Wildcats lose to UMD at Superior Cup

By Susannah Nichols/ Northern Michigan Beat Writer

Minnesota-Duluth goalie Kenny Reiter was having a great night as his team was up 3-0 on the Northern Michigan Wildcats, and he was poised for a shutout.

But Andrew Fernandez had a different plan—and although it wasn’t enough for the win, he helped his team salvage an otherwise lackluster game.

The UMD Bulldogs went up 2-0 in the first period—thanks to a pair of power play goals—and outshot the 'Cats 23-9 over the first two periods. They widened their lead to 3-0 early in the third period.

The 'Cats started generating some offensive energy in the third period. They kept better pace with the Bulldogs, recording 12 shots to the 'Dogs’ 13, and Fernandez got them on the board at 12:15 of the period. Jared Brown assisted on the play.

Less than two minutes later, Fernandez lit the lamp again. Greger Hanson and captain Phil Fox earned assists on Fernandez’s second goal.

Reid Ellingson started in goal and made 22 saves. Ellingson was replaced by Jared Coreau early in the third period. Coreau finished with 11 saves and allowed no goals.

Northern will look to improve on its 0-2 start to the season when they face Michigan Tech in Houghton on Tuesday night. The puck drops at 7:07 p.m.

Tech tops Northern in OT at Superior Cup

By Susannah Nichols/ Northern Michigan Beat Writer

On Friday night, the host Northern Michigan Wildcats lost to the Michigan Tech Huskies in the opening game of the Superior Cup. Bennett Royer contributed a pair of goals for the Huskies in the 4-3 overtime victory.

The Wildcats got the first power play of the game when Tech’s Ricky Doriott was called for holding. The ‘Cats seized the opportunity, and Justin Florek netted his first goal of the season. Greger Hanson and Reed Seckel earned assists. The ‘Cats went up 2-0 four minutes later: Tyler Gron scored, Hanson and Stephan Vigier assisted.

Late in the first period, Wildcat Scott Macaulay was handed a 5-minute penalty for checking from behind, and the Huskies scored twice on the resulting power play. Royer struck first, with help from Milos Gordic and Eric Kattelus, and then Daniel Holnberg tied the game. Doren Cousens and Steven Seigo assisted on Holnberg’s goal.

The Huskies took the lead early in the second period on an Anthony Schooley goal, and Andrew Cherniwchan knotted the game up again with seven minutes left in the third period.

Northern outshot Tech 36-29 over the course of the game, but Tech had six shots to Northern’s one in overtime. Royer scored 4:45 into overtime to give the Huskies the win. Kattelus and Mikael Lickteig earned assists on the game-winning goal.

Reid Ellingson finished with 25 saves for Northern; Tech’s Josh Robinson recorded 33 saves for the win.

The schools won’t have to wait long for a rematch—they’ll face off Tuesday night in Houghton. The puck drops at 7:07 p.m.

Lakers fall in opener to UMD

by Tom Balog / LSSU Beat Writer

Lake Superior State opened the season with a tough, 4-3, loss at Minnesota-Duluth on Friday night in the Superior Cup.

After trailing 3-1 in the first period, the Lakers (0-1-0) fought back with a Fred Cassini power-play marker at 3:10 of the second period to make it a one-goal game.

Just over five minutes later though, the Bulldogs went back on top by two goals with a Rob Bordson even strength maker.

Rick Schofield added a goal midway through the third but that was as close as the Lakers would get.

Chad Nehring also scored a power play goal for the Lakers and Brian Mahoney-Wilson made 29 saves.

Justin Fontaine notched two goals, Justin Connolly scored another, and Brady Hjelle stopped 25 shots for the Bulldogs.

LSSU and UMD both finished the night 2-6 with the man-advantage and 6 penalties for 12 minutes.

The Lakers will be back on the ice gain on Sunday evening at Michigan Tech during Round 2 of the Superior Cup.

Lake Superior State Lakers Preview

By Tom Balog/Lake Superior Beat Writer

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE LAKERS

Head coach: Jim Roque (fifth season)

Home arena: Taffy Abel Arena (3,373)

Last season: 11-20-8 overall, 7-15-6 CCHA (T-10th), lost in CCHA first round to Western Michigan

Returning for the Lakers:
Goaltenders: Mitch Edmondson, Pat Inglis, Brian Mahoney-Wilson
Forwards: Will Acton, Pat Aubry, Dan Barczuk, Fred Cassiani, Brad Cooper, Zac MacVoy, Chad Nehring, Nathan Perkovich, Rick Schofield, John Scrymgeour, Brett Wall
Defensemen: Matt Cowie, Simon Gysbers, Kyle Haines, Tyson Hobbins, Steven Kaunisto, Kyle Pobur, Dillin Stonehouse

No longer sporting the Anchor:
Forwards: Troy Schwab, Josh Sim, Carter Lee
Defensemen: Steven Oleksy

New to the Sault:
Forwards: Eric Kraft, Nick McParland, Brian Cooper, Ben Power, Domenic Monardo
Defensemen: Zach Trotman

Outlook: The Lakers will need to use their depth on defense and in goal as they sail into another challenging non-conference and CCHA schedule.

LSSU will return seven out of eight defenseman including seniors Simon Gysbers and Co-captain Steven Kaunisto. Gysbers was ranked 11th and Kaunisto 12th in the CCHA in blueline points in ’08-’09 and will give Roque a steadying presence in back.

"All of our defensemen are mobile," Roque said. "They skate a lot better than people give us credit for. I see the experience in the room with having older guys back. Leadership is excellent this year, and the captains will do a good job pushing the guys."

Seniors Pat Inglis and Mitch Edmondson along with junior Brian Mahoney-Wilson will give the Lakers a solid trio between the pipes.

The Lakers lost 26 percent of their goal scoring from last season including, Troy Schwab and Josh Sim who combined for 22 goals and 60 points. Junior Zac MacVoy returns as the leading goal scorer (14) and along with Nathan Perkovich, Fred Cassiani, and Co-captain Rick Scholfield will be looked upon to provide scoring and leadership to five incoming freshman.

The Lakers' hit the ice for the first time on Oct. 9 at Minnesota-Duluth and then on Oct. 11, they will skate into Houghton to battle Michigan Tech during their third appearance in the Superior Cup.

Following the Superior Cup, LSSU is home for three straight series at Taffy Abel against Canisius on Oct. 16-17, the CCHA opener against Ohio State on Oct. 23-24, and then Michigan on Oct. 30-31.