder broke the 1-1 tie with his team leading third goal of the season when he beat Bulldogs goaltender Cameron Gray. Calder's goal was set up by Kaelble, who earned his second point in the game with the lone assist on the play. Calder's tally would prove to be the game winner, marking the second consecutive game with the alternate captain scoring the game winning goal.

 

Late in the third period, the Lakers were able to shut down the Adrian offense with freshman goaltender Ethan Langenegger entering the game in his first collegiate appearance. 

 

Mitens finished the game with 15 saves on 16 shots through the opening forty minutes of play. Because Mitens was still in goal when the game winner was scored, he is credited with his second win of the season. Langenegger stopped all five shots he faced in the last twenty minutes of the game to secure the win for the Lakers. 

 

Gray finished the game with 20 saves for Adrian.

 

FRIDAY'S GAME RECAP

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State University hockey team skated to a 5-3 victory over the Adrian College Bulldogs (NCAA, Div. III) in the first of a home-and-home, non-conference series on Friday, Nov. 27 at the Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

The Lakers got on the board early in the game with senior defenseman Will Riedell scoring his first goal of the season at 1:04 of the first period. The play leading up to the goal began when Hampus Eriksson won the faceoff in the offensive zone to give the Lakers possession to set up the play. The forward line of Eriksson, Miura, and Mucha pressure the Bulldogs defense to eventually get the puck to Riedell who fired off a wrist shot from the faceoff circle to the right of Adrian goaltender Nic Tallarico that put the Lakers ahead 1-0.

At 5:02 of the first, the Lakers would extend their lead to two goals as senior forward Yuki Miura redirected a shot from freshman defenseman Jacob Bengtsson to make it a 2-0 score. Bengtsson's defense partner, Jacob Nordqvist, slid a pass across the blue line and Bengtsson sent a blast from the point on goal. The puck was tipped by Miura, who was credited with the goal.

The Adrian College Bulldogs would have an answer for the Lakers offense as forward Andrew Bellant scored on a backhand shot that beat Laker netminder Mareks Mitens top shelf at 9:18 of the first period. 

The Lakers would regain a two goal lead over the Bulldogs at 1:09 of the second period as junior forward Jack Jeffers scored his second goal in as many games. Jeffers skated up the wing and sent a shot that rang in off the crossbar to beat Tallarico on the play. Brandon Puricelli recorded the primary assist on the goal while freshman defenseman Jeremy Gervais notched his first collegiate point with an assist.

At 12:41 of the second period, Adrian would once again cut the Lakers lead to one goal as Ryan Butler scored to make it a 3-2 game.

Only a few minutes of action followed before Ashton Calder scored his second goal of the season to put the Lakers ahead by two goals for the third time in the game. Calder's goal, which would hold up as the game winner, was a result of a strong offensive shift from him and his linemates (Veillette, Boudon) to create the chance. Boudon would record an assist on the goal while Gervais registered his second assist of the game.

Before the second period expired, the Bulldogs would capitalize on a power play advantage to bring the game back within a goal. Sam Ruffin scored for Adrian with the man advantage to send his team into the final period of play trailing by one goal, 4-3. 

The Lakers would secure the lead for good when Brandon Puricelli scored his first goal as a Laker just 1:05 into the final period of play. Dustin Manz and Will Riedell were awarded the assists on the goal. 

LSSU goalie Mareks Mitens clinched his first win of the season with a 21 save performance in net for the Lakers. Adrian's goaltender, Nic Tallarico, finished the game with 34 saves.