Weekend Recap: LAKE TAHOE LAKERS SWEEP MCCALL IN HISTORIC NCDC HOME OPENER

PRESENTED BY ATHLETEX

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. | October 12, 2026


The Lake Tahoe Lakers made their long-awaited home debut in the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) a memorable one, sweeping the McCall SmokeJumpers in a three-game series October 9–11 at South Tahoe Ice Arena. Backed by enthusiastic home crowds, the Lakers delivered three strong performances, earning victories of 5–0 on Friday, 5–1 on Saturday, and 5–1 on Sunday to complete the weekend sweep.

The series marked the first NCDC home games in franchise history, ushering in a new chapter for junior hockey in South Lake Tahoe. The transition to the NCDC brings a higher level of competition and an exciting new standard of play to the community. The Lakers gave their fans plenty to celebrate in their first home series, combining a productive offense with strong defensive play to establish themselves on home ice.

THREE GAMES, THREE WINS

The Lakers opened the weekend with a commanding 5–0 victory Friday night, delivering a shutout performance in front of their home fans. Forward Chase Harrington led the offensive charge with a hat trick, finding the back of the net three times to help power Lake Tahoe to its opening-night victory.

Saturday brought another strong performance as the Lakers secured a 5–1 win, continuing their offensive production while keeping McCall's scoring opportunities limited. Lake Tahoe closed out the series Sunday with another 5–1 victory, completing the sweep and giving the team a perfect start to its first NCDC home stand.

Across the three games, Lake Tahoe outscored McCall 15–2, demonstrating its ability to generate offense while limiting its opponent's opportunities.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

Aidan Finn | Goaltender

Finn delivered an outstanding start to the home series, recording a shutout in Friday's 5–0 victory before allowing just one goal in Saturday's 5–1 win. His performances provided a strong foundation for the Lakers as they opened their home schedule with consecutive victories, showcasing the importance of reliable goaltending in a successful weekend.

Chase Harrington

Chase Harrington | Forward

Harrington stole the spotlight offensively on Friday night, recording a hat trick in the Lakers' 5–0 home opener victory. His three-goal performance helped set the tone for the weekend and gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about as the Lakers began their first season playing NCDC hockey in South Lake Tahoe.

A HOMETOWN WELCOME

Friday's home opener featured a special appearance from South Lake Tahoe Mayor Cody Bass, who dropped the ceremonial first puck to officially welcome NCDC hockey to the community.

Strong crowds helped create an exciting atmosphere throughout the weekend, while the Coldwater Beer Garden gave fans another way to gather, socialize, and support local hockey.

Saturday brought another special community moment as members of the Whittell High School girls golf team dropped the ceremonial puck. The team was recognized for advancing to the state championship for the first time in more than 20 years, an outstanding achievement celebrated in front of the hometown crowd. The Lakers were proud to recognize the student-athletes and their accomplishment as part of the opening weekend festivities.

NEXT HOME SERIES: FRESNO VISITS SOUTH TAHOE ICE ARENA

The Lakers will return to South Tahoe Ice Arena October 16–18 to host Fresno for another three-game home series. Following a perfect opening weekend against McCall, Lake Tahoe will look to carry its momentum into the next set of games and continue building on its strong start to the season.

Upcoming Home Schedule

  • Friday, October 16: vs. Fresno | 7:30 PM puck drop

  • Saturday, October 17: vs. Fresno | 7:30 PM puck drop

  • Sunday, October 18: vs. Fresno | 12:00 PM puck drop

All three games will be played at South Tahoe Ice Arena. Fans are encouraged to come out, support the Lakers, and be part of the team's inaugural NCDC season.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR LAKERS HOCKEY

The opening weekend was about more than the results on the ice. The NCDC debut represents an important step forward for the Lake Tahoe Lakers, their players, and the local hockey community. The level of competition provides an exciting new experience for fans while giving the organization an opportunity to continue building a competitive junior hockey program in the region.

With strong crowds, community involvement, standout individual performances, and a three-win weekend, the Lakers delivered an encouraging start to their new chapter at South Tahoe Ice Arena.

The Lake Tahoe Lakers thank everyone who came out to support the team and helped make the first NCDC home series a success. The season is just getting started, and the organization looks forward to welcoming the community back to the rink October 16–18 for the next home series against Fresno.

Weekend Results: Lake Tahoe Lakers vs. McCall SmokeJumpers

  • Friday, October 9: Lake Tahoe 5, McCall 0

  • Saturday, October 10: Lake Tahoe 5, McCall 1

  • Sunday, October 11: Lake Tahoe 5, McCall 1

Weekend Record: 3–0 | Goals For: 15 | Goals Against: 2