The Lakehead Thunderwolves fell 3-2 to the McGill Redmen on Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, ON, in an extremely close, hard-fought contest.
Lakeheads top line of Matt Caria, Ryan McDonald, and Trevor Gamache started the game off strong, keeping the Redmen hemmed in their zone for their entire shift. That set the tone for the rest of the first period, as the Wolves played a smart game and moved the puck well. Lakeheads freshman goalie Jeff Bosch was very strong in the first period, especially while his team was shorthanded.
The Thunderwolves were buzzing in the second period. The top line of Caria-McDonald-Gamache got Lakehead out in front at 4:13 on a Matt Caria change-up that fooled McGill goalie Mark Segal. The assists were credited to Gamache and McDonald. That began a parade of penalties in which players from both sides were sent to the box for various infractions. After Brennan Menard was ticketed for hitting from behind, McGill captain Evan Vossen tied things up for the Redmen at 8:17 of the period. It was a funny looking goal that found its way past Bosch, who made three big saves on that sequence, but couldnt stop the fourth shot. Bosch was great the rest of the way.
Things did not start Lakeheads way in the final frame. McGill pulled in front 2-1, just 1:25 into the period on a goal by Andrew Wright after a defensive breakdown in the Lakehead end.
Mike Hammond rang a bullet off the post, and moments later Gamache broke in all alone but couldnt beat Segal. That proved to be costly as just seconds later Maxime Langelier-Parent blasted a shot over Boschs shoulder to increase the McGills lead to 3-1 at 9:33 of third. Both teams traded chances, and for most of the period the shots were dead even. Lakehead pulled to within one on an Andrew Wilkins marker after some hard work by Hammond to get the puck deep in the zone. Assists on the goal were credited to Brennan Menard and Hammond. Unfortunately, that was not enough as McGill held on despite a furious frenzy in the final minute of the game by the Wolves.
The Thunderwolves are in Ottawa next weekend to take on the Gee-Gees.