SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) hockey team (8-7-1, 6-2-0 CCHA) earned a 4-3 victory over the Bemidji State Beavers (8-7-2, 5-4-1 CCHA) behind a hat trick from Sasha Teleguine (North Attleborough, Mass.) on Saturday.

Eric Martin got the Beavers on the board first at the 3:46 mark of the opening period, but the Lakers were able to tie up the score as Evan Bushy (Thief River Falls, Minn.) disrupted the puck to push it ahead before Teleguine finished off the pass from John Herrington (Hudson's Hope, B.C.) for the shorthanded goal. Then, late in the period, Teleguine was able to strike again by deflecting in a shot from Connor Milburn (Kamloops, B.C.) who extended his point streak to eight games with Nate Schweitzer (Champlin, Minn.) also picking up an assist on the play.

Luke Levandowski (Rosemount, Mich.) was able to pound the puck through just under five minutes into the second period to extend the Lakers' lead to 3-1, and he was assisted by Timo Bakos (Augsburg, Germany) and Mike Brown (Belmont, Mass.) who recorded his first point since the 2022-23 season with Merrimack. 

Kirklan Irey drew the Beavers back within one by firing in a goal directly off of the face-off 10:06 into the third period, but less than a minute later, Teleguine completed the hat trick with what was ultimately the game-winner, popping the puck up and over the goaltender before it slid over the line. Jackson Jutting was able to get Bemidji State back within a goal yet again, but the Lakers held on defensively to preserve the 4-3 win, splitting the weekend series. 

Rorke Applebee (Chateauguay, Que.) secured his eighth win between the pipes with 33 saves on the night, including 21 in the third period alone. 

The Lakers return to action when they travel to face the Minnesota State Mavericks with puck drop of game one scheduled for Friday, Dec. 13 at 8:07 p.m.