The Lakehead Thunderwolves opened the season with a 2-0 loss to the Mount Royal Cougars in front of 2,759 fans at the Fort William Gardens on Friday night.
Cougars netminder Dalyn Flette turned aside all 25 shots he faced, and Wolves goalie Jeff Bosch stopped 27 pucks in a strong opening night performance.
The first period was evenly played and it seemed that both teams had an early case of the jitters, evidenced by some wayward passes and missed opportunities.
Matt Brown put Mount Royal up 1-0 late in the opening frame with a wrist shot that beat Bosch on the far side.
The second period was scoreless, but David Quesnele and Cody Alcock narrowly missed on good scoring chances, both of which were set up by Mike Hammond.
In the final stanza, Keith Grondin, Alcock and Hammond all had their chances but neither was able to put the puck in the net.
Mount Royals Cody Cartier added the insurance marker while the Cougars were short-handed late in the third period after converting on a two-on-one break.
The Molson Three Stars of the game were:
1.Matt Brown, Mount Royal
2.Cody Cartier, Mount Royal
3.Jeff Bosch, Lakehead
Lakehead will try to even the two-game series Saturday night when the Wolves and Cougars will have it again. The opening face-off is set for 7:30 at the Fort William Gardens.