The Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey team edged the Guelph Gryphons with a 3-2 victory in the third and deciding game of the OUA West Division Quarter-Finals at the Fort William Gardens on Saturday night.
Devin Welsh scored the winner when he deflected a nice feed from Thomas Frazee over the shoulder of Guelph netminder Cody St. Jacques with only 48 seconds remaining in regulation time.
Mike Quesnele, who also assisted on Welshs game winner, opened the scoring for the Wolves at 5:11 of the first period on a power play goal set up by Mitch Fillman and Trevor Gamache. Guelph tied it up at 12:37 of the opening period when Zach Lillie beat Lakehead goaltender Alex Dupuis on an unassisted effort.
Both goaltenders were sharp in this game, with St. Jacques and Dupuis making plenty of big saves to keep the game tied at 1-1 through the end of the second period.
Guelph broke the stalemate with a power play goal by Edward Gale from Nathan Martine, giving the Gryphons a 2-1 lead at 4:14 of the third period. Lakehead responded quickly with a power play marker as well, when Andrew Wilkins shoveled one by St. Jacques at 5:54 with helpers going to Fillman and Frazee.
Both goalies continued their outstanding play in the final stanza and the game appeared to be headed for overtime before Welsh netted the winner.
The Molson 3 Stars of the Game were:
1.Devin Welsh, Lakehead
2.Cody St. Jacques, Guelph
3.Alex Dupuis, Lakehead
Lakehead will now meet the Windsor Lancers in the OUA West Division Semi-Finals, with Game 1 set for Wednesday night in Windsor, and will be broadcast live on Rock 94 FM. Game 2, and if necessary Game 3, will be played in Thunder Bay next Friday and Saturday nights respectively. Tickets for Fridays Game 2 in Thunder Bay will go on sale at the Fort William Gardens box office on Tuesday morning.