The Lakehead Thunderwolves will host the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks for a pair of games at the Fort William Gardens this weekend, with the opening face-off set for 7:30 on both Friday and Saturday nights.
Last Time Out
Lakehead is coming off a road weekend split with the York Lions. York won the Friday game 4-2, but Lakehead rebounded with a strong effort on Saturday night and a 5-3 win at the Canlan Ice Sports Arena in Toronto.
Ontario Tech lost 6-4 at Laurier on Thursday night, and then returned home where the Ridgebacks were defeated by the Western Ontario Mustangs 5-2 on Saturday.
Series History
The Wolves have enjoyed a good deal of success against Ontario Tech, and have an all-time record of 11-2-0 versus the Ridgebacks.
Last season, Lakehead downed Ontario Tech by scores of 9-2 and 5-3 in Thunder Bay in late October, but then split the series in Oshawa last January with each team winning one game by identical 8-5 scores.
About the Ridgebacks
Ontario Tech comes into the weekend with an OUA record of 7-12-1. The Ridgebacks are currently sitting in ninth-place in the West Division, but are just two points out of a playoff spot, so this series is critical for their post-season hopes.
Junior winger Luke Van Moerkerke and sophomore centre Jesse Stoughton are the Ridgebacks top scoring threats, and junior defenceman Matt Pasztor anchors the blue line.
Freshman goaltender Bryce OHagan has played nearly all of Techs games this season, posting a goals against average of 3.60 with one shutout.
Precious Points
Just as the Ridgebacks are fighting for their playoff lives, the Thunderwolves are in a battle to secure home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs and beyond. Lakehead currently occupies fifth-place in the division, but are only four points out of second spot in the tightly contested OUA West.