BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey team posted a 3-0 win over the Ferris State Bulldogs on Friday, Dec. 3 at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. in the first game of a weekend Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) series. With the victory, the Lakers hold a 9-9-1 overall record this season and a 5-5-0 mark in conference play.
Sophomore goaltender Ethan Langenegger was strong in net for the Lakers, earning his second shutout in the last three games as he stopped 35 shots by the Bulldogs. Freshman Josh Nixon recorded his first career multi-goal game while junior forward Brandon Puricelli rounded out the Laker scoring in the win with his eighth goal of the season.
The Lakers took a 1-0 lead at 8:21 of the second period when freshman Josh Nixon scored his third goal of the season with his first career power play goal. The Lakers power play unit spent an extended shift in the Bulldogs zone leading up to the goal. Sophomore defenseman Jacob Bengtsson collected the puck near the blue line to prevent Ferris State from clearing the zone. Bengtsson circled back and dished the puck to junior forward Louis Boudon who was along the half boards at the top of the circle. Boudon slid a pass to freshman forward Dawson Tritt who was stationed right at the center of the faceoff circle. Tritt sent a saucer pass to Nixon, who was just outside the doorstep, and the forward would tap the puck by Bulldogs goaltender Logan Stein to give the Lakers the lead. The goal, which stood as the game winner, marks the first career game winning goal for the freshman.
At 9:42 of the second period, the Lakers doubled their lead as Brandon Puricelli netted his eighth goal of the season to make it a 2-0 game. The goal was a result of a beautiful passing play by Puricelli and his linemates - senior Miroslav Mucha and Boudon. Mucha gained the offensive zone and sent a drop pass to Boudon. Boudon skated through the offensive zone and connected a quick pass across the slot to Puricelli as the Bulldogs had one defenseman back. Puricelli got off a wrist shot to beat Stein five-hole.
The Lakers capped off the conference victory at 17:22 of the third period when Nixon scored his second goal of the game on an empty net. With Stein out of the net in favor of an extra attacker for Ferris, junior transfer Jake Willets chipped the puck along the boards to Nixon to set up the freshman forward for his first career multi-goal game.
Langenegger backstopped the team for his second career shutout as he stopped all 35 shots he faced in the game. Stein made 19 saves in the game for the Bulldogs.
The Lakers and Bulldogs will wrap up the weekend CCHA series tomorrow Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. Puck drop is slated for 7:07 p.m.
To purchase Laker hockey tickets, click here.
For more information, visit lssulakers.com.
Follow Laker Hockey on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest news!