Lakers gain first sweep since 2002

The Lake Superior State hockey team completed its sweep of Western Michigan Saturday night by winning 3-1 at Lawson Ice Arena.

The Lakers picked up their first sweep since they won two games over Mercyhurst Oct. 18-19, 2002.

The last time LSSU swept a Central Collegiate Hockey Association series was against Notre Dame Dec. 1-2, 2000.

Saturday's game started much differently than Friday's 10-0 blowout as the Lakers (3-2-3 overall, 2-2-2 CCHA) and Broncos (2-4-0 overall, 2-2-0 CCHA) skated to a scoreless first period.

WMU's Jeff Pierce gave his team its first lead of the weekend when he scored on the first shot of the second period. Paul Szczechura fed the puck to Pierce from across the bottom of the circle.

Less than a minute later the Lakers thought they had tied the game when Miller got the puck past Daniel Bellissimo on a pass from Steve McJannet, but the goal was disallowed.

Laker freshman Troy Schwab eventually tied the game 1-1 at 12:06 of the second period when he picked up a rebound shot from Matt Restoule on the power play. Trent Campbell also picked up an assist on the goal.

The Lakers took their first lead of the hockey game at 12:18 of the third period when Dominic Osman buried the puck past Bellissimo. Nathan Ward and Jeff Rainville assisted on the even strength goal.

Laker junior Colin Nicholson strengthened his team's lead with another goal at 17:11 of the third period. Matt Restoule and Ren Fauci drew assists.

The Broncos pulled their goalie with less than one minute remaining but were unable to score on the Lakers.

WMU out shot the Lakers 32-30. The Lakers were 1-for-7 on the power play and Western Michigan was 0-for-4. Winning goalie Jeff Jakaitis totaled 31 saves and improved his record to 3-2-3. He only gave up one goal for the series.

The Lakers will return home to play Miami Nov. 11-12 at Taffy Abel Arena. The puck will drop Friday at 7:35 p.m.

*** FRIDAY:

Lake Superior State junior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis earned his first shutout victory of the hockey season Friday night when the Lakers pummeled Western Michigan, 10-0, in an unusually quiet Lawson Arena.

The Lakers not only took out their goal-scoring frustrations on the Broncos, but picked up their first Central Collegiate Hockey Association victory of the season. They improved to 2-2-3 overall and 1-2-2 in the CCHA. WMU, which swept Ohio State at home last weekend, fell to 2-3-0 overall and 2-1-0 in the CCHA.

Sophomore forward Jeff Rainville got the Lakers off to a good start when he scored one minute into the game. Nathan Ward and freshman Marty Gurnoe assisted on the goal.

Rainville strengthened the Lakers' lead to two when he scored on the power play off a pass from Barnabas Birkeland.

The Lakers' penalty-killing unit proved deadly against the Broncos during the second period. Trent Campbell and Rainville broke away from the Broncos to charge Western Michigan's net. Campbell scored a shorthanded goal on Bronco goalie Daniel Bellissimo to make it 3-0. Rainville picked up his third point of the game by contributing an assist.

Freshman Troy Schwab lengthened the lead to four when he scored his first collegiate goal on the power play at 13:07 of the second period. Colin Nicholson and Campbell assisted on the goal.

The Lakers were given a 5-on-3 power play with less than two minutes left in the second period when Broncos Matt Clackson and Chris Frank were both given two 2:00 penalties following their scuffle behind the Bronco net with LSSU captain Steve McJannet and Nicholson. McJannet and Nicholson received one minor penalty each.

Schwab scored his second goal of the game in the third period when he tipped the puck into the Bronco net off Matt Wheeler's wrist shot from the point. Campbell also assisted on the goal.

Campbell scored his second goal of the game to make it 6-0. Matt Restoule and Schwab drew the assists.

The Lakers' seventh goal of the game was scored by Dan Eves. Derek R. Smith and Schwab assisted on the goal. Dominic Osman gave the Lakers an 8-0 lead at 6:34 of the third period as Rainville and Smith were credited with assists.

Alex Dunn scored his second goal of the season on the power play at 9:35 of the final period. Nicholson and McJannet assisted on the goal.

Wheeler was ejected from the game 10:28 into the third period when he was given a five-minute spearing penalty and a game disqualification. The Lakers fended off the major penalty, leaving the Broncos 0-for-5 on the power play.

Eves gave the Lakers their 10th goal at 18:11. Smith and Dunn assisted on the goal.

The last time the Lakers scored 10 or more goals was Feb. 11, 1994, when they beat Michigan state 11-1.

Jakaitis notched his first shutout since a 3-0 victory over Notre Dame on March 5, 2004.

(Stories by Linda Bouvet of the LSSU Sports Information Department.)