The Lakehead Thunderwolves downed the Guelph Gryphons 8-2 Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, ON. Alex Dupuis had another strong outing between the pipes for Lakehead, making 46 saves as they swept the weekend series.
Lakehead started the game much like they finished last nights game - physical. Wolves captain Jordan Smith again set the tone early on, absolutely crushing Guelphs Justin Gvora. Smith received a penalty on the play, but Andrew Wilkins scored a beautiful unassisted shorthanded goal just 43 seconds into the contest to put the Wolves up 1-0. The physical play continued with plenty of big hits on both sides, and lots of after the whistle rough stuff. After a checking to the head penalty put Lakehead on the man-advantage, Ryan McDonald fired a wrist-shot over the blocker of Guelph goaltender Cody St Jacques. Guelph pulled within one at 11:16 of the first as Edward Gale snuck a quick shot past Thunderwolves goalie Dupuis. Lakehead answered back at 15:47 as Matt Caria stole the puck at the blueline and made a picture-perfect pass to a waiting Adam Sergerie, who converted for his fourth goal of the season.
Alex Dupuis made some nice stops to start the second period while Lakehead was shorthanded, keeping them in front by two. At 4:42, after controlling the play in Guelphs end, Matt Caria scored on a gorgeous cross-ice feed from Ryan McDonald to put the Wolves up 4-1. The other assist went to Mike Quesnele. After Caria put the puck on net, Ryan McDonald kept digging at the rebound until it squirted over the line, to put Lakehead up 5-1 at 11:18 of the second, with assists to Caria and Quesnele. Not quite content, Lakehead kept their foot on the gas as Kalvin Sagert scored his first gooal of the season at 16:21 of the second to put the Wolves up 6-1 with assists by Caria and McDonald.
The third period brought much of the same, as Lakehead controlled possession, and made Guelph work for every inch of the ice. Mike Quesnele continued his torrid pace to the season, scoring his fifth goal of the season at 4:15 of the third to put the Wolves up 7-1. With the game well out of reach, Devin Welsh scored his first goal of the season at 11:44 on a nice feed from Caria, and the other helper went to Quesnele. Guelphs Michael McFarlane got a late goal at 17:40 to round out the scoring.
The Molson 3 stars of the game were:
1.Ryan McDonald
2.Matt Caria
3.Mike Quesenele
The Wolves will be on the road next weekend for a pair of games with the York Lions.