The No. 3 Lakehead Thunderwolves high scoring offense could not solve Brock netminder Matt Harpwood and the Brock defense as the Badgers skated to a 1-0 victory Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ont. The win gives the Badgers the 2-1 series victory and a trip to the national championships in Moncton later in March as well as the right to host the Queens Cup OUA championship next weekend in St. Catharines.
Lakehead ends the season with a 3-3 OUA playoff record; (26-7-1 OUA overall) while Brock goes to 4-2 in the OUA playoffs (20-11-3 OUA overall).
The Thunderwolves had the majority of the good scoring opportunities in the game but often fired over the net, wide of the net, across the crease, or finally were stopped by the netminding of Harpwood. Harpwood stopped all 23 Lakehead shots fired at him; including some excellent saves in the second and third period. Lakehead goaltender Chris Whitley also played a very good game; stopping 17 Brock shots.
The Badgers again stuck to their defensive game plan; playing a trap and looking to counterattack. The Wolves pressed for the majority of the game but couldnt seem to get in sync. Lakehead did not beat Harpwood since the first period of Game 2 of the series on Friday night; five periods plus of shutout play for the Badgers netminder.
Lakehead pressed for much of the third period but couldnt score. Brock almost got a lucky goal bounce in with 1.5 seconds but the game went into OT. Lakehead again pressed for much of the OT and Brock defenseman Joey Pell just cleared it hard out of his zone off the right boards to relieve the pressure. The puck bounced behind one of the two Lakehead d-men skating back and Brock Captain Ryan Del Monte used his speed to burst through the defense, pick up the clearing shot from Pell, and lift the puck over a diving Chris Whitley in the Lakehead goal.
Shots on goal were 23-18 Lakehead. Brock was 0-2 on the powerplay while Lakehead was 0-3.
The Molsons Three Stars were:
1)Brock: Ryan Del Monte
2)Brock: Matt Harpwood
3)Lakehead: Chris Whitley
Game Summary: Brock 1 (OT) at Lakehead 0
1st Period
Scoring - No Scoring
Penalties - D. Rogers Lak (holding) 3:33, P. Selin Broc (interference) 11:54, R. Allen Broc (boarding) 17:28
2nd Period
Scoring - No Scoring
Penalties - No Penalties
3rd Period
Scoring - No Scoring
Penalties - S. Alphonso Lak (cross checking) 15:18, P. Selin Broc (hooking) 17:34
OT Period
Scoring - 1. Brock, R. Del Monte (5) (J. Pell) 3:48
Penalties - No Penalties
Broc Shots: 3 11 2 2 TOTAL: 18
LAK Shots: 6 8 9 0 TOTAL: 23
Power Play Conversion
Brock 0-2. Lakehead 0-3.
Goaltenders
Brock
Harpwood 4-2-0-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 63:48 SV: 23 GA: 0 [W]
Lakehead
Whitley 3-2-1-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 63:48 SV: 17 GA: 1 [L]