Lakers win in exhibition play
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - Lake Superior State, which has the weekend off from Central Collegiate Hockey Association play, defeated the U.S. National Team Development Program's Under-18 team 4-3 Friday at the Taffy Abel Arena.
LSSU started the scoring at 12:02 of the first period with a power-play goal from junior forward Nick McParland (13-7--20). It was assisted by senior forward Fred Cassiani (6-10--16) and sophomore defenseman Zach Sternberg (0-3--3). The Under-18 team came back to tie the game 1-1 with a power-play goal at 18:11 of the first.
The Lakers took a 2-1 lead at 7:49 of the second period when Cassiani found the back of the net. Assists came from sophomore forwards Dan Radke (2-4--6) and Colin Campbell (5-12--17).
LSSU switched goaltenders at 9:03 of the second period. Sophomore goalie Kevin Kapalka totaled 18 saves in 29:03. Stefan Matteau of the U.S. 18s scored back-to-back goals 42 seconds apart on sophomore netminder Kevin Murdock and gave his team a 3-2 lead.
Campbell netted a game-tying five-on-three power-play goal at 6:39 of the third period. Cassiani and Sternberg again connected for assists. At 10:54, LSSU sophomore forward Kellan Lain (7-3--10) scored the game-winning goal on assists from freshman defenseman T.J. Wees and rookie forward Buddy Robinson (3-3--6).
Murdock made 15 saves for the Lakers and recorded the exhibition win. The Under-18's Jared Rutledge made seven saves, while Colin Olson made 13 saves and recorded the loss. The Lakers were 2-for-4 on the power-play and held the USA to 1-for-4.
The U-18s, who played LSSU for the first time since the 2008-09 season, dropped to 2-6-2 against NCAA Division I programs and fell to 0-2 against CCHA competition this season.
