The Lakehead Thunderwolves return home this weekend to take on a team that is only in its second year in the OUA The Nipissing Lakers. Game times are 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens.
Last Time Out
The Thunderwolves travelled down to Oshawa last weekend for a pair of games at the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. The Friday night game was close, but Lakehead came out on top 3-2 in overtime, with Matt Caria scoring the game-winning goal. Saturday night the Wolves came out strong and built up an early 5-0 lead, but Ontario Tech came back with three straight goals. It wasnt enough though, as Lakehead held on for a 6-3 win.
Nipissing played a home and home series with the Carleton Ravens last weekend and swept the series with two very close wins. Friday night, the Lakers came out on top with a 2-1 win, and the Saturday went on the road and defeated Carleton 4-3.
Tight Division Races
Lakehead collected 4 points at Ontario Tech last weekend, and that was enough to put the Wolves into sole possession of second place in the highly competitive OUA West Division with 15 points and record of 7-4-1. But Lakehead doesnt have a lot of breathing room, as Waterloo and Windsor are close behind with 14 and 13 points respectively. The Thunderwolves will have to keep winning just to maintain their position.
The race is just as close in the East Division, where Nipissing currently is in a three-way tie for fourth place with UQTR and Ottawa all with 14 points each. But all three teams are only 2 points out of second place in the division, so Nipissing will be hungry for points this weekend as well.
About the Lakers
Nipissing is only in its second year in the OUA, but have quickly built a competitive program similar to what Lakehead did after joining the OUA in 2001. Another thing the Lakers and Thunderwolves have in common are good attendance numbers. Lakehead still leads the OUA and the CIS in fan attendance, but Nipissing is second in OUA attendance.
Lakers to keep an eye on are the top three scorers Andrew Marcoux (13 points), Dan Watt (13 points) and Ryan Maunu (11 points). Maunu, from Sault St. Marie, Ontario, played for the Thunderwolves in 2006-07 before transferring to Nipissing.
Scherbans Take
Thunderwolves Head Coach Joel Scherban is certainly not going to overlook the Lakers. We look forward to our first ever meeting with Nipissing University, Scherban said. As a Program they have come a long way in their first two years. They are a big, strong team that is battling for position near the top of the OUA East Division. He added, Nipissing is coming off a home and home sweep over the OUA East's second place Carleton Ravens and we believe that they are a better team than their 6-4-2 record indicates. We know we will need to play our best to beat the Lakers.