Lake Forest College Sports Information
February 21, 2004
Contact: Mike Wajerski, SID

Lake Forest Ousts Stout to Advance to NCHA Semifinals 
Friday's win and Saturday's tie sends Foresters to the next round

  
Ryan Panet had a goal and an assist in both games.
LAKE FOREST, IL - The Lake Forest College men's hockey team won its Northern Collegiate Hockey Association quarterfinal series with UW-Stout at home this weekend (February 20-21) and will make its first-ever trip to the semifinals in two weeks. The Foresters claimed a 4-1 victory Friday night and tied the Blue Devils 3-3 on Saturday. Lake Forest is now 18-5-4 on the season while Stout fell to 14-10-3. 

Freshman Tyler Canal (Thunder Bay, ON/Stratford Cullitons) took over the team lead with his 13th goal of the season at 14:43 in Friday's first period. Junior Ryan Panet (Markham, ON/Wexford Raiders) and freshman Cam Doull (Marwayne, AB/Lloydminster Blazers) each earned an assist.

Canal's lead did not last long as senior Bryan O'Connor (Calgary, AB/Calgary Canucks) lit the lamp for the 13th and 14th time this year in the second period (5:36 and 13:24). Freshman Scott Taje (Wetaskiwin, AB/Lloydminster Blazers) assisted on both O'Connor scores and junior Dave Williams (Thornhill, ON/Thornhill Rattlers) also helped on the first. Panet added the team's fourth and final goal with 3:53 to play in the game off assists from senior Chris Rook (Barrie, ON/Milton Merchants) and freshman Bryan Lafevor (Ft. Wayne, IN/Chicago Freeze).

Junior Joel Cameron (Markham, ON/Milton Merchants) tallied 28 saves in Friday's game and allowed just one goal 46 seconds into the third period. On Saturday, the nation's leader in save percentage (.946) stopped 34 of 37 Stout shots on goal in the tie. Cameron also ranks third in the nation with a 1.66 goals against average and 10th with a winning percentage of .800 (11-2-2).

Stout jumped out to the early lead on Saturday before Panet tied it at the 14:23 mark of the first period. Freshman Matt Forsyth (Calgary, AB/Calgary Royals) assisted on Panet's 12th of the season.

Junior Robin Charest (Cabano, QC/Hebron Academy) gave the home team the lead with his 13th goal of the year at the 10:53 mark of the second period with sophomore Tyler Steen (Calgary, AB/Calgary Royals) earning the assist.

Canal pulled back into a tie with O'Connor with his 14th goal of the season at 1:45 in the third. Panet recorded his fourth point of the series with one assist and Doull was credited with the other. The Blue Devils, however, scored power play goals at 5:34 and 11:54 to tie the score.

Lake Forest, the #4 seed in the NCHA Tournament, will travel to top-seed St. Norbert College (23-2-2) for the semifinals on Friday, March 5. The Foresters will take on the Green Knights and #2 UW-River Falls (19-4-4) will face off against #6 UW-Stevens Point (13-11-2). The winners will play March 6 for the Peters Cup Trophy and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Friday's Box Score
Saturday's Box Score