The Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey team stormed back with four third-period goals to beat the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks 5-3 Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, ON.
It wasnt the start Lakehead was looking for after a dominating performance on Friday night. Tony Rizzi found himself in front of the Wolves net and snuck the puck past Thunderwolves starting goalie Jeff Bosch just 11 seconds into the game. It was a physical first period, with both teams delivering some nice hits, and Ontario Tech was clearly looking for payback after an embarrassing effort on Friday.
The second period started off similar to the first, with lots of hitting and both teams not giving an inch of ice. Lakehead tied things up at 7:04 of the second period when Jason Grecica passed to Mitch Maunu in front of the net, and Maunu tied the score at 1-1. The second assist was credited to Ryan Magill. Later in the period, Ridgebacks forward Michael Montgomery somehow squeaked a shot past Bosch from a bad angle, putting Ontario Tech in front 2-1. Things got a lworse for Lakehead shortly after when Ridgebacks forward Kevin George was sprung on a breakaway and made no mistake putting it past Bosch at 15:16 of the second. Bosch was pulled after the third Tech goal, giving way to Alex Dupuis.
Early on, it was a tight, defensive third period, as Ontario Tech was determined to hang on to its3-1 lead. The physical play continued from both sides, and Ontario Tech goaltender Jason Guy was very good in goal, making plenty of big saves as Lakehead controlled the majority of the play. The Wolves pulled to within one at 12:29 of the third period after Mike Hammond lugged the puck into the Ontario Tech zone, and found a streaking Mitch Maunu who buried his second goal of the game. Hammond continued to make things happen just a shift later as he shot the puck on net, and Jadran Beljo scooped the puck past Jason Guy to knot the score at 3-3 at 13:05. Lakehead took the lead for the first time all night at 14:42 as defenseman Mitch Fillman snuck down the right side and fired a puck past a suddenly shaky Tech netminder. Trevor Gamache sealed the deal with an empty netter with just one second left in the game.
Lakehead is on the road next weekend against the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.