The Lakehead Thunderwolves first taste of Canada West competition was a bitter one, as the Saskatchewan Huskies defeated the Pack 5-2, in non-conference play, Friday night at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay. The effects of the contest will extend into Saturday nights rematch as three players the Huskies Jesse Zetariuk, and the Wolves Jordan Smith and Kyle Moir were dealt game misconducts and suspensions following a third period skirmish in the Thunderwolves end.
Steven Gillen was the star for Saskatchewan as the junior scored a hat-trick, while adding one assist to pace the Huskies. Kyle Bortis and Andrew Bailey also scored for the visitors who improve to 4-3-1 all-time against Lakehead.
Jordan Smith and Scott Dobben scored for the hosts in the loss.
Saskatchewan took a 2-0 first period lead following goals from Bortis and Bailey. Bortis marker came at 9:20 as his big wrist shot got past Kyle Moir on an odd-man rush with Bailey scoring on the powerplay.
Special teams were involved on the Thunderwolves first tally of the night as Smith found the net, shorthanded, off helpers from Andrew Wilkins and Ryan Baird, when the captain was sprung on a one-man break at 17:01, finishing on the backhand.
Dobben tied the game halfway through the second period on a single-man rush of his own after receiving a long pass from Mark Soares.
Lakeheads comeback was stopped, however, when Gillen scored his first of the night and the game winner off an assist from Chad Greenan at 15:38. Gillens second goal came at 3:52 of the third period with Chris Durand getting the assist.
The offense subsided during the remaining minutes of the game, but the physical play picked up as a melee erupted with about five minutes left. Zetariuk jumped into the fray early and was assessed an instigator penalty while Smith confronted the Huskies blueliner as things escalated. Moir was later penalized for leaving his crease with all three players hitting the locker rooms early following the incident.
Scoring closed with 24 seconds left when Gillen completed the hat-trick as he hit the net after Lakehead backup netminder Alex Dupuis for pulled off the ice.
The Thunderwolves will have another crack at the Huskies Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.