The No. 3 Western Mustangs put on a offensive display as they defeated the No. 4 Lakehead Thunderwolves 9-2 Friday night before more than 1100 fans at the Thompson Arena in London. Lakehead'sconference record now stands at 13-4 in conference play and 18-8-2 overall. Western's record goes to 17-0 in OUA play and 19-6-1 overall. The win extends Western's two-season long game regular season unbeaten streak to 41. The victory most likely assured Western of first place in the OUA Far West Division, ensuring home ice advantage in the playoffs.
Western's Ryan Held put on a show of his own, recording four goals and an assist. Held had predicted a Western sweep this weekend over Lakehead, and he did his part this game to make it happen. The Mustang's Darren Mortier added four assists, Joe Talbot notched two goals, Brad Yeo added one goal and an assist, and Kelly Paddon notched two assists. Lakehead's markers came from Jason Lange and Jeff Richards. Western goaltender Mike D'Alessandro was very tough between the pipes, turning aside31 of 33Lakehead shots.
The first period was the best of the game, with some very fast two-way action and both teams attacking and counter-attacking relentlessly. Western goaltender Mike D'Alessandro made a great save off Lakehead's Jason Lange at about the 6:00 mark. Soon after, Western's Darren Mortier and Ryan Held broke in on a two-on-one, and Held backhanded the loose puck past Lakehead goaltender Grant McCune at 8:14. The action went back and forth with both goalies making good saves. Lakehead's Bryan Duce missed an open net, then Joe Talbot rushed back up the ice and McCune robbed him with a great skate save. At 12:50, Western's Held scored his second of the game when roofed a blazing wrist shot past McCune of the powerplay to make it 2-0, assisted by Darren Mortier. Western killed off a penalty that saw the Thunderwolves have a few good scoring chances. Lakehead outshot Western 13-12 in the first period.
Western's Kelly Paddon ripped a shot from the slot that Lakehead's McCune neatly gloved in the first minute of the second. Shortly after, three Western players broke in on a three-on-one and Jamie Chamberlain scored at 1:34,after receiving a lovely drop pass from Ryan Held. Then Western's Brad Yeo scored 23 seconds later to make it 4-0 after the puck took a strange bounce to him after a shot from the point, and he redirected it past the sprawled Lakehead goaltender. These two fast goals seem to take the wind out of Lakehead's sails, and it was pretty much all Western from then on. Lakehead Head Coach Pete Belliveau called a time out to settle his team. Western then drew two minor penalties but Lakehead could not capitalize. Lakehead then took the play to Western, but D'Alessandro was up to the task, making a lot of good saves. With only 6 seconds to play, Western's Jeff Martin made it 5-0 when he blasted a wicked shot past Lakehead's McCune. Lakehead outshot Western 14-7 in the second.
Western's Held made it 6-0 out when he scored quickly at 29 seconds into the third. Joe Talbot then took advantage of a Lakehead penalty to make it 7-0 at 4:43. Ryan Held then notched his fourth goal at 9:21, assisted by Kelly Paddon. Lakehead's Jason Lange salvaged a little pride for the Thunderwolves when he scored at 12:22, assisted by Chis Shaffer and Murray Magill. Shortly after, the game took a nasty turn as both teams took to the ice for a bit of rugby scrumming, which resulted in a spate of penalties and misconducts to both teams. After that was sorted out, a second melee broke out soon after, resulting in more penalties, including a five minute major to Lakehead. Jeff Richards restored a little more pride for the Thunderwolves, scoring a shorthanded goal at 14:48. Western's Talbot ended the evening's scoring by notching his second of the game at 18:46. Western outshot Lakehead 8-6 in the third while Lakehead outshot Western 33-27 in the game.