The No. 5 Thunderwolves mens hockey team battled to a tough 3-2 win over the Waterloo Warriors Saturday night at the Columbia Ice Fields Arena in Waterloo to give the Wolves an away weekend sweep over the Warriors.
The Wolves go to 18-3-1 OUA mark in conference play (22-7-1 overall) while Waterloo now has a 15-9 conference record. Lakehead moves one point ahead of Western for first place in the OUA Far West Division and the Wolves also have the best record in the OUA. The Wolves are five points ahead of Laurier and eight points up on Waterloo in the ultra-competitive Far West Division. Lakehead has two games in hand on Western.
Lakeheads scoring came from Mark Soares, Brock McPherson, and Andrew Brown while Kyle Pellerin and Joel Olzowka scored for Waterloo. Lakehead freshman netminder Kyle Moir and Waterloo freshman Jimmy Bernier were both stellar in their respective goals; making a lot of fine saves on the night.
Lakehead was 1-10 on the powerplay while Waterloo went 1-8. Final shots were 29 apiece in the game.
Lakehead Head Coach Don McKee said it was a very big win for the Wolves. Waterloo is one of the toughest teams in the OUA and to get two close wins here on the road is huge for us and helps us in the battle for playoff positions. I thought we were better tonight than last night and I think our team had the hunger to win. It was also a goaltending clinic as both goalies put on quite a show and I think Kyle Moir was our best player.
The first period featured furious back and forth action with both teams getting numerous excellent scoring opportunities; only to be denied by Lakehead freshman netminder Kyle Moir and Waterloo freshman Jimmy Bernier. Lakehead also did a good job of killing a four minute penalty just past the midway point. A late penalty to Waterloo saw the Warriors come up with two good shorthanded-chances. Waterloo outshot Lakehead 10-9 in the first.
Lakehead started out on the powerplay but couldnt develop anything and then the Warriors went of a 5-on-3 and mounted a furious attack on Lakehead goalie Kyle Moir; who made three big saves early; followed by a huge stop off the Warriors Chris Ray. Moir held fast and kept the Warriors off the scoreboard. Lakehead then went on the powerplay right after killing off the two-man disadvantage, and Lakeheads Mark Soares fired in what seemed to be a goal but the net had been knocked off its moorings and the goal was instantly waved off. However, Waterloo was assessed another penalty; giving the Wolves a short 5-on-3 and Soares jumped on a rebound at the 8:00 mark to give the Wolves the 1-0 lead. The assist went to Dan Speer.
Lakehead was still on the powerplay and then Waterloo again took a minor; again giving Lakehead a short 5-on-3. Dan Speer fired a rocket that hit Waterloo netminder Bernier who went down instantly; Speer jumped on the rebound and fired it in but the goal was instantly and fairly waved off due to the injury to Bernier.
Lakehead kept up the pressure and were rewarded at 9:36 when Brock McPherson blasted it in; assisted by Jordan C. Smith and Pierre-Marc Guilbault. Waterloo then went on the powerplay, but then the Warriors took one of their own to negate the man advantage. Lakeheads Tobias Whelan then came close but Waterloos Bernier made a huge save and a Waterloo d-man smothered the rebound. Waterloo then went up the ice and Kyle Sonnenberg fired a point blast that was deflected past Lakehead netminder Moir by the Warriors Kyle Pellerin at 16:36; with the other assist going to Chris Ray. Lakehead put on some pressure and Waterloos Bernier went down again but the tough netminder shook it off for the second time to resume his duties. Shots on goal were 12-11 Waterloo in the second.
Waterloo was assessed a minor at the 20 minute mark of the second so Lakehead started the third on the powerplay but the Wolves couldnt get anything going. Lakehead the