The Lakehead Thunderwolves fell 5-2 in their first road test of the OUA season at the Gryphon Centre in Guelph on Friday night.
Special teams played a key role in the Wolves loss, as three of Guelphs goals came while the Gryphons were on the power play.
Niklas Huard opened the scoring for Guelph while the Gryphons had the man-advantage midway through the first period, but Lakeheads Trevor Gamache replied two minutes later when he put the puck past Guelph goalie Keith Hamilton after being set up by Andrew Wilkins and Cody Alcock.
The first period ended with the score knotted at 1-1, with Lakehead outshooting Guelph 10-7 in the opening frame.
The Gryphons broke the game open in the second period, starting when Brett Appio beat Lakehead netminder Justin McDonald with a power play marker just 15 seconds into the middle stanza. Cale Jeffries extended Guelphs lead to 3-1 five minutes later with an even-strength goal, and then Kyle Neuber made it 4-1 while the Gryphons had the extra man with five minutes remaining in the second.
Guelph outshot Lakehead 13-8 for the period.
The Thunderwolves came out strong and controlled the play for most of the final 20 minutes. Mike Hammond narrowed the Gryphons lead to 4-2 with the Wolves on the power play just 3:25 into the third period. Lakehead continued to apply the pressure, but the Wolves were unable to get any closer. Huard sealed the deal for Guelph with an empty-netter with just 17 seconds left in the game, giving the Gryphons the 5-2 victory.
Lakehead outshot Guelph 13-7 in the third period, and 31-27 on the night.
The Wolves will look to get even tomorrow night when the two teams face-off at the Gryphon Centre again beginning at 7:30.