Lakers Face BGSU in Renovated Taffy Abel Arena to Open Great Lake State Week

by Sports Team

Newly renovated Taffy Abel Arena welcomed back Laker Hockey for the home opener on Great Lake State Week Friday night. Lake Superior State hosted Bowling Green in a CCHA league clash, but the Lakers dropped a 6-2 result.

Despite taking an early 2-0 lead, a parade of penalties in the second period led to three Falcon goals in under four minutes. LSSU (2-3-0, 0-1-0 CCHA) controlled the early parts of the game, but the Falcons (3-4-0, 1-0-0 CCHA) saw Noah Morneau score a pair of goals in the middle frame to take the result.

“Those penalties came within a four or five minute window, and they were all slashing penalties,” said Laker Head Coach Damon Whitten after the game. “We have inexperienced guys in some areas, but you’ve got to manage your sticks. It doesn’t help you to go to the hands. Can’t have it, and it cost us a hockey game tonight.

“You have a lot of guys sitting around watching the penalty killers go out there. Got a lot of guys emptying the tanks to play shorthanded on the kill. It has a big momentum effect on the game. One you can live with. You get a good kill, it can give you some good momentum and boost you back. Three in a small window is tough to overcome. Certainly with that extended five-on-three, it’s a huge shift in that hockey game.

The Lakers leaped out to an early two goal lead with a strange roll and a spectacular piece of skill. Ethan Moore scored his first Laker goal at 2:23 of the first period, sending the puck toward the BGSU net from the neutral zone. Falcons goaltender Jacob Steinman mishandled it, and the Lakers celebrated their first home tally of the season.

Shortly after, Casper Nässén scored to put the Lakers up two. Galloping up the left wing, he sizzled a heavy wrister past Steinman and sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Whitten said, “There’s a reason he’s a Boston Bruins draft pick. Great finish on that play. Moments before that, Hunter Ramoshad a two-on-one with a great chance. We had two later breakaways that drew penalties and power plays. Loved the start, loved the energy in the building.”

There was plenty of electricity in the building through pregame and the opening period. The Lakers had the better of the play in the opening 20 minutes. But BGSU scored at 9:56 on a goal by Thomas Verdon, then pressed the LSSU into its own end for a lengthy stretch to start the second period. The trio of penalties and power play goals that ensued tilted the table against the hosts.

Lake Superior State continues a loaded Great Lake State Week with its Athletic Hall of Fame and Alumni Awards ceremony on Saturday, Laker Volleyball at 2:00 PM and Laker Hockey’s series finale with BGSU at 7:07 PM. During the week, LSSU welcomed fans to The Laker Team Store, celebrated the grand reopening of Taffy Abel Arena, kicked off basketball season with Bedlam at the Bud, and announced the filming of the documentary series Our Shot, which has been underway for several months. The series will be an in-depth look at Laker Hockey during a period of transformation for the program.

“We’ve talked a lot about the momentum around Laker hockey in a lot of different ways and that’s a piece of that,” said Whitten. “We’ve been living with it for quite a while. It’s an unbelievable opportunity to showcase our great university and our great program. We’re excited to be part of it. We’ve been living this since July. It’s been interesting to watch this develop and come along. It’s going to be an awesome journey and awesome ride. It’s a great look to peek under the hood of Laker Hockey.”

The Lakers face BGSU on Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena. Get your tickets online and download the new Lake Superior State Athletics app to stay up to date with the latest news and scores.

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