Late goal upends Notre Dame hockey team

ESTERO, Florida – Down 1-0 late in the third period to Lake Superior State in the championship game of the Florida College Hockey Classic, Notre Dame appeared to strike gold two nights in a row, as senior Austin Wuthrich scored the equalizer with 5:05 remaining in regulation.

However, the Lakers wouldn’t be denied, as captain Eric Drapluk put the puck in the back of the net 58 seconds later to lead LSSU to the 2-1 victory and tournament title.

Notre Dame rallied to upset Miami in the first game of the tournament Sunday.

Lake Superior State (4-17-1) struck first in the second period on an Irish own goal before a flurry of action highlighted a wild third frame.

Notre Dame outshot the Lakers, 29-20, including a combined 14-7 in the first two periods. The Irish had three penalties to just one for LSSU.

Earning all-tournament honors were freshman right winger Jake Evans, freshman goalie Cal Petersen and senior defender Robbie Russo. Evans had two goals and an assist in Sunday night’s 3-2 overtime win over No. 6 Miami, while Petersen made 36 saves in two nights, including 18 against the Lakers (12 in the third period).

The Irish (9-9-2) return to action Jan. 9 at Western Michigan (7:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network), before closing out the two-game series with the Broncos at Compton Family Ice Arena the following night (6:05 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network).