Shandor Alphonsos pair of goals led the Lakehead Thunderwolves mens hockey team to a weekend sweep over the Windsor Lancers Saturday night with a 3-2 win at the Adie Knox Herman Arena in scorching hot Windsor, Ontario. The temperature reached 31 degrees in Windsor and fog was seen rising from the corners during the game.
The Wolves won the series opener Friday by a 5-1 score and now have a 2-0 mark in OUA play (2-2 overall) while Windsor is 0-2 in conference play and overall. Alphonso was one of Lakeheads heroes in the sweep; scoring three goals; two of them shorthanded.
Lakeheads other goal was scored by captain Andrew Brown. Windsors goals came from Jason Taylor and Scott Gibson. Shots on goal were 48-41 Lakehead on the night. Lakehead was 0-7 with the man advantage while Windsor went 1-10.
Lakehead freshman netminder Kyle Moir again played very well; turning aside 39 Windsor shots for his second win in as many games while Windsor goalies Ken Olynyk and Jim Watt also turned in good performances; stopping 45 Lakehead shots together.
Lakehead Head Coach Don McKee was happy with his team's grit on the night and with their overall play on the weekend. "It was a very big win for us; and a good series; getting four points on the road. A lot of credit to the guys for digging in and scoring when we needed them; coming back from a 2-1 deficit. Full credit to Shandor Alphonso for playing so well, he was the best player on the ice tonight and played great all weekend;and he proven this year that hard work can be rewarded in productivity and he has shown he deserves a place as a centreman on our team. Our faceoffs were very good tonight and I thought Kyle Moir again played very well again for us in goal and had a great game. The team played very well tonight and I have to be very pleased and it was a good opening weekend for us."
Lakehead took a 1-0 lead early in the first when captain Andrew Brown potted his first of the OUA season (second overall) beating Windsor netminder Olynyk, Nick at 44 seconds; assisted by Jordan B. Smith and Kris Hogg. Windsor tied it at 1-1 at the 18 minute mark on the powerplay with the goal going to Jason Taylor and assists going to Josh Gaynor and Kyle Nishizaki. Shots on goal were 15-14 for Lakehead in the first.
Early penalties were assessed to both teams in the second and Lakeheads Tobias Whelan was denied on a shorthanded opportunity at the 5:20 mark on a great stop by Windsors Olynyk. Lakehead went two men down right after; but Lakehead netminder Moir and the Wolves defenders stood firm to deny the Lancers. Windsor kept up the pressure after sides evened up and the Wolves Moir had to make a spectacular save to rob Windsors Taylor of his second goal of the evening. Lakehead then put on the pressure in the middle section of the period.
The Lancers then put on some sustained pressure and were rewarded when Scott Gibson knocked in a loose puck at 14:11; assisted by Nishizaki and Alex White. Lakehead then went on the powerplay and went on the offensive; leading to another Lancers minor; giving the Wolves a 5-on-3 for 56 seconds. Windsor then drew another minor; giving Lakehead a great chance to score. However, the Wolves Tobias Whelan took a five-minute major and a game misconduct; negating the opportunity and the penalty would give the Lancers a three-minute powerplay. Windsor netminder Olynyk then made two good stops in succession off Lakeheads Mark Soares. Olynyk was hurt in a pile-up after the second save and was replaced by Jim Watt.
Lakeheads Shandor Alphonso quickly scored his second of the season and the series with a high backhander at 18:43; giving a rude welcome to new netminder Watt. Assists went to Mike Wehrstedt and Andy Zulyniak. Windsor then went on the powerplay and Lakeheads Moir made a couple saves to end the period. Lakehead outshot Windsor 20-13 in the second.
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