It has been a tough start to the season for the Nipissing Lakers men's hockey team and they don't seem to be catching any breaks, either.

The Lakers, who haven't had a completely healthy lineup at any point this season, dropped their fourth straight Saturday in Quebec, as the UQTR Patriotes upended the Lakers 7-2.

Nipissing stuck around for the first period, but UQTR's depth proved to be too much and along with four power play goals, ended up sinking the Lakers.

Both teams came out flying in the first period, as they combined for five goals and 24 shots in the opening 20 minutes.

UQTR opened the scoring, but Colin Campbell scored twice in 20 seconds to give Nipissing a 2-1 lead.

That advantage was short-lived, however, as the Patriotes tied the game 20 seconds after that and added a third goal before the period ended.

They would add three more in the second and another in the third to claim the victory over the Lakers.

Erik Robichaud picked up an assist in the game, while Jeremy Pominville and Domenic Graham split the duties in net, with Pominville playing the first two periods, before Graham finished the game in the third.

Nipissing will look to get back on track this weekend when they hit the road once again and head to Ryerson and Toronto Friday and Saturday.

Following those two road games, the Lakers finally return to home ice on Nov. 18 and 19, as they host RMC and Carleton.

Currently in ninth place in the East Division, the Lakers will look to get things on track as soon as possible, as they head towards the end of the first semester, with six games left on the schedule before the break.