The Lakehead Thunderwolves were on the losing end of a 4-2 decision against the visiting Saskatchewan Huskies Friday night before 3263 fans at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay. The visitors earned full marks in the win as they generally outworked and outmuscled the Thunderwolves; especially in the Lakehead end. The game featured some quick pace, some tough checks, and some fine goaltending in both nets. Lakeheads quick-strike offense had its moments in the game but the Huskies strong work ethic in the game proved the difference. The loss puts Lakeheads overall record at 4-2-2 and lift Saskatchewans to 7-2 (1-1 in conference play).
Lakeheads scoring came from Erik Lodge and Andrew Brown while Saskatchewans goals were tallied by Garett Soparlo, Dean Beuker, Curtis Austring, and Alekcei McAvoy. Thomas Vicars was sharp in the Huskies goal, turning aside 34 Lakehead shots while the Wolves Chris Whitley stopped 41 Saskatchewan shots.
The Huskies turned it on during the first minutes of play and were quickly rewarded when Soparlo beat Whitley from the right hash mark at 2:25, with assists going to Alekcei McAvoy and Colin Johnson. Lakehead had a goal disallowed after the referee lost sight of the puck at 11:44. The first was very fast with both teams having good chances and shots were 12-10 in the Huskies favour.
The second featured some great goaltending by both Whitley and Vicars as both made key saves to keep the score at 1-0. This period was also fast and featured Whitley stopping Keegan McAvoy on a breakaway, Lakeheads Jeff Richards dinging the left Huskies post, and Saskatchewans Brent Twordik and Lakeheads Brad Priestlay missing wide open nets. The Huskies outshot Lakehead 16-10 in the second.
The Huskies Dean Beuker scored a beautiful goal at 2:42 of the third when he outmuscled two Lakehead defenders and then roofed the puck past Whitley with assists going to Twordik and Jeff Schmidt. Lakehead quickly replied when Erik Lodge carried the puck up the ice and blasted a shot from the point that surprised a handcuffed Vicars at 4:42. Lakeheads Whitley made a great point blank save off Aleksei McAvoy 12 seconds later. But, the Lakehead netminder had a bit of bad luck when he misplayed the puck behind his net which resulted in a goal by A. McAvoy. Lakehead put the pressure on with around five minute left and Vicars made two great stops off the Wolves Peter Cava and Andrew Brown.
Keegan McAvoy seemingly put the game away at 18:06 when he outmuscled a Lakehead d-man for the puck and beat Whitley high for an unassisted marker, a similar goal to Beukers. However, the Wolves didnt quit and poured it on for the last two minutes and pulled Whitley. They were rewarded when Brown knocked in a rebound at 19:08, with assists to Joel Scherban and Steve Rawski. But, it was too little too late as the Huskies took the win. The Huskies had the edge in shots in the third at 17-16 and in the game at 45-36.
The Molson's Three Stars, as chosen by Reuben Villagracia of the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal, were:
1)Saskatchewan: Thomas Vicars
2)Lakehead: Chris Whitley
3)Saskatchewan: Garett Soparlo
The two teams take to the ice again on Saturday at 2:00 pm EST and the game is being televised by Thunder Bay Television-CTV nationally on Channel 314 on the Star Choice Satellite network and locally on Channel 4/Cable 6 as well as on Bell Express Vu Channel 222.