Tuesday signaled the end of an era for the Grand Valley State University Division II hockey club as its season drew to a close.

With the Lakers’ 4-2 loss to host Florida Gulf Coach University in the championship round of the ACHA Division II National Tournament, the team closed out a particularly strong season, which included a 33-6-1 record, a 23-game winning streak and a first-place finish in the Great Midwest Hockey League Tournament.

Despite the loss being a blow to the Lakers, the team agrees that the game was nothing to be ashamed of.

“We had a great season,” said junior forward Chad Wilhelm. “Our record was better this year than last year and we only lost six games. Every player on the team bought into Laker hockey and worked the hardest they could, day in and day out. You can’t ask for anything better than that.”

After emerging as victor of Pool D, the Lakers faced off against William Paterson University on Monday, pulling off a 7-2 win. The Lakers gained an early lead before being tied by the Pioneers, but several consecutive goals from the Lakers solidified their lead and ended with with GVSU advancing to the finals.

“We went in with a lot of confidence,” said junior defender Craig Marrett. “I don’t think William Paterson was really ready for us. By the end of the second period, they seemed to lose all hope in coming back, and we really put it away going into the third.”

Tuesday, the Lakers combated Florida Gulf Coast University, falling 4-2 in the final round of the National Tournament. The Eagles leapt out to an early lead in the first with a goal, but the Lakers made a return to form in the second period with two goals from brothers Brad and Chad Wilhelm, who scored within seconds of each other. Despite leading at the end of the second, the Lakers were hit with two more Eagle goals in the third, which closed out the National Tournament with Florida Gulf Coast as the 2012 National Champions.

“At a certain point, there was nothing more we could do,” said junior goalie Scott Tiefenthal. “Florida Gulf Coast is a really strong team, they played a strong defensive game and they took the puck away from us when we needed it. It was a tough pill to swallow for us.”

Despite a successful season, the final games were bittersweet for the Lakers because of the impending loss of the graduating members of the team, goaltender Josh Lavigne, defender Jake Vaughan, and forwards Ryan Welch, Brad Keough and Eric Beaupre. The team is aware that, despite the influx of incoming freshmen talent for next season, the seniors will be sorely missed.

“We are losing a few of our major scorers, and we will miss their leadership, both on and off the ice,” Marrett said. “The juniors, sophomores and freshmen will really have to step it up. These guys are the best group of guys I’ve ever played with, I’m just blessed to have another year left of this. It’s been quite a ride.”

Far from being defeated by the loss, the Lakers are already gearing up for next season, which they believe may even be better than this year. The loss has made the team hungry for another national title, and it is not a stretch to see the Lakers repeating their success next season.

“Every kid showed up wanting to win a National Championship,” Wilhelm said. “When that buzzer rang and the final score was 4-2, we had empty stomachs and the worst possible feeling. But that will be in the back of our heads making us want it more next year.”

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