ERIE, Pa. – The Lakers took on the Golden Griffins of Canisius for their first UNYCHL game of the year Friday night at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The last time these teams met, Canisius eliminated Mercyhurst in the semi-final of the UNYCHL playoffs and would eventually dethrone the Lakers as league champions.
 
The first period was kicked off by a goal at 16:37 by junior defenseman Samuel Bresnock, his first of the year. Colin Barry assisted him with the goal, securing his first point of the year as well. Canisius would soon answer, holding the score at 1-1 for around five minutes. With just under 10 minutes left in the period, freshman forward Seamus Gentile-Ovens scored his first goal of his college career thanks to an assist from Thomas Edwards.
 
In the second period, Edwards opened the scoring for the Lakers, his third goal of the year. Edwards was assisted by Grant Butts and Antonio Fleck at 15:04. The Golden Griffins would answer quickly with back-to-back goals before the 10-minute mark, concluding the scoring for the period. Both teams would spend time in the penalty box with three penalties per team during the period.
 
To begin the third period, Canisius netted two goals within the first three minutes, securing a 5-3 lead. The Griffins would eventually score on the power play at 8:20, increasing their lead to three goals. Butts would earn his second point of the night, as well as his second goal of the year thanks to assists coming from Brayden McGarry and Ryan Trokey, each earning their first assists of the season. Goalie Conner Racette was pulled at the 6-minute mark to give the Lakers an advantage, where Mercyhurst was able to keep the puck in the Canisius zone for nearly four minutes. Canisius would manage to steal the puck and score an empty net goal at 2:18, and eventually score their final goal at 1:54, winning the game 8-4.
 
Racette faced 47 shots, stopping 39 of them, while Mercyhurst fired 33 on net in the Canisius zone.
 
The Lakers will return to the ice Friday, Oct. 17 against JCC at 9:00 PM at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.