Bumpy start for men’s hockey

It wasn’t the start the Nipissing Lakers men’s hockey team envisioned, but there are a lot of positives to take away from a pair of road games.The Lakers opened up the 2013-14 OUA regular season taking on York Saturday and coming up short, falling 4-2 to the Lions.
Kirk Rafuse was solid in net making 36 saves and the Lakers received goals from Kevin Rebelo and Grant Toulmin, but after being down 3-0, the Lakers weren’t able to complete the comeback.
Nipissing’s power play went 0-for-5. The team only surrendered one goal while shorthanded.
Sunday, looking to bounce back, the Lakers took on the Brock Badgers and ran into a hot goalie.
Despite firing 35 shots towards the Badgers net, the Lakers only managed two goals and dropped a tight 3-2 decision.
Once again, Toulmin found the back of the net for his second goal of the young season, and Matt Paton, the newly named captain of the Lakers, opened the scoring with his first of the year.
Cody Wilson and Kevin Rebelo also picked up their second points of the year with assists Sunday.
Goalie John Chartrand was solid in net, making 27 saves in a losing cause.
The Lakers will be looking to get into the win column this weekend, as they once again play two games in two days.
Friday night is the Lakers home opener against the Carleton Ravens. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.
Saturday, the team hits the road again and travels to take on Ottawa.