Calem Mangone began his college hockey career bent on destruction this weekend. Scoresheets, goalies... whatever was in his way.

The freshman scored a goal and an assist on Saturday, then turned around and scored twice on Sunday, including the game-winner, as Lake Superior State (2-0) beat Stonehill 3-2. The Lakers knocked off the Skyhawks (0-2) on Saturday 5-3.

Striking at 1:21 of the second period, then again for the game-winner at 1:03 of the third, Mangone displayed his superior senses of timing, positioning and precision throughout the weekend. His first goal on Sunday came on a deflection from longtime friend and fellow Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native Adam Barone. The defender walked from the top of the left circle all the way to the right and snapped off a wrister that Mangone tipped in, giving the Lakers a 2-1 lead at the time.

Laker head coach Damon Whitten had a ton of praise for the rookie after the game, citing a key shot block late in the contest as another major moment. He said, "Really impactful. We've talked about him preseason. Playing on arguably our top line, and that says a lot about our belief in him and our confidence level in him. What doesn't show just looking at box scores is his compete level, how much he cares, the passion he plays with in practice as well as games. Great start for Cal Mangone. We expect that to be a starting point for him and that line. They had a huge impact on the weekend and it's a great start to the season for him."

The Skyhawks, pesky all weekend, pulled the game level on a goal by Zach Nicolas at 12:11 of the second. But they never led at any point in either game, and Mangone hit them with the coup de grâce early in the third. Similar to his first score on Saturday, he wriggled into a pocket of space on the weak side. Co-captain Connor Milburn attacked downhill on the left and slid a pass back to his right. Mangone, totally unmarked, quickly gathered, fired and scored to break the deadlock in what stood up as the game's final goal. Barone picked up the secondary assist, starting the play with a menacing drive through center, cutting through the Skyhawks defense before laying the puck off to Milburn.

With the Lakers announcing the Superior Ice Showdown at GFL Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario earlier this week, it was an exciting week for Mangone and Barone. The Lakers will head across the St. Mary's River on January 23^rd for a CCHA regular season matchup with St. Thomas.

"Those Soo guys had a nice weekend," Whitten said. "Adam Barone is a guy that's taken a massive step from last year. He's a much stronger kid, and he's playing very dynamically on the ice. Those two childhood friends are certainly enjoying their time together."

Further back, the Lakers saw goaltender Andrew Oke in action for the first time. Drawing his debut, the Shelby Township, Michigan native stopped 27 shots. He and Mangone won the Memorial Cup together with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit in 2024.

It wasn't just their show, though. John Herrington scored his first of the season at 4:44 of the first period for LSSU on an assist from William Ahlrik. A shorthanded tally, Whitten raved about the team's penalty kill across both games. He said, "I think the PK deserves a lot of credit. We faced a full two-minute 5-on-3 yesterday which was a big turning point, getting that kill. Another extended 5-on-3 today where it was important to get the kill. The trigger, that pressure on that shorthanded goal, the guys did a really good job to read it.

"It's important to get Johnny off to a really good start. We know that he can be an impactful goal scorer for us and we need him to contribute offensively as he did today."

Ahlrik continues to impress Laker fans, players and coaches with his play. After a pair of great assists Saturday, he sprung Herrington for his goal on Sunday. Whenever he steps on the ice, he consistently makes little plays that make a difference. From faceoffs to good passing, from quality positioning to defensive awareness. Ahlrik, just hours into his sophomore campaign, has established himself as the kind of determined young player that good teams rely on to win tough hockey games.

Whitten said, "So valuable. Key faceoffs all over the ice. One of our most reliable guys, winning draws at a high percentage and he's net-front powerplay, does a great job there. He's a top penalty killer. The value he brings to the lineup is tremendous. Late in the game, we threw him in there on the wing to finish the win. A lot of value to what Ahlrik brings to the team."

Senior assistant captain Mike Brown grew up about 15 minutes away from Warrior Ice Arena in nearby Belmont, Massachusetts. His family hosted the team for a meal prior to the series, and he had tremendous support in the building. Big Brown delivered, playing an excellent series and even delivering one of his patented bone-crushing hits along the wall late in the hockey game. He finished with a +1 rating on Sunday.

The Lakers return home to prepare for Lindenwood on Friday, October 10^th and Saturday, October 11^th. Whitten was thrilled for the upcoming weekend.

"It's a huge weekend coming up, we can't wait to open at home in front of our own fans. Lots of changes and updates around Taffy Abel Arena to reveal and we can't wait to show our fans."

Laker fans can't wait to see this team in person for the first time either. Buy your tickets online today. And listen to Tuesday's edition of The Laker Hockey Show on News Talk 1400 AM, live at noon Eastern time and available on-demand afterward through Midco Sports Plus, the home of CCHA TV.