By Gabriel Rodrigues

On Sunday, Sept. 22, the Laurentian Voyageurs men’s hockey team kicked off their preseason with a 7-3 victory against the Nipissing Lakers at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.

The Voyageurs scored within the first two minutes of the game and continued their strong play by tallying two more goals, taking a 3-0 lead going into the first intermission.

In the second, Laurentian took it to Nipissing and finished the period leading 5-0.

However, the Lakers came back in the third scoring three goals to the Voyageurs’ two.

Nick Esposto and Caleb Apperson both scored two goals and an assist to lead Laurentian.

Alain Valiquette, Voyageurs’ goalie, saved 45 of 48 shots delivered from Nipissing, and Laurentian had 43 shots on the Lakers’ goal.

“It was a good day,” said Craig Duncanson, head coach of the Laurentian men’s hockey team. “We took Nipissing a little by surprise and some guys capitalized on their chances. It was great to finally get our feet wet in this league.”

The men’s team continues their exhibition play when they travel to Michigan on Oct. 5 and 6 to face NCAA schools Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan.

However, the first game of the regular season is on Oct. 10 when the Laurentian men’s hockey team travels to Toronto to take on York University.

lambda@laurentian.ca