The Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey team beat the Laurier Golden Hawks 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, ON.
Lakehead controlled the play early on. Mitch Fillman and Jake Carrick both had some great chances in what was a rather timid first period. Laurier starting netminder Ryan Daniels was especially strong, facing twenty shots from the Thunderwolves.
With Lakehead controlling the play, it was Laurier that struck first while shorthanded. An errant pass deflected off Fillmans skate and right to Hawks forward Mitch Lebar, who broke in alone and slid the puck past Thunderwolves goaltender Alex Dupuis at 8:18 of the first.
Laurier got off to a quick start to the second period when Hawks winger James Marsdens shot found its way through a maze of skaters in front and eluded Dupuis, increasing Lauriers lead to 2-0.
The resilient Thunderwolves answered back just 19 seconds later as Ryan McDonald fired a laser wrist shot past Daniels to pull Lakehead to within one goal. Assists went to Adam Sergerie and Trevor Gamache.
The Wolves continued to apply pressure, and were rewarded at 2:28 of the second when McDonald fed a beautiful cross-ice pass to a streaking Keith Grondin, who slid the puck into the open cage, tying the game at 2-2. Danick Malouin had the other assist.
The third period saw both teams trade chances and some nice hits. Both goaltenders had to make some big saves to keep the score knotted at 2-2. A flukey goal put Laurier in front, as a cross ice pass deflected off a Lakehead players skate and past Dupuis, putting the Golden Hawks ahead 3-2 at 11:26 of the third. The goal was credited to James Marsden, his second off the game.
The lead was short-lived as freshman Jake Carrick tied things up 3-3 at 12:54 of the third on a nice shot that found its way past Daniels. Assists on the goal were credited to Mike Quesnele and Devin Welsh. Lakehead had plenty of chances to close out the third period but couldnt get it past the stellar Laurier goalie.
Overtime solved nothing and it was freshman Keith Grondin that sealed the deal in the shootout to give Lakehead the 4-3 win.
The Thunderwolves are back in town for a second straight weekend next Friday and Saturday night to take on the #9 ranked Calgary Dinos.