SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey team recorded a 3-3 tie against the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves on Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Taffy Abel Arena in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) matchup. In the second overtime, which is for WCHA purposes only, the Lakers scored to take the extra league point.
The Lakers were able to get on the scoreboard first in the game when Max Humitz scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season, which ties his previous season high. The goal was scored following a failed clearing attempt by Seawolves goaltender Brandon Perrone, as he sent the puck along the boards where Louis Boudon would gain possession. Boudon connected a pass to Humitz who would get off the quick shot that beat Perrone for a 1-0 Lakers lead at 4:16 of the period. The goal, which stands as Humitz' 100th career point, was also assisted by Pete Veillette.
At 15:55 of the first period, the Lakers would double their lead when Hampus Eriksson scored his fifth goal of the season, setting a new career high in goals. The play started in the Lakers defensive end when Lukas Kaelble was able to send the puck up the ice, where it was collected by Ashton Calder. Calder carried the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone as the Lakers had an odd man rush. With Will Riedell joining the rush and streaking towards the net, Calder sent a pass that went through Riedell to Eriksson as Riedell continued to drive to the goal. Eriksson would then get off the shot that beat Perrone to put the Lakers ahead by two.
Before the end of the first period, Alaska Anchorage would beat Lakers goaltender Mareks Mitens with a power play goal from forward Brayden Camrud at 18:30. Camrud would get set up by his teammates at the top of the circle and would send a wrist shot over the shoulder of Mitens to cut the Lakers lead in half.
The Seawolves tied the game just over a minute into the second period when Luc Brown scored his first goal of the game. Camrud gained the Lakers zone and dropped a pass back to Brown at the top of the circle. Brown took a slapshot from there that rang off the crossbar and went in behind Mitens to make it a 2-2 game.
At 4:11 of the middle frame, the Lakers would retake the lead when the team scored its third power play goal of the weekend to go ahead 3-2. Ashton Calder netted his sixth goal of the season, which sets a new season high in goals for the sophomore. The goal was a result of good puck movement while on the man advantage as all five skaters on the ice touched the puck on the play. The play started when Humitz and Jacob Nordqvist exchanged passes on the blue line, setting up the Lakers power play unit. Nordqvist would then find Eriksson at the half boards who would then feed a pass to Boudon who was stationed behind the goal line. Boudon was able to send a pass to Calder as he was streaking through the slot to send a shot past Perrone to regain the lead.
Alaska Anchorage would tie the game at three with Brown's second power play goal of the game. Following a scramble in front of Mitens, Brown managed to get the puck and put it in the back of the Lakers net at 12:23 to even the score.
With neither team scoring in the third period, the game required overtime to determine a winner. Neither team was able to score in the first overtime, which is played at five on five. In the second overtime, Pete Veillette scored for the Lakers to give the team the extra point.
Mitens played a strong game in net making 19 saves in the game which included a highlight reel glove save in the late stages of the second period. Perrone stopped 20 shots by the Lakers.
The Lakers will travel to Plymouth, Mich. to take on the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18 Team in an exhibition game on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7:00 p.m. at the USA Hockey Arena.
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