The York University Lions men's hockey team came away with a 7-1 victory on home ice against the Nipissing Lakers on Saturday night (Oct. 24) at Canlan Ice Sports. 
 
The Lions began the first period on the power play but couldn't muster up any scoring chances, this in part to the Lakers penalty kill unit plugging up the passing lanes. After the power play concluded for the Lions, Lakers starting goaltender Kirk Rafuse turned away several potential scoring opportunities, keeping the game scoreless. This was until Reid Jackman (Etobicoke, Ont.) wired a shot from the hash marks that beat Rafuse high glove side, giving the Lions a one goal lead. The assist went to Derek Sheppard (Ajax, Ont.).
 
In the second period the Lions came out roaring, and peppered Rafuse with an array of shots from all directions. But it was the Lakers who broke the scoreboard first in the second. Lions starting goalie Chris Perugini (King City, Ont.) made the initial save on a shot but lost the puck in the crease and a pack of Lakers crashed the net and potted the loose puck in the back of the net, tying the game up 1-1.
 
After the Lions gave up the equalizer, York came firing back. Colton Vannucci (High River, Alt.) gave a no-look pass from the corner to set up Trevor Petersen (Thornhill, Ont.) streaking down the middle of the ice which he redirected upstairs on Rafuse giving the Lions a 2-1 advantage.
 
Nipissing had another great chance to tie the game a short time later when Brock Morrison took a penalty that was killed, and the moment he exited the box he was sprung on a breakaway. But Perugini squared up and made an acrobatic save that saw him twist in the crease and bat the puck out of mid-air, while losing his mask, and holding on for a faceoff.
 
At the 14:12 mark of the second period the Lions added their third tally as Derek Sheppard (Ajax, Ont.) weaved through the entire Lakers team, made an inside outside move that tripped up the defenceman, and went five-hole on Rafuse, putting York up 3-1.
 
Sheppard wasn't quite finished yet, as he snapped his second goal of the game less than three minutes later to give the Lions a 4-1 lead heading into the third period.
 
The third period for the Lions was nothing short of an offensive explosion. York scored two goals in under 1:20 at the start of the final frame. The first of the two goals was scored by Justin Larson (Buckhorn, Ont.) 54 seconds in, which was assisted by Greg Milner (Watford, Ont.) and Petersen, followed by Jackman scoring his second of the game at the 1:18 mark assisted by Mark Cross (Strasbourg, Sask.) and Shayne Rover (New Market, Ont.).
 
The Lions continued to apply the pressure as they added another two minutes after the Jackman goal by Tyler McGee (Timmons, Ont.),  which was assisted by Larson and Tyler Mort (Keswick, Ont.).
 
Perugini was once again solid between the pipes for the Lions, turning aside 32 of 33 shots in the win. He has started every game so far this season.
 
The Lions are now 4-0-1 on the season, and they will look to add to their win total on Friday (Oct. 30) when they travel downtown to face the Ryerson Rams at 7:30pm.