Gelsinger Notches First Collegiate Hat Trick in Lakers’ 5-2 Win over Nanooks

Brayden Gelsinger tallied his first collegiate hat trick for the Lakers.

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Brayden Gelsinger garnered his first collegiate hat trick and Lake Superior State hockey scored four power-play goals in a 5-2 victory over Alaska in the second game of a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series on Saturday night at Carlson Center. 

Gelsinger scored two power-play goals and an empty-net goal to tally the hat trick.

With the win, Lake Superior State (9-6-1, 6-5-1-0 WCHA) earned a series sweep over Alaska (4-12-2, 4-7-1-1 WCHA). 

The Lakers scored the first two goals of the game. Senior winger Anthony Nellis got Lake State on the scoreboard with a power-play goal — his 10th goal of the season — at 3:59 of the first period. Senior center Diego Cuglietta and junior defenseman Collin Saccoman assisted on the play. The Lakers struck again on the power play at 9:49 of the first period to go up 2-0. Junior winger Max Humitz scored the goal — his fourth of the season — with Gelsinger, a junior winger, and sophomore defenseman Lukas Kaelble assisting on the play.

However, the Lakers' 2-0 lead would evaporate as the Nanooks would score the next two goals to make the score 2-2 at the end of one period of play. Max Newton scored on the power play for Alaska at 16:49 of the first period and Chris Jandric scored an even-strength goal at 19:12.

In the second period, the Lakers would score two more power-play goals as they were successful on their first four power plays of the game. Gelsinger scored both goals, coming at 4:57 and 6:35, respectively. Humitz and Kaelble both assisted on each of Gelsinger's goals. The Lakers held a 4-2 lead at the second intermission.

In the third period, senior goaltender Nick Kossoff (7-2-1) kept the Nanooks off the scoreboard as he made 14 of his 28 saves. Gelsinger completed his hat trick with an empty-net goal at 17:56 of the period to make the final score 5-2 in favor of the Lakers. 

Lake Superior State went 4-of-6 on the power play after starting the game by scoring on its first four power-play opportunities. Alaska finished the game 1-of-5 with the man advantage.

Gelsinger had a game-high four points, while Humitz and Kaelble each tallied three points.

Anton Martinsson (0-9-2) started the game in goal for the Nanooks and allowed four goals, while making nine saves. Niko DellaMaggiore made five saves in relief of Martinsson.  

The Lakers tallied 19 shots on goal and the Nanooks garnered 30. 

Lake State is back in action at the U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team on Dec. 16 in Plymouth, Michigan.

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