60 years ago, Jim Booth stepped into the faceoff circle at Sault Ste. Marie, MI's Pullar Stadium. The Boston Bruins #8 overall pick in the 1964 NHL Draft was taking the first draw of the 1966-67 college hockey season for the newly renamed Lake Superior State College. The newly formed Lakers defeated the VFW Chippewas 7-0 that night.
 
60 years on, November 6^th, 2026, Booth - who went on to earn NAIA All-American honors three times at Lake Superior State - stepped out toward center ice at Sault Ste. Marie, MI's Taffy Abel Arena with his teammate from all those years ago, Tom Mitchell. The two wore the blue jerseys of Lake Superior State University – a program that in the ensuing 60 years saw five national championships, dozens of NHL draft picks and an immeasurable legacy in the hearts and minds of people around the world. In 2026, the pair of teammates led the current team from the locker room to the ice, carried a flag to center and passed it to this generation of Lakers.
 
Laker Hockey quite literally began with these two men and their teammates. Booth was the first player to receive a scholarship to play hockey at Lake Superior State from Ron Mason, who 30 years later recruited current Laker Head Coach Damon Whitten and Associate Head Coach Mike York to play college hockey.
 
"Two of the foundational pieces of our program," commented Whitten after the game. "It was unbelievable to get some time with them. Really awesome to walk them around the facility to see how much has changed around the program."
 
He continued, "I've had a lot of surreal moments in my 13 years at Lake State. I'm not sure you can top tonight. To have Jim and Tom here from that opening faceoff when Laker hockey started all those years ago. It was symbolic and powerful."
 
Once the game started, Lake Superior State (2-4-2, 0-2-2 CCHA) played Maryville (7-2) but lost 4-3. Calem Mangone, who took the flag from Booth and Mitchell pregame, scored a pair of goals. Hunter Ramos drove the play aggressively for the Lakers, finishing with a goal and an assist. The pair of sophomores created dangerous chances with incisive attacking intent throughout the night.
 
"He's a catalyst for us, no question," said Whitten. "Whether its scoring - like it is a lot of nights - some emotional energy, showing up and competing hard and playing well every single night. It was a really strong effort from him. You can't sit and wait to be the difference maker. Go be the difference maker. Cal did that tonight for us."
 
Mangone scored two goals in back-to-back games in the Maryville series, and he struck for back-to-back markers on Friday. His early second period goal cut the score to 4-2, and his third period power play goal got the Lakers to within one. A fierce competitor, Mangone continues to show why he earned a letter for the Lakers in his sophomore campaign.
 
Ramos struck at 17:29 of the first, with assists from Teo Besnier and Ethan Moore. He also assisted Mangone's goal in the third, a power play tally.
 
"I thought what was good about Ramos was that speed," said Whitten. "He backs guys off, he can win foot races, and he can get around guys. Some of that is with the puck on his stick. Being the first forechecker, he's a very effective F1, even as an undersized player."
 
Besnier piled up two assists. This season, his +6 rating leads the team, an excellent start to the first-year Frenchman's collegiate career.
 
"He's playing well beyond his years," said Whitten. "He's had an outstanding start to his collegiate career. He had a great weekend. The confidence is growing. He's such a competitive young man. You can trust him defensively, and he almost had that equalizer set up. A really strong weekend from Besnier."
 
The Lakers hit the road to face Michigan Tech next weekend in Houghton, MI before returning home for a CCHA series with Bemidji State on November 20^th and 21st, a team Booth encountered in many legendary battles in the program's nascent years.

60 years on from that historic opening faceoff, Booth and Mitchell stepped back to the center of the Laker Hockey world. The two beamed with pride, built from their own accomplishments, their bonds with each other, the legacy they hand down to future generations, and how those generations have carried the flag forward.
 
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