While they may not be the highest scoring team in the league when it’s all said and done, the Nipissing Lakers men’s hockey team picked a great time to put up a big number.
The Lakers earned their first win of the season, evening their record to 1-1-0 as they defeated the Laurentian Voyageurs 7-4 Tuesday night at Memorial Gardens.
Six different goal scorers and six players with multi-point games led the charge for Nipissing, who also gained a 3-2 lead in the 705 Challenge Cup.
Nipissing scored at least twice in every period, kicked off by Nik Kalpouzos’ first OUA goal.
His point shot found its way through traffic and into the back of the net.
Gael Lubwele and Matt Paul picked up assists on the game’s first goal.
Just over three minutes later, Colin Campbell scored his first of two on the night, taking a perfect pass from Erik Robichaud, as the two completed a perfect give-and-go.
Kylor Wall also grabbed an assist on the goal.
Laurentian cut into the lead before the end of the period with a power play marker of their own, as Nipissing led 2-1 after one.
Campbell added to the Lakers lead with his second power play goal of the night, once again set up by Robichaud as well as Dylan staples.
Colby Tower made it 4-1 three minutes later with an unassisted marker.
Once again, Laurentian stuck around, scoring midway through the period.
Nipissing led 4-2 after 40 minutes, but that did not stop them from adding to their lead.
Wall scored just 36 seconds into the third period, Staples added a goal less than two minutes later and Lubwele capped off Nipissing’s offence with a goal less than two minutes after Staples’ tally.
The Voyageurs added two goals before the 10-minute mark of the period to make things interesting, but the Lakers held on and earned win number one on the season.
Domenic Graham made 37 saves in net, with the final shots reading 41-30 in favour of Laurentian.
After breaking into the win column, the Lakers will look to put a streak together as they host Toronto Friday and Western on Saturday.
Friday’s game begins at 7:45 p.m. while Saturday’s contest is set for 7:30 p.m. – both at Memorial Gardens.
