Lakers compete with second-ranked Denver

The results weren’t ideal, but for the Lake Superior State Lakers hockey team, there were some positives from the second weekend of the college hockey season.

Playing the second ranked team in the country, the Lakers dropped a pair of non-conference NCAA games to the University of Denver at Taffy Abel Arena.

On Saturday night, the Lakers fell behind 3-1 through 40 minutes before getting goals two minutes apart to tie the game.

Max Humitz and Dustin Manz scored for the Lakers in the frame to get the game on even terms but Ryan Barrow scored for Denver with 20 seconds to go in regulation time to give the Pioneers the win and the weekend sweep.

Humitz had a goal and an assist for the Lakers. Ashton Calder had the other Lake State goal.

Lakers goaltender Mareks Mitens stopped 25 shots.

Hank Crone had a goal and an assist for Denver while Bobby Brink and Slava Demin also scored. Brett Stapley assisted on a pair of goals.

Magnus Chrona stopped 20 shots for Denver.

On Friday night, a goal by Emilio Pettersen at 7:15 of the third period was the game-winner as Denver opened the weekend with a 3-1 win.

Ian Mitchell and Jaakko Keikkinen also scored for the Pioneers.

Pettersen finished the night with a goal and an assist while Brink assisted on a pair of goals.

Chrona made 23 saves.

Calder had the lone Lakers goal while Mitens stopped 26 shots.

With a 2-2 record to start the season, the Lakers prepare for the first road trip of the season for the team next weekend. The team returns to action for a pair of non-conference games against Michigan in Ann Arbor beginning on Friday night.

Following the weekend set at Michigan, the Lakers play a pair of non-conference games at Notre Dame before beginning Western Collegiate Hockey Association play on Nov. 1 at home against Ferris State.