The injury riddled Lakehead Thunderwolves skated to a 3-1 win over the RMC Paladins Friday night at the Constantine Arena in Kingston, Ontario. The win lifts the Thunderwolves OUA record to 6-3 (10-6-2 overall). The loss drops the Cadets to 4-4-2 in conference play (6-6-2 overall). Lakeheads goals came from Mike Jacobsen, Jeff Richards, and Dan Speer, while Dion Lahoda tallied for the Paladins. RMC netminder Blair Robertson played very well; stopping33 Lakehead shots and Lakeheads Chris Whitley was also sharp with 34 saves.
Lakehead Head Coach Pete Belliveau said it was a hard-earned win. "We pulled up our socks and battled hard the whole game. We were good on the power play and penalty kill. Mike Jacobsen played his best game of the year and Chris Whitley was sharp again in the net."
Lakehead came out fast in the first and pressured RMC netminder Blair Robertson early but Robertson made some good stops. The Wolves went on the powerplay and were rewarded at 7:08 when Mike Jacobsen fired a wrist shot by Robertson with assists going to Joel Scherban and Jeff Richards. Lakeheads Craig Priestlay fired just high a minute later and then the Paladins went up the ice and Luke Pierce just missed followed by a good glove save by Lakeheads Chris Whitley off RMCs Roman Srutek.
Lakehead took a minor at 11:07 but killed it off successfully. Lakehead struck again at 15:32 when Jeff Richards beat Robertson with a backhander with assists going to Drew Kivell and Peter Cava. The Wolves struck again at 16:46 on the powerplay when freshman Dan Speer got his first OUA goal by knocking in a rebound and assists went to Murray Magill and Craig Priestlay. RMC put on some pressure and Whitley made two good stops. Both teams took some minors and misconducts but sides stayed at equal strength. RMC took a late minor and the Wolves pressured but couldnt put the puck past Robertson.
Lakehead started the second with the man advantage but couldnt capitalize. RMC put on some pressure for the next few minutes and a hard slap shot stung Lakehead netminder Chris Whitley. Lakehead took a minor penalty at 7:02 and the Cadets put on the pressure but couldnt beat the Wolves Whitley. Sides evened up but Lakehead just as quickly took a too many men penalty. The Wolves put on some shorthanded pressure and RMCs Robertson had to make a good stop off Lakeheads Cava. Lakehead killed off this minor successfully. RMCs Pat McDonald then made a nice individual rush but was stopped by Whitley.
RMC took a minor and Lakehead pressured and the the Paladins took another minor giving Lakehead a two-man advantage. Robertson then made a great sliding save to deny Lakeheads Jacobsen followed by another big stop off the Wolves Erik Lodge. However, the Wolves then took a minor to put play at 4-on-3 Lakehead. Robertson then denied Lakeheads Richards and then Erik Lodge fired a blast that rang the RMC post. The Paladins then put on the pressure at they had a short advantage and RMCs Nick Cregan fired a hard shot that Whitley handled. Action picked up and went back and forth for the final few minutes of the period but neither team able to put the puck in the net.
The Lakehead line of Speer, Mark Robinson, and Jason Lange put some early pressure on the Paladins. Lakehead took another penalty at 3:29 and the Paladins pressed hard and were rewarded at 4:29 when Dion Lahoda knocked a rebound past Whitley with assists going to Brent Maurice and Tyler McTavish. Lakeheads Hugo Lehoux just missed on a nice pass from Erik Lodge.
RMC kept up the attack and their pressure forced Lakehead to take a minor halfway through the period. Lakeheads Whitley made a nice glove stop off a point blast by RMCs Brent Maurice. Whitley then made another great save off RMCs Bradley. Lakeheads Shandor Alphonso then came close when his hard shot was stopped by the Paladins Robertson with 7:31 left. Robertson th