The No. 6 Lakehead Thunderwolves mens hockey team skated to a 5-1 win over the UOIT Ridgebacks Friday night at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay. Lakehead raises its OUA mark to 9-2 (10-5 overall); while UOIT goes to 1-6-2 in OUA play (3-10-2 overall).
All of Lakeheads goals came from Brock McPherson with a hat trick and captain Andrew Brown with a pair. Dan Speer was probably the offensive player of the game for the Wolves; setting up two of McPhersons goals with creative flair and helping out the third with a great goalie screen. Tobias Whelan and Kris Hogg also notched a pair of assists each. Jordan C. Smith led the D-Corps with bushel of big hits and Shandor Alphonso also delivered some timely checks.
Jordan Freeland scored the tally for the Ridgebacks.
Shots on goal were 44-33 Lakehead in the game. Lakehead netminder Chris Whitley raises his record to 7-0 in OUA play with the win. Matt Mateja played the first period in the OUIT nets and was replaced by Josh Evans for the rest of the game and Evans put in a good effort for the Ridgebacks. Lakehead was 1-1 on the powerplay while UOIT was 0-3.
Both teams were tentative in the early going with Lakehead carrying the play. Andrew Brown got the Wolves up 1-0 at 10:55; converting a nice pass from Tobias Whelan with the other assist going to Kris Hogg. The Wolves went up 2-0 at 16:17 on the powerplay when McPherson got his first of the night; firing a shot from the point past goaltender Mateja who was perfectly screened by Dan Speer. Assists went to Speer and Pierre-Marc Guilbault. Mcpherson made it 3-0 at 19:10 with the assists going to Speer and Mark Soares. Speer dropped the UOIT d-man with a fake and then slid the puck across the crease to McPherson who banged it home. Shots on goal were 16-2 Lakehead in the first.
The second period saw UOIT get some life with the solid netminding of new goalie Josh Evans. Jordan Freeland scored for the Ridgebacks at 7:59 after jumping on a Lakehead turnover and firing a rocket shot high over Wolves netminder Whitleys right shoulder. The Wolves came back at 14:11 with Browns second of the night; converting a nice 3-way passing play from Whelan and Hogg. Shots on goal were 17-11 Wolves in the second period.
McPherson notched the hat trick at the 44 second mark; again set up beautifully by Speer. Lakehead then took a series of penalties for the rest of the period but the OUIT powerplay could not put the puck past Wolves netminder Whitley; who made 20 saves in the third. Shots in the third were 20-11 for OUIT.
The Molsons Three Stars, as chosen by Leith Dunick of Thunder Bays Source, were:
1)Brock McPherson
2)Andrew Brown
3)Jordan C. Smith
The two teams face off again Saturday night at 7:30 pm and tickets are still available. Saturdays game goes at 7:30 pm EST and will be videowebcast live with ordering information available at http://events.news-cast.com/events/Lakehead.
GAME SUMMARY:
Lakehead 5 UOIT 1
1st Period
Scoring - 1. Lakehead, A. Brown (7) (T. Whelan, K. Hogg) 9:05
2. Lakehead, B. McPherson (6) (P. Guilbault,J.B. Smith)16:17 PP
3. Lakehead, B. McPherson (7) (D. Speer, M. Soares) 19:10
Penalties - T. Legge Uoit (slashing) 14:22
2nd Period
Scoring - 4. UOIT, J. Freeland (4) 7:59
5. Lakehead, A. Brown (8) (T. Whelan, K. Hogg) 14:11
Penalties - No Penalties
3rd Period
Scoring - 6. Lakehead, B. McPherson (8) (D. Speer) 0:44
Penalties - J. Smith Lak (high sticking) 3:45, T. Gubler Uoit (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 6:47, A. Brown Lak (roughing, unsportsmanlike cnd.) 6:47, R. Spencer Uoit (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 9:44, M. Soares Lak (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 9:44, D. Speer Lak (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 9:44, J. Smi