The Lakehead Thunderwolves were downed 4-2 by the first-place York Lions at the Canlan Ice Sports Arena in Toronto on Saturday night.
Lakehead's Daniel Del Paggio opened the scoring at the 2:15 mark of a wide-open first period that featured plenty of end-to-end action. Joseph Leonidas and E.J. Faust were credited with the assists.
Jack Goranson got the Lions on the board with a point shot that made its way through all kinds of traffic and behind Lakehead goalie Devin Green.
Scott Gall put the Wolves back in front when he dented the twine behind York netminder Alex Fotinos after receiving a cross-crease pass from Dylan Butler at 17:02, with Tyler Anton also getting a helper.
The Lions came out with more jump in the second period and evened the score at 4:43 when Reid Jackman scored on a deflection. Josh LaFrance fired a slap shot from the face-off circle that beat Green short side to give York a 3-2 lead with just under eight minutes to go in the middle frame.
Kegan Blasby put the Lions up by two when he sped down the left side and wired the puck past Green high on the glove side with just over five minutes remaining in the contest.
Lakehead pulled Green for an extra attacker and applied plenty of pressure in the waning moments, but the Wolves were unable to convert and York held on for the win.
Total shots on goal in the game were 33-27 in favor of the Lions.
Neither team was able to score on the power play, with York having four attempts while Lakehead had only two.
The Thunderwolves will stay in Toronto for a Sunday matinee versus the Ryerson Rams with the opening face-off set for 2:00 PM.