Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
Over the February 6th and 7th weekend at the Northern Community Centre, the Sault College Cougars wrapped up their 2025–2026 ACHA DII regular season in style, hosting their St. Mary’s River cross-border rivals, the Lake Superior State University Lakers, for a senior night home-and-home series. The Cougars delivered a dominant performance, earning shutout victories in both contests to close the schedule on a high note.
Friday night’s opener saw Sault College strike quickly and decisively in the first period. At 3:14, Brock Santa Maria opened the scoring with his 11th goal of the season, finishing a play set up by Cameron Lemcke to give the Cougars a 1–0 lead. Just 29 seconds later, Nick Jameus doubled the advantage, netting his 18th of the campaign off assists from Dylan Winsor and Jacob Kovacs at 3:43. Despite sustained pressure from both sides over the final 40 minutes, no further goals were scored, as the Cougars’ defensive structure held firm. Trennis Riley was perfect between the pipes, stopping all 30 shots he faced to earn the shutout, while Lakers goaltender Sean Piotrowicz turned aside 35 of 37 shots in the loss.
Saturday’s rematch featured more of the same from the Cougars, who carried their momentum into game two. Dylan Winsor opened the scoring just 1:51 into the first period, burying his eighth goal of the season off feeds from Nick Jameus and Jacob Kovacs to make it 1–0. Sault College extended the lead midway through the frame when Brodie McLeod scored his fifth of the season at 13:31, with Jonah Des Rosiers and Chase Johnson collecting the assists. Early in the second period, Cameron Lemcke added to the cushion at 1:01, scoring his sixth goal of the season with helpers from Nick Jameus and Caleb Wood. The Cougars capped off the scoring late in the third, as Gabriel Zimbaro found the back of the net at 18:12 for his second of the year, assisted by Piper Post and Anthony Blonda, sealing a 4–0 victory.
In goal, Sault College received another flawless performance, with Keenan Marks stopping all 24 shots he faced to earn the shutout. Sean Piotrowicz was again solid for the Lakers, making 28 saves on 32 shots.
With the weekend sweep, the Cougars finish the regular season ranked 12th in the ACHA DII Men’s Central Division. Sault College will now turn its focus to postseason play, preparing for the 2026 ACHA DII Regionals in Hammond, Indiana, scheduled for the February 20th and 21st weekend where the Cougars need two wins for the chance to take part in the 2026 ACHA DII nationals in St Louis, Missouri.
