Freshman Matt Dias (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) had three goals including the game-winner in overtime as the No. 3-seeded Lakehead Thunderwolves mens hockey team eliminated the No. 5 Guelph Gryphons with a 5-4 win, Friday night at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay. The series between the University Cup hosts and the upstart Gryphons was as closely contested as a two-game sweep can get as the Wolves also needed extra time to win game one on Wednesday at Guelph.
Dias goals were his first three of the playoffs and he could have had more if not for the timely stops of Gryphons goaltender Scott Van Bommel (Norwich, Ontario) who made 25 saves. Lakehead also got goals from Andy Zulyniak (Thunder Bay) and Scott Dobben (Drayton, Ontario) who forced overtime with 1:02 remaining in the third. Matt Caria (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) had three assists in the win while freshman goalie Alex Dupuis (Thunder Bay) stopped 25 of 29 shots.
The Gryphons got goals from Matt Lyall (Richmond Hill, Ontario), Justin Gvora (Thunder Bay, Ontario), OUA West rookie of the year Thomas Kiriakou (Richmond Hill, Ontario), and Kris Belan (Florence, Ontario).
Lakehead narrowly outshot the Gryphons 30-29 and scored the lone powerplay goal of the evening Dias first going 1-3 to Guelphs 0-2 effort.
Lakehead now advances to face the Western Ontario Mustangs in the West Division finals with game one going next Wednesday night in Thunder Bay.