BURLINGTON, Vt. - In their second game of the Catamount Cup on Wednesday evening, a rejuvenated Lake Superior State hockey team was able to shake off the holiday rust that plagued them in a 1-0 loss to tournament-host Vermont the night before. In fact, the Lakers (7-11-4) captured the 3-0 shutout victory by defeating ECAC opponent Brown University in their final nonconference game of the regular season.
Freshman goaltender Nick Kossoff (3-3-1) closed the door on the Bears (3-8-3) with 28 saves in 60 minutes of shutout effort. The shutout was the third for Kossoff, who has earned a shutout in each of his three career victories.
Kossoff was able to out-duel junior goaltender Tim Ernst, who allowed a pair of goals and made 20 saves in the loss.
Freshman forward Gage Torrel (4-7--11) scored his fourth goal of the season and became the second Laker to reach 10 points this season with a power-play goal with 5:03 remaining in the first period. Mitch Hults (4-6--10) and Gus Correale (5-6--11) also reached double digits in points with the assists on the opening goal by Torrel.
After the first period, the Lakers held a 1-0 lead and had 52 seconds remaining on their second power-play attempt of the evening. The Bears led 11-8 in the shot column.
With 10:20 remaining in the middle frame Anthony Nellis (3-6--9) netted his third career goal to put the Lakers up 2-0. Nellis was sprung by a nifty pass by the Lakers leading scorer J.T. Henke (6-7--13) and sophomore defenseman James Roll (1-6--7).
Kossoff made 21 saves through the first two periods and helped propel the Lakers to a 2-0 lead into the second intermission.
The Lakers power play, although successful just once in four tries, looked sharp and moved the puck well throughout the contest. Late in the third period the Lakers, attempting to pad their lead, had an impressive power-play opportunity in which they took five shots and hit the posts three times.
Correale eventually gave the Lakers the insurance goal they were seeking with 1:28 remaining in regulation and Ernst pulled in favor of the extra attacker.
The empty net goal by Correale was setup by Torrel's quick reaction on the defensive end as the freshman forward brought the puck up ice but was cut off from scoring his second goal of the contest by a Bears defenseman. Torrel was able to get the puck up to Correale, however and the junior from Prince George, B.C. was able to deliver the final blow of the game.
The Lakers return to Taffy Abel Arena to resume Western Collegiate Hockey Association play on Jan. 8-9 against Bowling Green State University. The Lakers are tied for sixth in the WCHA standings with a league record of 4-4-4.