Photo: Freeze Frame Photos

The men’s hockey team played their first home game since the Covid-19 pandemic over the January 14 – 15 weekend against their conference rival, Lake Superior State University.

In game one, the Cougars dominated the first period with 13 shots on net, but the Lakers found an opening on Cedric Joubert with 1:38 left in the first period to lead 1-0. A scoreless second period had fans on the edge of their seats until the Cougars Captain Caleb Wood scored early in the third to tie the game. First-year forward Gregory Trudeau-Paquet gave the Cougars the lead two minutes later when he netted his seventh goal of the season. The Cougars scoring spree continued with a goal from Dylan Forsyth to make it 3-1 with five minutes left.

The Lakers were able to capitalize with an extra attacker to close the gap to 3-2, but Cougars forward Ethan Esposito scored on an empty net with under one minute left for a 4-2 win over the Lakers. Cedric Joubert recorded 27 saves in the win.

On Sunday afternoon, Wood opened the scoring seven minutes into the second period to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. The Lakers came back to take a 2-1 lead until Wood kicked it into high gear with two back-to-back goals within 15 seconds to finish the period in front. Esposito and Ritchie piggy backed off of Wood’s success with two unanswered goals in the third period to cruise to a 5-2 win and series sweep. Zachary Tarantini made 22 saves for the Cougars.

Next action for the Cougars (7-9-0) is this weekend when they face Lindenwood University, University of Cincinnati and Davenport University on the road.

Source: Sault College Athletics