The Forester men's hockey team played its first conference game
as a member of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association Friday
night (November 6) at Finlandia University. Lake Forester held on
for a 7-6 victory and evened its overall record on the year at
1-1-0. It was the Lions' season opener.
Finlandia scored first at the 5:17 mark of the opening period but
the Foresters tied the game just 35 seconds later on freshman Marc Rubino's (Woodbridge, Ontario/St. Michael's Buzzers) first career
goal. He was assisted by classmate Trent Brown (Ayr, Ontario/Elmira
Sugar Kings) and sophomore Joel Gard (Orangeville,
Ontario/Streetsville Derbys). Senior Peter Pfeffer (Farmington
Hills, Mich./Walpole Stars) gave the visitors their first lead of
the season at 9:17 with Brown earning the assist. The Lions,
however, tied the game with 2:12 remaining in the period and the
score was still 2-2 at the first intermission.
Finlandia regained the lead on a power play goal at the 7:30 mark
of the second period. The Foresters then scored the first two goals
of a 5-0 run later in the frame. Senior Justin Taylor (Sun Valley,
Idaho/Walpole Stars) lit the lamp for the first time this season at
11:59 off assists from Brown and freshman Zak Borowski (Gloucester,
Ma./Granite City Lumberjacks). Lake Forest's first power play goal
of the year came off the stick of freshman Phil Bushbacher
(Glenview, Ill./Aurora Tigers) and put the Foresters ahead for
good. Gard and freshman Jake DellaValle (Venetia, Pa./Stouffville
Spirit) assisted on Bushbacher's first career goal.
Brown scored a power play goal a minute into the third period with
Marc Rubino and freshman Thomas Bark (Toronto, Ontario/Streetsville
Derbys) each earning an assist. Brown then netted his second goal
of the game at 4:17 and Bushbacher accomplished the same feat 25
seconds later. Brown was assisted by Taylor and freshman Mike Rubino (Woodbridge, Ontario/St. Michael's Buzzers). DellaValle and
senior Adam Love (Durham, Ontario/Elmira Sugar Kings) set up
Bushbacher.
Finlandia nearly came all the way back, scoring at 6:31 and 8:40 in
the third and pulling to within a goal at 19:46 after pulling the
goaltender.
Lake Forest freshman goaltender Brendan Sullivan (Fall River,
Ma./Aurora Tigers) recorded 35 saves in the game, including 17 in
the second period and 14 in the third, to earn his first collegiate
victory.
The same two teams will face off at Finlandia again Saturday
afternoon (November 7) at 4:00 EST.
