SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State capped Great Lake State Weekend with a 4-0 victory over rival Northern Michigan in a nonconference game at Taffy Abel Arena Saturday night. The Lakers (1-3-0, 0-0-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) were led by freshman netminder Nick Kossoff (1-0-0) collecting a shutout on 19 saves in his collegiate debut.
Kossoff becomes the first goaltender in school history to record a shutout in his collegiate debut. The last time a freshman goaltender recorded a shutout was last year when Gordon Defiel blanked the Wildcats on the road during a 3-0 victory on Feb. 28, 2015.
Both teams skated through a contentious first period that featured zero goals for either teams. The Lakers took an 8-5 lead in shots after the opening period into the dressing rooms for the opening intermission.
In the second period the Lakers gave Kossoff the insurance he needed to ensure the victory. The Lakers peppered the Wildcats' (1-1-2, 0-0-0 WCHA) starting goaltender Atte Tolvanen (0-1-2) for four goals in the middle frame.
C.J. Hayes (1-0--1), a freshman from Margate, Fla., opened the scoring by streaking down the ice and burying a wrist-shot over Tolvanen's glove for his first career goal. Hayes was sprung by Gage Torrel (1-3--4) intercepting a pass in the defensive zone before turning the puck up to his fellow freshman.
Moments later, Kyle Chatham (1-0-1)increased the Lakers' lead to 2-0 with a shot from the blue line. Chatham was assisted by Ryan Renz (0-1--1) and Torrel's second of the evening.
Torrel added his third assist of the evening on Owen Headrick's (1-0--1) first career goal, a power-play marker with 5:04 remaining in the second period. Jake Hand (0-3--3) added his third assist in four games with the helper on Headrick's goal.
The Lakers completed the final score of 4-0 with a goal by Josh Nenadal (2-0--2), who picked up his second consecutive goal to begin his Laker career. Nenadal also scored in Friday night's 6-3 loss to the 'Cats.
Hayes batted down a clearing attempt by the NMU player, which Nenadal collected for the goal. The assist gave Hayes his second point of the evening.
Kossoff was able to turn aside all six of the power-play opportunities by NMU, as well as smother the 19 shots produced by NMU skaters.
Tolvanen made 23 saves, but was pegged for all four of the Lakers' goals.
In the win, the Lakers took the lead in goal differential during the Cappo Cup series, which is currently tied at 1-1-0 between the Upper Peninsula rivals. The Lakers travel to Michigan State next weekend, a team they lost 4-1 to at the Ice Breaker Tournament. Oct. 30-31 the Lakers will be back at home for the annual Pink in the Rink weekend as they face Alabama Huntsville in their first WCHA weekend series of the season.
