You can picture the moments of panic in the official scorer's box when the statistician isn't quite done writing down the details of a goal... but a player in a hurry scores again and adds to the workload.
There were a few multigoal flurries this weekend as Michigan State (6-2) and Lake Superior State (3-3) slugged it out in two thrilling ACHA games at Taffy Abel Arena on Saturday and Sunday.
The Spartans hammered home 13 goals on the weekend, beating the Lakers by scores of 5-3 and 8-4.
It was hard-hitting, physical hockey between these two ACHA teams. Thomas Purton scored twice and assisted another on Saturday night, while Nolan Kaminski scored a goal and added two assists on Sunday afternoon for MSU. Sunday's game saw a combined 21 penalties called out.
On Saturday night, the two teams went toe-to-toe, slugged it out and tried to break the scoreboard. Michigan State led 2-1 after 40 minutes of play and scored Nolan Kaminski at 2:39.
Andrew Langford, the Lakers captain, slugged back at 3:34. Purton struck at 3:52 to restore the two-goal lead.... for six seconds, because the Lakers raced down and score another and 3:58. Chris Kavanaugh tallied, as the official scorer's hand surely must have begun cramping up. Purton scored late to set the final at 5-3.
Wind the clock forward to the next afternoon and Sunday's game went bonkers, too. The Spartans held a 2-0 lead after the first period and scored again through Matt Melachrinakis at 3:54 of the second. Then at 4:14, Chris Kavanaugh put the Lakers on the board.
But wait! There's more! At 3:27, Donovan Mitchell scored for the Spartans to make it a 4-1 game. Undeterred,
Derrick Brown struck for LSSU from
Seth Stock at 12:06, and Luka Vega scored another at 15:03. The utterly chaotic second period still wasn't quite done, though. Kyle Lucia notched another for the Spartans at 16:22. Eventually, the period ended, allowing the official scorekeeper a brief respite.
Blaine Dorion scored in the third for LSSU, but MSU scored three more. Kaminski struck at 5:30, Luke Londo at 12:38, and Donovan Mitchell at 17:29 to seal the game at 8-4.
The Lakers face the Sault College Cougars on Friday and Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena. Fans see all ACHA Men's and Women's home games for free at Abel Arena this season.
