Cougars Take Commanding 2-0 Lead in Lou Lukenda Cup!
A Saturday afternoon matinee at the Northern Community Centre gave Cougars fans plenty to cheer about in an old-time hockey matchup. Cougars forward Nick Jameus got the scoring started on the powerplay as he was set up in the high slot by Brock Santa Maria and fired a wrist shot past the goaltender less than two minutes into the first period. Ethan Esposito would double the lead midway through the period while on a 5-on-3 man advantage, hammering home a one-timer set up by Jameus. Sault College would take the 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Lakers would get back into the game early in the second period as Andrew Langford capitalized on the power play, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Ethan Esposito would respond for Sault College less than a minute later when he banked home a rebound from a Branden Kipling point shot. Brock Santa Maria would tip home a Michael Starzomski point shot midway through the frame that would spell the beginning of the end for LSSU. Cameron Lemcke & Russell Oldham would each add powerplay goals before the second period was over, giving the Cougars a 6-1 lead with 20 minutes to play.
The third period brought much of the same for Sault College as Jake Kovacs netted his eighth goal of the year midway through the period. The Lakers Blaine Dorion would be the benefactor of some puck luck, cashing in the Lakers' second goal of the game after a puck bounced off the Cougars' defenceman and into the net. Russell Oldham would add his second of the game, on the powerplay before Cameron Lemcke put it on ice with 7 minutes remaining. The Cougars would skate to a decisive 9-2 victory and take a 2-0 series lead in the Lou Lukenda Cup. Trennis Riley would record 17 saves in the victory.
Games 3 & 4 of the series will be played in Soo, MI on January 31st & February 1st, 2025. The final game of the series will be played on February 7th at the Northern Community Centre.