ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst AAU Ice Hockey team hosted SUNY Niagara and cross-town rivals Penn State Beherend for a pair of home games to kick off the 2026 portion of the season over the weekend. The Lakers, who ended 2025 with 3 straight losses, were looking to hit the ground running as the Thunderwolves rolled into town.
 
Laker newcomer and Erie native Ian Brown got the nod for his first collegiate start in net for the Blue and Green.
 
In the 1^st period, Seamus Gentile-Ovens scored his 6^th goal of the year thanks to a feed from Christopher Trokey at 11:52 to give the Lakers an early 1-0 lead. The Thunderwolves were able to answer back with a goal at 3:50, but Jake Moran was able to quickly net his 4^th goal of the year at 2:57. He was assisted by Thomas Edwards and Trokey to tie up the game. Niagara was able to score on the penalty kill at 1:26, but Colin Barry was able to quickly answer with a power play goal at 1:06 for his 4^th of the year. He was assisted by Ryan Trokey and Luke Dinkel. The Lakers proceeded to the break leading 3-2.
 
In the 2^nd period, both teams traded penalties throughout the first 10 minutes of the frame until Sam Mitropoulos was able to find the back of the net for his 5^th of the campaign thanks to a lead pass from Anthony Clark. At 9:28, Barry was able to score his 2^nd goal of the evening, with the assist coming from Lukas Felix, his first collegiate point. Both teams would be sent to the penalty box one more time before the conclusion of the period.
 
Early in the 3^rd, Trevor Keenan scored his 4^th goal of the season thanks to a feed from Mitropoulos. Christopher Trokey then scored his first of the season after a breakout pass from Barry at 19:03. Barry would then complete his first-ever hat trick at 15:51 with the assist going to Clark. Dinkel would round out the Laker scoring with a short-handed goal at 11:21. Niagara was finally able to answer back with a goal at 6:10, but it was not enough to mount a comeback as the Lakers would end up winning 9-3.
 
Brown earns his first win after stopping 15 of 18 shots.
 
The Lakers would then turn their attention to Behrend, with both teams looking to make a playoff push.
 
Brown would get his 2^nd start of the weekend for the Lakers after a commendable first win the night before.
 
Moran opened the game for the Lakers with his 5^th goal at 16:47 thanks to a leading feed from Evan Husarek. The Nittany Lions were able to respond a few minutes later to leave the game tied at 1-1 heading into the intermission.
 
The 2^nd period opened with a multitude of penalties from both sides, but the Lakers were able to take the lead at 13:27 thanks to an unassisted goal from Gentile-Ovens, his 7^th of the year. Behrend was able to respond on the power play shortly after, but Grant Butts scored his 4^th goal of the year less than 20 seconds later to tie the game yet again. He was assisted by Keenan and Barry. The Nittany Lions would score another pair of goals in quick succession to establish a 4-3 lead just past the halfway point of the frame. Barry was able to score his 7^th goal of the season unassisted at 4:50 in order to tie the game 4-4. With just under 2 minutes left, Behrend was able to score on the power play and hold a 1-goal lead heading into the final period.
 
Both teams traded time in the penalty box in the 3^rd period, but Behrend was able to seal the game with a goal at 8:50. The Lakers were unable to mount a comeback after a hard-fought 6-4 loss.
 
Brown stopped 40 of his 46 shots faced and played well despite the result.
 
The Lakers now look to head to Buffalo for a game against the Bulls Friday. Puck drop set for 7:10 PM.