SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey team opened Western Collegiate Hockey Association play with a 5-4 overtime win against the Ferris State Bulldogs on Friday, Nov. 1 at Taffy Abel Arena.
Following a scoreless first half of play, Pete Veillette opened the scoring for the Lakers at 11:15 of the second period with his first goal of the season. Veillette capitalized on a rebound that jetted out to him following a shot on goal by Laker defenseman Mitchell Oliver. Before the second period would wrap up, the Bulldogs would record goals from Jake Transit and Jason Tackett to head to the locker room with a 2-1 lead after forty minutes of play.
The Lakers would respond with three consecutive goals to start the third period. Ashton Calder would even the score when he capitalized on a two-on-one play with Max Humitz that would beat Ferris State goalie Roni Salmenkangas at 6:24. Salmenkangas would keep the Bulldogs and Lakers tied as he stopped a penalty shot by Max Humitz.
At 8:43 of the period, Will Riedell would put the Lakers back ahead as he deflected a shot from the top of the face-off circle taken by Collin Saccoman. The play began when Hampus Eriksson carried the puck behind the Bulldog net and would connect a pass to Saccoman, whose shot made its way through traffic to beat Salmenkangas.
Calder would net his second goal of the game to give the Lakers a 4-2 lead at 14:59 of the period when he recorded a power play goal that was assisted by Laker defensemen Saccoman and Lukas Kaelble.
With just about five minutes reamining in regulation, the Bulldogs managed to score twice to tie the game and force overtime. At 16:03, Brenden MacLaren would score followed by the game tying goal at 18:38 by Jason Tackett.
In the five minute WCHA overtime period, the play was dominated by the Lakers, as they outshot the Bulldogs 4-0 in the extra time. Humitz would tally the overtime game winner with just 16 seconds left to clinch the conference win for the Lakers, and snap the team's losing streak. Eriksson would notch his second assist of the game while freshman forward Dustin Manz would also record a helper on the play.
Laker goaltender Mareks Mitens would stand tall in net as he made 24 saves in the game including a diving stick save in the late stages of the third period to lead the team to its third win of the season. For Ferris State, Roni Salmenkangas stopped 35 shots from the Lakers, beginning with a 13 save first period.
The Lakers will close out the series against the Ferris State Bulldogs tomorrow Saturday, Nov. 2 at 7:07 p.m. puck drop at Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Tomorrow's game is "Thank You Mayor Tony" night honoring Mayor Tony Bosbous' 18-year tenure coming to a close. More details on the event can be found here.
For more information, visit lssulakers.com
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