In a game with plenty of plot turns, the final turn belonged to Lake Superior State as the Lakers held off Michigan Tech 6-3 to capture the Great Lakes Invitational title for the first time in program history.
The Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead early on goals by Diego Cuglietta and Hampus Erikkson just 62 seconds apart in the first period.
But Michigan Tech rallied with a Jake Lucchini goal before the end of the first and a tying tally by Alex Smith early in the second.
Lake Superior regained its two-goal lead, though, as Max Humitz scored at 9:23 of the middle frame and Bryan Basilico potted a power play marker at 16:12.
Tech, though, wouldn’t go away easily. At the three minute mark of the third, Trenton Bliss pulled the Huskies within a goal at 4-3. But that’s where the offense finished.
For the first time, EVER! WE ARE THE GLI CHAMPIONS! Ring that bell!
Final from Detroit! ?
Final SOG: LSSU 38, MTU 24Thank you Michigan Tech, for a great tournament! We hope to see you again! pic.twitter.com/hQ7eTPFeBW
— Lake State Hockey (@HockeyLSSU) December 31, 2018
Cuglietta and Steven Ruggiero scored empty-net goals for the 6-3 final.
CONSOLATION: Michigan 2, Michigan State 2 (OT)
Despite outshooting the Spartans, 47-26, Michigan had to rally from deficits twice to earn a 2-2 tie in the GLI consolation game. The two clubs will share third place.
Michigan State carried a 2-1 lead out of the first period before Michigan’s Nick Pastujov tallied the equalizer at 1:15 of the third.
