Box Score (PDF)
 
ESTERO, Fla. – Sophomore goaltender Mitch Gillam made 24 saves to record his first collegiate shutout on Sunday night in the Cornell men's hockey team's scoreless tie against Lake Superior State in the first round of the Florida College Hockey Classic at Germain Arena.
 
The Lakers went on to win a shootout to determine which team advanced in the two-day tournament, though the result of the post-overtime exhibition had no bearing on official statistics. Cornell (5-5-2) will face #6/6 Miami in the consolation game at 4:05 p.m. Monday.
 
Gordon Defiel made 39 saves for Lake Superior State (3-17-1), which advanced to Monday night's championship game against Notre Dame. It was the Big Red's first scoreless tie since Dec. 3, 2011, when then-sophomore Andy Iles '14 made 23 saves against Clarkson in an ECAC Hockey game at Lynah Rink. Gillam remains ranked second in the nation in goals-against average (1.35) and save percentage (.956).
 
In addition to holding a statistical advantage in shots on goal and faceoffs (31-22), the Big Red also held a lopsided edge in a more dubious category — shots off of goal posts. The first shot to clank off the frame came just 5 minutes, 25 seconds into the game, courtesy of a short-side shot from sophomore forward Matt Buckles on the game's first power play. Sophomore forward Jake Weidner then hit the post in similar fashion at the 7:39 mark of the second period.
 
Lake Superior State was held to minimal scoring chances throughout the night, but found traction with two or three consecutive strong shifts around the midway point of the second. That led to an Austin McKay shot that required an athletic save from Gillam's left arm after an advertent deflection of a Cornell defender near the top of the crease. The Lakers drew a penalty about a minute later, but the Big Red was a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill for the night.
 
The Big Red dominated most of the third period, including a blitz in the early stages. Senior captain John McCarron had a shot on goal and a huge hit on the opening shift, and Cornell fired a seven shots on target in the first 1:09 of the stanza. Less than three minutes later, Buckles hit the post for a second time on the night. The Big Red held a 17-7 advantage in shots on goal in the third, then had the best of overtime. Senior defenseman Jacob MacDonald ripped a shot that sailed wide, forcing a heavy carom off the back boards. Junior forward Christian Hilbrich alertly shoveled a backhand toward goal from a sharp angle, but Defiel snagged the puck with his catching glove.
 
The ensuing shootout went to four rounds, with the Lakers winning by a 2-1 margin. Hilbrich scored the Big Red's lone goal in the exhibition, gunning a shot past Defiel's blocker.
 
In Sunday's first game, Notre Dame rallied for a 3-2 overtime victory over Miami. The Fighting Irish's Jake Evans scored an extra-attacker goal with 23 seconds remaining in the third period to tie the game, then netted the overtime winner with 45.3 seconds left in the extra frame.