Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
The Sault College Cougars crossed the St. Mary’s River on Sunday, November 16th and returned home with bragging rights, shutting out the LSSU Lakers 4–0 in DII ACHA men’s hockey action. In a matchup defined by rivalry intensity and standout individual efforts, the Cougars delivered a complete performance at Taffy Abel Arena, highlighted by a stellar shutout from goaltender Keenan Marks and timely scoring throughout the lineup.
The Cougars opened the scoring midway through the first period at 9:06 when Jacob Kovacs buried his ninth goal of the season, finishing a crisp passing play from Nick Jameus and Brock Santa Maria. Sault College continued to push the pace, and at 15:53, Dylan Winsor extended the lead to 2–0 with his fourth of the campaign off assists from David Sayeau and Gabriel Zimbaro. The Cougars’ forecheck and puck support kept LSSU on their heels through twenty minutes.
In the second period, Sault College maintained their momentum, generating quality scoring chances while Marks turned aside everything the Lakers sent his way. With just over a minute remaining in the frame, Winsor struck again—this time burying his fifth of the season after a setup from Alex Remenda and Cameron Lemcke to give the Cougars a comfortable 3–0 advantage heading into the final period.
The third saw the Cougars continue to manage the game effectively, limiting LSSU’s zone time and capitalizing on their opportunities. At 15:53, Caleb Wood added the insurance marker with his seventh of the season, tapping in a feed from Brodie McLeod to seal the win.
Between the pipes, Marks delivered one of the most impressive performances of the season, turning aside all 39 shots he faced to earn a well-deserved shutout. At the other end, Lakers netminder Sean Piotrowicz stopped 24 of 28 Sault College attempts but was unable to slow the Cougars’ balanced attack.
With the victory, Sault College carries strong momentum into a challenging three-game road swing through southern Michigan. The Cougars will meet the Adrian College Bulldogs in Adrian, Michigan on November 21st and 22nd before wrapping up the trip in Grand Rapids, Michigan against the Davenport Panthers on November 23rd.
