Portland, Maine - Lake Superior State fell to highly-touted North Dakota 5-2 in the first game of the 19th annual Ice Breaker Tournament in Portland, Maine. The Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead before North Dakota collected five unanswered goals, including an empty-netter, en route to the non-conference victory.
The Lakers (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) looked to have opened the scoring just 13 seconds into the game following a redirection from junior Gus Correale. Following a review, it was deemed that Correale had illegally directed the puck into the net with his skate.
J.T. Henke, a sophomore who began his collegiate career with tournament host Maine in 2013-14, opened the scoring with his first tally as a member of the Lakers. Freshman Jake Hand and sophomore Matt Johnson added the assists on the opening goal.
The Lakers captured an early 2-0 lead, just 5:47 into the first period. Mitch Hults, another newcomer for the Lakers, put a power-play goal past starting goaltender Cam Johnson to collect his first collegiate goal. Once again it was Hand chipping in on the assist. Henke also tallied his second point on the night with the helper on Hults' goal.
The Lakers took a 2-0 lead into the dressing room despite being down in the shot column 17-5.
UND came out of the intermission with force and quickly cut the Lakers' lead in half. Just 1:23 into the second period, Shane Gersich slipped the puck past Gordon Defiel to cut the lead to 2-1.
North Dakota scored two more goals, 47 seconds apart, before the end of the second period and took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. UND held a 15-8 lead in shots in the second period as well and extend their overall lead in shots to 32-13.
The Lakers went on a 5-on-3 power play for just over a minute early in the third period. The Lakers were unable to find the tying goal and shortly after the North Dakota gained a man back from the penalty box, Bryn Chyzyk took an outlet pass and scored a short-handed goal past Defiel.
North Dakota later added an empty-net goal to deliver the final score of 5-2.
The Lakers were 1-5 on the power play, while North Dakota was successful once on their four chances.
Defiel saved made 40 saves on the game for the Lakers. Johnson made 24 saves and allowed just two in earning the decision for UND.
The Lakers will face former Central Collegiate Hockey Association and in-state rival Michigan State on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The Lakers and Spartans will play the first game of the day before Maine faces North Dakota in the finale.