Windsor goaltender Reese Kalleitner turned in a stellar performance to backstop his Lancers to a 2-1 win over the Lakehead Thunderwolves before 3075 fans at the Fort William Gardens Saturday night in Thunder Bay. The loss puts Lakehead at 0-2 in OUA play (4-5-2 overall) and Windsor at 2-0 in conference play and 2-6 overall. Lakehead outshot 32-22 in the game. Windsors goals came from Jordie Preston and Alex White while Shandor Alphonso replied for the Wolves. Kalleitner was the story as he turned aside 31 Lakehead shots; with a great majority of them being very good scoring chances.
The first five minutes saw neither team generate any dangerous chances. Lakehead had a powerplay but couldnt get it going and then the Lancers went on the powerplay at 6:58 but also were ineffective. Jordie Preston was sprung for a breakaway by Darrell Parsons, and Preston beat Lakehead netminder Chris Whitley with a wrist shot over the right shoulder at 9:42. Lakeheads defense was sloppy in front of their own goal and Alex White was left all alone and he beat Whitley with a deke at 11:01. Assists went to Parsons and Mike Tonelli. Windsor netminder Reese Kalleitner then made a great pokecheck to prevent a sure goal by Lakeheads Mike Jacobsen at 12:35. Windsor drew a minor at 13:56 and the Wolves put the puck on the net but Kalleitner made two good saves. He followed with a nice sliding chest save off Lakeheads Mark Robinson. Shots in the first were 7-7 Lakehead.
Windsor took a minor three minutes into the second but it was the Lancers Joe Mollard who came close first when he cut in on the Lakehead net forcing Whitley to make a good stop. Lakeheads Jason Lange then had a good point blank opportunity but Kalleitner stood his ground. Lakeheads Shandor Alphonso was finally rewarded for some strong play when he ripped a wrist shot from the right circle that beat Kalleitner over his left shoulder at 7:28. Assists went to Joel Scherban and Andrew Brown. Windsor then went on the powerplay but couldnt beat the Lakehead defense.
Action picked up and Windsors Graeme Lindsay broke free on a breakaway but Lakeheads Whitley made an excellent save. Lakehead then went on the offensive and Kalleitner stopped a shot by Lakeheads Wehrstedt. The Wolves kept the Lancers pinned in their end for the next three minutes but then took a minor with 3:50 left but the Lancers took one of their own a minute later to even up the sides. Kalleitner made a big save off a blast by Lakeheads Murray Magill with 35 seconds left. Lakehead swarmed the Windsor goal at the end of the period but couldnt put the puck on net at the buzzer. Shots were 10-10 Lakehead in the second.
Lakehead came out fast in the second but couldnt get any shots. The Wolves took a minor at 2:09 but killed it off nicely. Windsors Kalleitner made the save of the game when he somehow stopped Lakeheads Peter Cava who had an empty net to shoot at. Windsors Alex White then broke out on the counter attack and fired a quick wrist shot from the slot that was gloved nicely by Whitley. Lakehead then went back up the ice and Kalleitner got a pad on a point blast from Lakeheads Jacobsen. He then made another nice save off a shot from the Wolves Brown. Kalleitner then stopped three more in a goalmouth scramble. Lakehead then went on the powerplay and stormed the Windsor goal couldnt beat Kalleitner.
The Lancers were content to clear the puck out under the Lakehead attack. Lakeheads offensive was slowed by a penalty but they killed it off. Windsors White came close again when he fired a backhander that was denied by Whitley. Lakehead went on the powerplay and fired all around the Windsor goal but Kalleitner again made a series of good saves. Sides evened up and Lakehead again fired a series of shots and Kalleitner held the fort or the puck went wide. The Wolves pulled their goalie with a minute left. Lakehead whacked at the p