The Lions went to Detroit for the first time in program history for a showcase put on by Central Michigan. The highlight of the showcase would be an outdoor game, a first for many of the Lions players.
On Saturday the Lions headed to Clark Park in Detroit, where they faced off against a new opponent, BGSU. The Lions held tough in the environments, with the outside temperature at 16 degrees at puck drop. The play was back and forth in the first, but BGSU netted two to take a 2-0 lead into the intermission. In the second, the Lions came out and took control, scoring two goals (Kaczmarek and Hirai) to tie the game heading into the third period. In the third, Kilkenny stole the puck and put it top shelf to give the Lions their first lead just 3 minutes into the third. It was back and forth after that, but LMU still lead 3-2 until BGSU intercepted a breakout pass and scored with 7 minutes left to tie the game. A minute later, a tipped pass found the BGSU forward for a go ahead goal. The Lions would pull Footlick to try to even the score, but BGSU scored two empty net goals to take the victory 6-3. Even though the Lions couldn’t hold on in the game, all the players had an amazing time in the Outdoor game.
The next afternoon, the Lions went back indoors and took on tournament hosts Central Michigan. The Lions would score first, as newcomer Bryson Martin fired the puck from the top of the circle to take the 1-0 lead. CMU would tie it 1-1 a few minutes later, but LMU would regain the lead 2-1 as Spencer Engstrom found the back of the net late in the first. The second period would be all CMU, scoring 3 goals and dominating play, the Lions were down 4-2 after two. But in the third the Lions roared back, scoring 4 straight goals to take the win. Rodriguez found the net on a nice pass just 3 minutes into the third. A few minutes after Austin Billings would score to even the game. Finally the Lions took the lead for good as Manzer put home a pass from Kaczmarek. Billings would net his 2nd of the game to put it out of reach with 3 minutes to play, giving the Lions a 6-4 victory.
The final game of the weekend, LMU would face ACHA Western region opponent University of Texas. The Lions would get down early as UT scored on a nice possession just a few minutes into the game. But Brian Clem tucked home a rebound a few minutes later and the Lions tied the game. In the second, Spencer Engstrom would fire one home from the bottom of the circle, giving LMU a 2-1 lead in what would be a dominant period in the shots category. A few minutes later Watters got a pass from Kaczmarek and he fired it home, 3-1 Lions. Then the Lions D would hold the blueline and send the puck to the net, where Watters would deke the goalie for his second of the game, and a 4-1 lead. Thought UT would cut into that as they scored on a 2-1 rush with only seconds left, and the 2nd ended 4-2 LMU. In the third, the Lions got into penalty trouble, and UT chipped away at the deficit, eventually tying the game 4-4. The Lions would answer back, with 40 seconds to play, as Austin Billings slid home a point shot rebound and the Lions were on top 5-4. But with the goalie pulled, UT scored with 4 seconds to play, sending the game to OT.
In OT, sophomore goalie Henry Lissner made huge stops, including two breakaways. Chances were flying at both ends, but no scoring and the game went to a shootout. Lissner stopped all three UT shots, and in the second round Billings scored to give the Lions the shootout victory, sending their season record to 13-5-1 and 2-1 on the weekend.