What are the two things you want to see in a blowout win?

First, score early. Second, score often.

Lake Superior State (1-0) devastated U.P. rival Northern Michigan 12-1, hammering six first-period goals past the Wildcats Friday night at Taffy Abel Arena.

The ACHA regular season opener was a night to remember for Laker captain Andrew Langford, went on a five-goal rampage against NMU (0-1). He struck early, at 29 seconds of the first period, then again at 13:47. By tthat point, the game was well in hand - Lake Superior State led 5-0.

"There was a lot of energy coming out of the locker room," Langford said postgame. "Once the first one went in, I knew everybody on the first through third line was going to be rolling and we didn't disappoint."

Head coach Steve Kaunisto added that Langford's parents had traveled to Sault Ste. Marie for the game, coming all the way from Edmonton, Alberta. The last time they watched him play, he scored a hat-trick. Not bad at all.

"That's their second time watching me play at the Taffy," Langford said "It was pretty cool. I haven't scored in front of them in this rink before, and the fact that I got to do that with the support of the boys was unreal."

He talked a lot about the support of his teammates, "the boys." Kaunisto felt that energy pregame, adding that one of the program's prior players had read the lineup in the dressing room before the game. That took the energy to another level.

"I knew we were going to have a lot of energy because we've been practicing for the last month and they wanted to play against somebody else," he said. "The chemistry was awesome from the get-go and that's something, as a coach, you hope for."

Luke Vega, the stellar freshman from Grand Rapids, MI, scored just over a minute into the hockey game. The 19-year old made his international debut for Puerto Rico in 2024, after appearing at the U20 level in 2022-23. He showed tremendous speed and threatened with attacking intent for Lake Superior State.

"Vega's a workhorse," said the Lakers head coach. "He's strong, he's powerful. He's somebody that we're going to lean on in every situation."

Chris Kavanaugh scored and assisted for LSSU. Senior Goaltender Sean Piotrowicz made 27 saves in the win. The Lakers defended well, with structure and intensity. Their goalkeeper went a few long stretches with no pucks flying in his direction, but he was excellent when called upon.

It's a quick turnaround after Friday night's beatdown. LSSU plays NMU at Taffy Abel Arena on Saturday at 1:00 PM in game two of their series, but game one of a Saturday ACHA doubleheader. The Laker women's hockey team, coming off of a sweep over Minnesota, meets an excellent U-of-M Dearborn squad at 7:00 PM in the first game of a weekend series. Asked about that doubleheader, Langford and Kaunisto were both fired up.

"I love it, anytime we can get hockey in this building and get this many people in here, it's amazing," Kaunisto said. "It's exciting here at Abel Arena and for the Sault in general."

Admission is free for all Lake Superior State ACHA hockey games at Abel Arena.