Lakers men net win in home opener

Earning their first win of the season, the Nipissing Lakers men’s hockey team received some goals from somewhat unlikely sources.

While the team has skill throughout their lineup, two players brought in to stop the goals, ended up providing them as Nipissing skated away with a gritty 2-1 win over the Laurier Golden Hawks Friday night.

Matt Donnelly and Brody Morris – two defencemen – scored for the Lakers, erasing a 1-0 deficit and picking up the two points, improving their record to 1-1-1.

Laurier found the back of the net first, scoring just before the midway point of the first period to go up 1-0.

Despite some chances, Nipissing didn’t tie the fame until the 19:37 mark of the opening period as Donnelly grabbed a loose puck, flew down the wing and hammered home a shot to the top corner, tying up the game.

After a scoreless second, the Lakers would grab the game-winner with eight minutes remaining in the third when Morris fired a puck towards the net.

After a few bounces and a scramble, the puck found its way past the goalline for the second Lakers goal of the game.

From there, the Lakers defended well and didn’t allow many quality chances, preserving the victory and two points.

Both goals – Donnelly and Morris’ – were their first career OUA tallies.

Brent Moran was very good in net, making 24 saves for his first OUA win.

Nipissing held a 29-25 advantage on the shot clock through 60 minutes.

Looking for their second win, the Lakers are back on the ice Saturday night as they host the Waterloo Warriors.

Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.

Lakers women can't overtake Mustangs 

A strong final two periods wasn't enough for the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey to erase an early deficit in their 2017-18 home opener Friday afternoon.

The Lakers outshot and controlled the second and third periods as they welcomed the Western Mustangs to town to kickoff the OUA season, but thanks to a four goal first period, the Mustangs upended the Lakers 6-3.

The Mustangs struck early, building p a 3-0 lead within the first 16 minutes of the opening period.

Nipissing got on the board when Jade Gauthier found the back of the net to cut the lead to 3-1, however, with 24 seconds left in the period, the Mustangs scored again to regain a three-goal lead.

Gauthier's goal came from the slot, where she fired home her first of the year.

Maria Dominico and Robyn Degagne grabbed assists on the tally.

Neither team managed much offence in the second period and combined for just seven shots.

In the third, the Lakers put on a lot of pressure, and fired 11 shots towards the Mustangs net, but managed only two goals, the second of which came in the dying seconds of the game.

With the score 4-1, Gauthier found the back of the net for a second time cutting the lead in half.

The Lakers pulled their goalie with about four minutes left in the period, but Western would be the team to take advantage, making it 5-2.

With just under a minute to go, Dominico would score her first OUA goal, once again chipping away at the lead, but again, the Mustangs answered in the form of an empty-net goal to seal the win.

Final shots were 26-19 in favour of Nipissing.

The Lakers will look to bounce back Saturday, as they host the Windsor Lancers.

Game time is set for 4:30pm at Memorial Gardens.