HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey team dropped a hard fought game against the Michigan Tech Huskies in overtime by a final score of 4-3 in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) game in Houghton, Mich.
The Huskies would get on the board first in the game just :45 seconds into play as Brian Halonen scored his first goal of the game. The rest of the first period would remain scoreless between the two teams, giving Michigan Tech a 1-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes of play.
The Lakers evened the game at one when Ashton Calder scored his third goal of the weekend at 3:38 of the second period when the Laker sophomore skated through the Husky defensive zone and was able to get off the shot on goal that beat Michigan Tech goalie Robbie Beydoun. The assists on the goal went to Miroslav Mucha and Will Riedell.
For the second time in the game, the Huskies would take the lead over the Lakers when Halonen scored again to put the home team ahead 2-1 at 14:53 of the second period.
Just seconds later, the Lakers would respond as Brendan McKay scored his second goal of the series to tie the game for the second time. The Lakers checking line of Bryan Basilico, Chase Gamelin and McKay was able to apply pressure to the Huskies in their defensive end to lead to the goal. Basilico would feed McKay the puck, and the senior forward got the shot off as he dropped down to the ice. The shot went in high glove side on Beydoun at 15:08 of the second period.
Before the close of the middle frame, the Huskies would regain the lead for the third time in the back-and-forth game. Alec Broetzman netted the go-ahead goal for Michigan Tech at 16:17 of the second period.
The Lakers, led by goaltender Mareks Mitens, were able to keep the Huskies off the scoresheet in the third period and with :45 seconds remaining in regulation time would tie the game for the third time in the meeting. Sophomore Pete Veillette, who has continued to show his status as a clutch player for the Lakers, netted the game tying goal in the final minute as the Lakers had the extra attacker on the ice for the play. Following a face-off win by Hampus Eriksson, Lukas Kaelble took the shot from the point that made its way through traffic towards Beydoun and the Husky net. Calder would redirect the puck over to Veillette who was able to send a shot into the back of the goal to tie the game at three.
In overtime, the Lakers were able to kill off a two minute penalty to keep the game tied but at 4:30 of the five minute period, the Huskies scored for the win. Michigan Tech's game winning goal came off a rush up the ice and into the Lakers zone. Halonen would backhand a pass to a streaking Alex Smith, who was all alone in the slot to fire the puck past Mitens for the overtime victory.
The Lakers finished the game outshooting the Huskies by a 42-30 margin. Mitens stopped 26 shots in the game while Beydoun played a strong game for Tech as he made 39 saves in the win.
The Lakers will be back home in Sault Ste. Marie next weekend for a two game series against the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers. The opening game will be played on Friday, Feb. 14 at the Taffy Abel Arena in Michigan with the game scheduled for a 7:07 p.m. start while Saturday's game is set to be played in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario at the GFL Memorial Gardens. The game, which will count as a home game for the Lakers, is set for a 7:07 p.m. puck drop.
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