Lakeland's Hockey team began the second month of the season by notching their third win in a row, defeating Bloomfield Hills, 3-1.

The Eagles dug an early hole when the Hawks popped in their only goal of the night on a messy power play to beat senior goalie Jason Slicker.

Late in the first period, senior Mitchell Beller picked off a weak pass deep in the Bloomfield zone. Beller walked the puck along the boards and fed it to senior Nate Behmlander who took a couple of jabs at the puck. The Blackhawks were so focused on Behmlander they forgot about junior Ben Barkholtz who finished the play by tucking the puck in to tie the game at 1-1 after one.

Coach Ronayne: “Well we’ve had a bit of a layoff as well as some players out for various reasons. It showed. We came out flat with no legs and not much going on upstairs. Mitchell’s line picked us up and Slick stood fast in the net until we finally got some offense.”

In the second period, Lakeland woke up and outshot the Blackhawks 17-8 but couldn’t beat the Hills' goaltender. Thus the third period began with a 1-1 soccer score possibly in a nod to the ongoing World Cup competition. It looked like the game would end in a tie until junior Timmy Hinkle found another gear carrying the puck from center ice to gain the offensive zone. Hinkle had to muscle through two more defenders before finding Beller in the slot who directed the puck over the BH goalie’s left shoulder for a 2-1 lead with 4 minutes to go.

The gritty Hawks would not relent and Slicker was pressed into making several athletic saves in the waning minutes. Hinkle, seemingly tired of the one goal lead, took advantage of an LHS power play rushing the puck through three zones and as many defenders to find freshman Austin Scanlon knocking on Bloomfield’s back door. Rather than take the lower percentage shot Scanlon gave the puck to senior Robby Lewis for an easy one touch goal.

When asked Scanlon reported “I really wanted to shoot that one.” Opting to pass made for one of the prettiest goals of the young season.

Lakeland next battles Walled Lake Northern on Saturday night 8 pm Lakeland Ice Arena.