The Lakehead Thunderwolvesedged the Ryerson Rams 4-3 on Friday night at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay in front of a lively crowd of 3,143.
Ryan Magill notched the winner for Lakehead with just 23 seconds remaining in the game.
It was a great opening period of action highlighted by great pace and good scoring chances for both sides.
Thunderwolves captain Andrew Wilkins got the home side on the board first when he banged a rebound past Ryerson goaltender Troy Passingham. Cody Alcock and Keith Grondin had the assists on the goal at 8:41 of the opening frame.
After a Wolves giveaway in the neutral zone, Ryerson forward Victor Terreri outwaited Lakehead netminder Justin McDonald and slid the puck around him, tying the game at 1-1 at 11:44 of the first.
Justin McDonalds made a huge save early in the second period on a Ryerson two- on-none, and shortly afterwards Lakehead defenceman Luke Maw batted home a rebound off a Keith Grondin slap-shot just 1:59 into the period to make it 2-1 for the Wolves.
The Wolves continued their strong season of great short-handed play when Mike Hammond intercepted a pass at center ice, then broke in and fed a great cross crease pass to Kelin Ainsworth who put it up and over Passingham making it 3-1.
Rams forward Lucas Froese got Ryerson to within one goal when he shoveled a loose puck past McDonald at 12:00 of the second.
It was an intense third period with both teams battling it out with first place in the OUA West on the line. Rams goalie Troy Passingham kept the score at 3-2 with a huge save on a Cody Alcock short-handed breakaway halfway through the final frame.
McDonald returned the favor a short time later when he stopped Victor Terreri on a breakaway of his own.
Ryerson tied the score with five minutes left in the game when Andrew Buck broke behind the Lakehead defense and out-waited a sprawling McDonald.
With just 23 seconds left on the clock, Lakeheads Ryan Magill found a loose puck beside the net and rifled it into the wide-open cage, sealing the 4-3 win.
The victory puts Lakehead one point ahead of Ryerson atop the OUA West Division.
The MolsonThree Stars of the game were:
1 Andrew Wilkins, Lakehead
2 Justin McDonald, Lakehead
3 Troy Passingham, Ryerson
Both teams are back in action Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens.