Laker Hockey Earns First Conference Win of the Season in Home Opener over St. Thomas

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Lake Superior State hockey team posted a 3-1 victory over the St. Thomas Tommies on Friday, Oct. 15 in the Lakers home opener and first Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) game of the season. With a win in the first game of the weekend conference series, the Lakers overall record improves to 2-3-0 and hold a 1-0-0 record in CCHA play. 

Brandon Puricelli, Jacob Bengtsson, and Harrison Roy scored the Laker goals while Ethan Langenegger made 29 saves in his first win of the season.

The score was tied at one following the opening twenty minutes of play. The Tommies got on the board first when freshman forward Blaine Warnert scored a power play goal for a 1-0 lead. Warnert, who was stationed in front of Laker goalie Ethan Langenegger, got a piece of a shot from the blue line by Trevor Zins. The puck deflected in along the goal line to give the Tommies the game’s first lead. 

At 18:46 of the first period, the Lakers tied the game when Brandon Puricelli scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season. The Lakers were on a five-on-three power play and the LSSU skaters were able to put pressure on the St. Thomas penalty killers. Jacob Bengtsson gathered the puck at the blue line and sent a pass to Harrison Roy, who played in his first home game as a Laker. Roy dropped a pass to Puricelli in the center of the faceoff circle. Puricelli carried the puck around the offensive zone before taking a shot from the slot. The puck, which made its way through traffic, fluttered into the top of the net to tie the game at one. 

After a scoreless second period, the Lakers took their first lead of the game at 4:11 of the third period when Jacob Bengtsson scored his first goal of the season. The goal, which marked the Lakers second power play goal of the game, came on a point shot from the blue line. Bengtsson’s goal was assisted by Puricelli and Roy, who each recorded multi-point games. The goal, which was the third career goal of Bengtsson’s career, also marked the defenseman’s third career game winning goal.

With less than a minute remaining in regulation, Roy capped off a three-point effort with an empty net goal to seal the Laker win. The sophomore forward tapped the puck into the empty net after being set up by Louis Boudon. 

Langenegger finished the game with 29 saves as he posted his first win of the season for the Lakers. St. Thomas’ Jacob Berger stopped 22 shots in the game for the Tommies. 

The Lakers will return to the ice tomorrow night at 7:07 p.m. at the Taffy Abel Arena for the second game in the weekend series against the Tommies. Prior to the puck drop, the Lakers will be holding a pregame ceremony to unveil the 2021 WCHA Championship banner. The game will be available to stream on FloHockey. Fans can tune in to listen to Bill Crawford and Matt Pocket on the radio call on 99.5 YES FM.