ESTERO, Fla.- Lake Superior State men's ice hockey defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish by a score of 2-1 Monday night during the championship game of the Florida College Hockey Classic.

Both teams skated to a 0-0 tie through the first period before Mitchell Nardi (2-3--5) scored an unassisted goal just three seconds into a power play and a 15:15 of the second period. The goal was deflected into the net by a Notre Dame player.

The Irish tied the game with 5:05 remaining in the third period. Florida native Eric Drapluk (2-3--5) scored the game-winning goal 58 seconds later. Drapluk grew up playing hockey at Germain Ice Arena as a youth and netted the tournament-winning tally on the same ice years later.

Freshman goaltender Gordon Defiel (4-15-1) earned the victory for the Lakers (4-17-1), who got through the tournament unbeaten and avenged two October losses to Notre Dame (9-9-2), during which they were outscored, 10-4. Defiel stopped 28 Fighting Irish shots en route to the victory, and the Lakers combined for 16 blocked shots from the forwards and defensemen. Freshman Aidan Wright (1-4--5) blocked six shots while also picking up an assist on the game winner.

Defiel was awarded the Shawn Walsh Memorial Trophy following the game, in recognition of being named the tounament's most valuable player. The trophy is named after former head coach of Maine, the late Shawn Walsh. LSSU was Maine's replacement in the 2014 tournament field.

Chris Ciotti (5-4--9), who netted the shootout-winning goal in the first game against Cornell, was named to the all-tournament team, along with fellow assistant captain Drapluk.

The Lakers will take a short break before returning to Western Collegiate Hockey Association action Jan. 9-10 at Minnesota State-Mankato.

Final LSSU 2 - ND 1

Main photo courtesy of allarsonphoto.com