Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The D2 Hockey team took to the ice for the first time this season, in the first of two meetings with Lake Superior State this weekend at Patterson. This is the first time these two teams have ever met, with the Lakers in their first season since returning to competition for the first time since 2017.
 
DU came out flying, and never took their foot off the gas. A perfect power play and excellent pressure throughout helped the Panthers start the season on the right track with the win.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 10 – Lake Superior State 1
Shots: DU 46 | LSSU 34
Power Play: DU (4/4) | LSSU (1/4)
Records: DU (1-0) | LSSU (0-3)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Leading the DU attack was Spencer Sandberg, who scored a goal and three assists in the win. Jacob Demeter, Arian Starin and Ryan Gamber each scored a goal and two assists for Davenport, while freshman Nathan Hartline scored twice in his DU debut. Panther netminder Drake Deering made 33 saves in goal.
 
A SERIES OF FIRSTS
 
A few Panthers found the back of the net in their first games as Panthers. Hartline ripped a shot by LSSU goaltender Gavin Warner just passed the halfway of the opening period. Later on, in the first, Sandberg set up Starin for his first collegiate goal with just seven seconds left in the period.
 
In period two, shortly after the Lakers Drew Larson scored to make it 5-1, Alexander Brown scored his first since joining the D2 team after a successful rookie season with the D3 Hockey team. In the final stanza, after etching his name on the score sheet with a couple of assists, Ryan Gamber found the back of the net for the first time in his DU career to give DU double-digits on the scoreboard.
 
POWERFUL PLAY
 
The Panthers' power play was on point in the first game of the season. DU had four chances, three of which came in the opening 20 minutes. Davenport took advantage of two too-many-men penalties against the Lakers. Spencer Anderson scored a little over three minutes into the game, before Ty Jaenicke found the back of the net just before the halfway mark of the frame. In the final minute of the period, up 3-0, Adam Hulsey set up Jacob Demeter to make it 4-0 DU.
 
In the third period, Nathan Hartline found the back of the net for a second time, giving the Panthers, at that point, an 8-1 lead.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
Both teams will meet each other, once again, at Patterson to finish up the weekend set. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.