Box Score Sometimes, the box score tells you everything you need to know about a game.

Other times, you just have to see it.

Friday night had to be seen, as Rorke Applebee starred and Lake Superior State beat Ferris State 2-1 in CCHA play. Applebee made 32 saves for LSSU (4-8-1, 1-6-0 CCHA), while Samuel Belanger and Calem Mangone scored to grab the win.

Applebee's finest moment came late in the third. WIth 4:56 remaining in a 2-0 game, Bulldogs forward Josh Zary circled the Laker net and dumped a pass to the low slot. Gavin Best, attacking from the right wing, shook loose and hammered the puck toward the Laker net. But the puck deflected off the foot of Max Itagaki, inching toward the far post. That's when Applebee kicked out his left left, knocked the puck away and killed the play with a quick cover. It was a special save from the Laker goaltender, who produced several moments of magic with the game on the line.

"It might have been an easier save if it hadn't been knocked around," said Laker head coach Damon Whitten after the game. "He's been really good. He tracks pucks so well, and he's so competitive. Whether it's practice or a game, he hates to give anything up. He's hard on himself, and I think that's part of what makes him such a talented goaltender."

Applebee didn't do it all alone, though. When the Bulldogs scored with an empty net - a goal from Carter Rapalje at 17:18 of the third period - they quickly emptied the net again and applied ferocious pressure on the Lakers. Luke Levandowski, Branden Piku, Carter Batchelder, Johnny Druskinis and Evan Bushy remained on the ice for nearly two and a half minutes, defending doggedly past the point of exhaustion. Druskinis blocked a massive slapshot from Best, but rose to his feet and got back to the task ahead of him. It was a long, determined, gritty shift by that group of five which played a key role in sealing the Laker win.

"That's a tough situation with some guys that are not typically penalty killers," Whitten said. "I thought they did a really good job trying to fight it out and fend off the extra attacker. They were a big part of sealing that victory and grinding out a win. I told James [Cardarelli] on the air [on 99.5 YES FM] that at some point, we needed that third goal. We had some chances to go up 3-0 and that game would feel different late, but give them credit. They kept pushing, they came out hard and had a relentless effort with the extra attacker to cut the score to one."

Batchelder and Levandowski played a big role in the offensive phase as well. They combined to assist on Belanger's opener, at 11:58 of the first period. Levandowski started the play with a terrific loose puck deke to get to the slot. He passed to Belanger, who tried to feed it back across the face of the net. The puck pinballed off of Batchelder, right back to Belanger, and he buried a heavy wrister to put the Lakers up 1-0.

From there, the Laker defense began locking the game down. Defensively, Lake State controlled the proceedings, keeping most of the Bulldog traffic to the outside. And when they did attack with menace, Applebee dealt with those chances very effectively. Mike Brown had an excellent game for LSSU, as the blueliner continues to put in solid performances.

Whitten said, "Brown's physical presence, his defensive awareness has a big impact on our team. We're better when Big Mike's going into the game physically and establishing a heavy, physical presence. The whole team gets behind it."

Calem Mangone scored the game winner for LSSU. His sixth of the year came on the powerplay at 13:26 of the second period. A wicked snipe, he jumped on a loose puck and aggressively stepped toward the goal. Using Bulldog defender Christopher Lie as a screen, he sent a screamer five-hole to put the Lakers up 2-0. That goal would later stand as the game-winner.

"I think there's so much ceiling still for Mangone," said Whitten. "He's going to get better in his time with us, even though he's so good right now. His hockey IQ is off the charts. He sees the game so well. He's got great vision. You pair that with a very skilled stick, his deception is off the charts. He's got almost a casual deception, with turning his stick over and using his body. He gets guys turned around and can make plays off of that as well. He continues to be an impactful player for us and scores a big goal, the game-winner tonight off the powerplay."

Friday's game held a special significance for the LSSU coaching staff. Zack Cisek, in his first year as associate coach at Ferris State, previously coached at LSSU from 2018 to 2022 with Whitten, Associate Head Coach Mike York and Assistant Coach DJ Goldstein. They still hold him in the highest regard and valued the chance to catch up with their friend and former coworker before the game.

"It's one of the beautiful parts of our game, those friendships you establish and build," said Whitten. "He's a cherished friend for our whole staff and somebody we care deeply about. Those are great moments before the puck drops where you get to catch up a little bit, laugh a little bit and tell some old stories. He's a dear friend to all of us. It's great seeing him down here. I know his mom made the game tonight. Those friendships are what makes our game amazing."

Saturday, the Lakers and Bulldogs meet again. Puck drop is 7:07 PM at Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, MI. The Lakers then head home for a CCHA series next weekend against Augustana. Saturday's game features a doubleheader, as the Lakers' Men's Basketball team faces Lawrence Tech at 2:00 PM at the Bud Cooper Gymnasium. It's LSSU's home opener, and the Lakers will honor the 2024-25 team that qualified for the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament. Get your tickets now.