The Lakehead Thunderwolves scored a wild come-from-behind 7-6 OT win over the No. 9 Calgary Dinos in the night game of Day 1 action at the T Bay Tel Varsity Cup hockey tournament before 2722 fans at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay.
Lakehead was down 6-2 six minutes into the third period but scored four goals to put the game into overtime and then Wolves defenseman Mike Self made a notable return to the Lakehead line-up with the OT winner 29 seconds into the extra frame. Lakehead Captain Jeff Richards led the Wolves with four goals and an assist while Mark Soares added a single and three assists and Andrew Brown notched a goal and a helper. Mike Self also added an assist. The line of Brown, Richard Molenaar, and newcomer Brock McPherson played a very solid game for the Wolves and were the most consistent unit for Lakehead in the game in terms of overall play.
Calgary had some offensive stars of their own as Trevor Galan had two goals and an assist, Barry Hormon had two goals, and Colin McRae had a big night with a goal and three assists. Calgarys other marker came from Wade Davis who also added an assist while Aaron Richards notched two assists. Although he did not get a point, Tyrell Lucas was a dangerous player for the Dinos; using his speed to create chances and to forecheck well.
Shots on goal on the night were 44-42 Calgary. Lakehead took six minor penalties and Calgary scored twice on the powerplay (2-6). Calgary was assessed six minors, a major, and a game misconduct and Lakehead went 2-7 with the man advantage.
J F Martel went all the way in the Calgary goal while Lakehead starter Chris Whitley was replaced by Matti Korhonen after the sixth Calgary goal. Korhonen took his second win in two starts for the Wolves.
Lakeheads Richards opened the scoring at 3:25 of the first when he stole the puck from Martel behind the Calgary goal and raced out in front to tuck the puck in with the unassisted marker. Calgarys Davis tied it on a 5-on-3 powerplay at 8:15 with a one-timer blast from the point that beat a screened Whitley with assists going to Conlan Seder and Colin McRae. The Dinos made it 2-1 at 8:42 still on the powerplay when McRae knocked in a rebound with assists going to Davis and Galan. Lakeheads Whitley made a good stop off Trevor Galan at 15:25. The Dinos were the sharper team in the first by a wide measure although Lakehead delivered a bunch of big hits. Calgary outshot Lakehead 16-8 in the first.
The Dinos quickly made it 3-1 49 seconds into the second period when Barry Hormon converted a nice pass from Paul Gentile. Calgary jumped out 4-1 at 6:32 when Galan banked the puck in off a Lakehead d-man with assists going to McRae and Aaron Richards. Lakeheads Jeff Richards scored his second of the night at 12:27 to make it 4-2 Calgary. Lakehead netminder Whitley fired a rink-long pass up to Mark Soares who tipped it neatly to a streaking Richards. Richards faked Calgarys Martell with a pretend slap shot and then neatly backhanded it top shelf. Calgary outshot Lakehead 16-14 in the second.
The Dinos struck quickly again to open the third when Galan scored his second of the night at the 46 second mark; banging in the puck during a goalmouth scramble. Assists went to McRae and Aaron Richards. The Dinos then quickly built a seemingly unsurmountable 6-2 lead at 4:449 when Hormon notched his second of the night on a beautiful individual goal; assisted by Adam Redmond.
It was here that Lakehead changed netminders and then drew a minor penalty. Things looked bleak for the Wolves but new goalie Korhonen made a couple good stops and the Wolves killed off the penalty. Lakeheads Andrew Brown brought the Wolves within three when he knocked in his own rebound at 6:04 and the Lakehead comeback began. Assists went to newcomer Brock McPherson and Richard Molenaar. The goal sparked the Wolves and Richards scored another beautiful goal at<