GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport ACHA Division 1 men's hockey program took part in the annual Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame Tournament at Eagles Ice Center last Friday and Saturday. The Panthers were unable to secure a victory over the weekend as they dropped a 4-2 decision on Friday afternoon against No. 23 Grand Valley State and then fell 7-2 in the consolation game against No. 10 Calvin.
The Panthers and Lakers met for the third time this season on Friday and the Lakers got two goals in the third period to break a 2-2 tie and prevail 4-2. Once again, this matchup went down to the wire in the budding rivalry. Ethan Hellman scored the game's first goal at 6:38 of the first period on the power play for GVSU. The Lakers would then score a pivotal goal at 16:06 as Ben Pouliot cashed in on a short-handed tally for a 2-0 lead.
The Panthers responded favorably in the second period to tie the game.
Ryan Blackburn returned the favor with a short-handed goal at 4:03 for his fourth goal of the season to swing momentum.
Luke Mikkola evened it up at 9:09 for his second goal of the season from
Jack Kelly and
Kieran Thiessen. The middle period saw the physicality ramp up with eight minor penalties, including five by GVSU. The Lakers took a late lead at 14:18 as Ryan Hughes scored the game-winning goal for his first of the season from Lucas Henry. Hellman sealed it with an empty-net goal at 19:36. Ryan Harris got the start in goal for GVSU and stopped 30-of-32 shots.
Kyler Lowden filled the crease for Davenport and also stopped 30 shots on 34 shot attempts. Davenport misfired on all seven power-play opportunities while Grand Valley State was 1-of-5.
Calvin lost to rival Hope in Friday's other game and seemed very irritated as they came out and made a statement with a 7-2 win over the Panthers on their home ice. Krzysztof Petryla scored the only goal of the first period (6:18) and added another one at 10:25 of the second period as the Knights led 4-1 after 40 minutes.
Liam Bland notched his third goal of the season for Davenport at 2:37 of the second period to tie things at 1. Calvin would then score three straight goals to take control of the game. Former Panther and current Knight
Trent Benedict scored twice in the second period, including a power play goal at 14:18 from Steven Ickes.
Bland got his first multi-goal game of the season with another snipe at 3:18 of the third period from
Dylan Jouppi and
Brendan Bauer. The Knights then ripped off another three-goal streak as Hayden Zimmerman, Marshall Beaker, and Lou Vesperini lit the lamp, all on the power play. Calvin was 4-of-6 on the man advantage and DU went 0-of-4. Lowden got another start in net and made 38 saves. Carlos Siso faced 22 shots on the night and made 20 saves.
The next action for the Panthers will be on Wednesday, Dec. 10 when they welcome Michigan-Dearborn to Patterson Ice Center for an 8:30 PM face-off.
