The Lakehead Thunderwolves mens hockey team lost 5-3 to the Western Mustangs, Friday night at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The loss puts the Thunderwolves at 13-10-2-2 OUA record and 16-17-2-2 overall. The Mustangs go to to17-6-2-2 OUA play and 19-8-2-2 overall.
Lakeheads scoring came from Matt Maisonneuve, Jarry Brend, and Brock McPherson. Tobias Whelan added two assists.
Sal Peralta paced the Stangs with two goals and an assist while single markers came from Sean Courtney, Steve Benedetti (1 assist), and Kevin Richardson. Jeff Martens and Chris Eade each notched two helpers.
The Wolves outshot the Stangs 33-30 on the night. Lakehead went 2-6 on the powerplay while Western was 1-4. Western netminder Brad Topping played a very sharp game for the Stangs and saw the puck well all night. Lakeheads Chris Whitley had a tough start but then played a solid game from the midway point of the second period.
The Thunderwolves now find themselves 1 point behind York and 1 ahead of Brock in the final jockeying for the 4-6 OUA West playoff spots. All three teams play Saturday night and those outcomes will decide who each will face in the playoffs.
The Molsons Three Stars, as chosen by Bryan Wyatt of 580 CKPR AM, were:
1)Western: Sal Peralta
2)Western: Brad Topping
3)Lakehead: Jordan Smith
Lakehead and Western take to the ice again Saturday night at the Gardens at 7:30 pm EST and the game will be videocast live off the Lakehead hockey site at www.thunderwolveshockey.com.
Game Summary:
Scoring:
Period 1: Western 3 Lakehead 1
Period 2: Western 5 Lakehead 1
Period 3: Western 5: Lakehead 3
Shots on Goal:
Period 1: Lakehead 16 Western 8
Period 2: Western 17 Lakehead 4
Period 3: Lakehead 13 Western 5
Total: Lakehead 33 Western 30
Scoring Summary:
Per. 1:
1)Western: 1:34: Sean Courtney from Steve Benedetti
2)Lakehead: 8:32: Matt Maissoneuve from Richard Molenaar
3)Western: 10:41: Benedetti from Chris Eade and Scott Russell
4)Western: 16:45: Kevin Richardson from Sal Peralta and Jeff Martens
Per. 2:
5)Western: PP 2:27: Peralta from Martens and Patrick Ouellet
6)Western: 14:24: Peralta from Eade.
Per. 3:
7)Lakehead: PP: 3:39: Jarryd Brend from Jordan Smith and Tobias Whelan
8)Lakehead: PP: 17:50: Brock McPherson from Whelan