Three-goal third lifts Lakers to win over Michigan Tech

It took late goals to break the game open, but the Lake Superior State capped off the opening weekend of their college hockey schedule Sunday with a win over the Michigan Tech Huskies.

A goal by Jack Jeffers was the game-winner as the Lakers picked up a 4-1 win over the Huskies Sunday at Taffy Abel Arena in the Michigan Sault in Western Collegiate Hockey Association non-conference action.

With just over seven minutes to go in regulation time, Jeffers, a transfer from the University of Alabama Huntsville, got in behind a Michigan Tech defenceman and took a nice feed from freshman forward Brandon Puricelli and beat Huskies goaltender Mark Sinclair.  

The goal by Jeffers broke a 1-1 tie through two periods on goals by Hampus Eriksson of the Lakers just over 12 minutes into the contest and Eric Gotz of the Wildcats with 5:27 to go in the middle frame on the power play.

Eriksson’s goal came on somewhat of a broken play as Lakers forward Miroslav Mucha skated down the right wing and tried to make a pass to Eriksson going to the net. The pass deflected off a Michigan Tech defender and on goal, where it was stopped by Sinclair.

Driving the net, Eriksson proceeded to score on the rebound to give the Lakers the lead through one period.

The goal by Gotz came with the Huskies on the man advantage.

The sophomore forward beat Lakers goaltender Mareks Mitens high glove to tie the contest.

After Jeffers gave the Lakers the lead in the third, junior forward Ashton Calder gave Lake State a two-goal cushion as he broke in alone on Sinclair and went between his legs before beating the senior goaltender glove side to make it 3-1.

Pete Veillette capped off the scoring for Lake State with an empty net marker in the final minute of regulation time.

Mitens made 13 saves in two periods of work for Lake Stare. Sophomore Seth Eisele entered the game and stopped all seven shots he faced in the third period for the Lakers.

Veillette and Calder had a goal and an assist each offensively for Lake State.

Sinclair made 21 saves for the Huskies.

Sunday’s win came on the heels of a 0-0 tie between the two schools on Saturday night.

Calder and Yuki Miura scored in the shootout for the Lakers.

The Lakers will return to action on Wednesday night with a road game at Northern Michigan against the Wildcats before returning home next weekend to face the Ferris State Bulldogs in the opening game of a home-and-home set between the two schools on Friday night.

The Lakers will then wrap up the weekend at Ferris State on Sunday afternoon.