Lakers Triumph over the Wildcats
By John Petkus


Showtime was set for 7:35pm, and the hockey arena at Lake Superior State University began to fill with spectators eager for the long expected match between the Lakers and our biggest rivals, the Northern Michigan University Wildcats.   Both teams took to the ice a few minutes before the game, beginning their warm up sequences and it began to look like it was going to be a great night of hokey.   The fans were pumped many clutching cups of hot cocoa from the Student Government tailgate before the game, and armed with slam sticks and terror towels.   
The whistle blows and they are off.   The Lakers snatch the puck away from their opponents and race down the ice to their opponents end of the rink, snake it around the goalie andSCORE!   The fans go wild!   Standing, clapping, cheering and pounding one another on the back, as the Lakers position themselves center ice for another go.   The puck goes down the players scramble for it, slamming into the walls.   Lakers take the puck again skating down the rink, a pass, a shot, SCORE!   Two within the first 3 minutes of the game!   Laker fans go wild one more yelling their good fortune to the wind, applauding and stamping.   The first period ends at 2 nothing with Laker shots on goal nearly triple those of the Wildcats.   The Wildcats saw 4 men sent to the box for various penalties but they did not score.
Second period.   The Wildcats return with a vengeance slicing their way down the ice, looking for that sweet revenge. It was not to be had as the Lakers denied them their best shots with tremendous blocking by Senior Goaltender Jeff Jakaitis. The second period ends still 2-0 with the Wildcats beating the Lakers in number of shots on goal.
Third period.   The moment of decision has come.   As in the second, the players are well matched one against another slamming into the boards and gliding effortlessly around the rink, seeking to make a shot count.   As the time clock begins to wear down to the final few minutes the fans began to cheer Shutout, Shutout, Shutout!   The final minute comes and everyone rises to their feet boisterous cheering erupts from the student section as students pound the glass and stamp.   Ten, nine, eight, seconds are ticking by.  Five Four, Three, Two, ONE!!!!  Lakers win!  Jeff Jakaitis has made school history and swept into the record books, beating the school career shutout record previously held by Blaine Lacher, who played for LSSU from 1991-1994. One more round of cheering around the victory bell as our boys ring out the joyful news of victory.   A truly great day for Laker hockey.
