A Kris Callaway O/T blast gave the No. 3 Lakehead Thunderwolves a 3-2 win over the Guelph Gryphons 3-2 before 3209 fans at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay on Sunday afternoon. The Thunderwolves goals came from Callaway, Jason Lange, and Jeff Adduono. Guelph's markers came from Adam Kennel and Alec Bowes. Guelph netminder Andrew Gibson played a strong game, turning aside 44 Lakehead shots. The win raises Lakehead's OUA record to 17-3-1 (24-5-2 overall) and puts Guelph's record at 6-12-2 OUA and 8-19-2 overall. Lakehead is one point behind No. 2 Western in the race for first in the OUA Far West.
Lakehead struck quickly at 27 seconds when Jason Lange intercepted an errant Guelph pass in the Gryphons zone. Lange skated around the last Guelph defender and then dropped Guelph goalie Andrew Gibson and Lange then lifted the puck over the downed netminder. Assist went to Bryan Duce and Murray Magill. The Wolves struck again at 2:56 on a nice individual effort by Jeff Adduono who slipped the puck between Gibson's legs. Assists went to Robert Hillier and Craig Priestlay. Lakehead had the edge in play through the middle portions of the period but Guelph came on with 7 minutes left. Lakehead netminder Cory McEachran made a good stop off a one timer by Guelph's Clayton Carson. Lakehead applied some pressure but didn't get too many shots. Guelph's Chris Petrin came close with 1:15 left but was stopped by McEachran. The Gryphons went on the powerplay with a minute left. Lakehead outshot Guelph 13-6 in the first.
The Wolves pressed early and Andrew Gibson made two nice saves to deny them. Lakehead's Cory McEachran then made a great sliding save off Guelph's Bob Christie who came out of the penalty box and was sprung for a breakaway. McEachran then made a very good reaction save of Guelph's Adam Kennell who fired a quick shot from the low slot. Lakehead then had some good chances but couldn't convert. Guelph goalie Gibson made a good, screened, glove save off a hard point shot by Lakehead's Kris Callaway. Gibson then made two good stops off Lakehead's Matt Kenny. The Wolves kept attacking but couldn't put the puck in. Guelph went on the powerplay and made not mistake at 14:29 when Alec Bowes scored after McEachran had made a good initial save. Assist went to Adam Kennell and Scott Rozendal. Guelph's Gibson followed with two excellent saves off Lakehead Captain Joel Scherban. Lakehead went on the powerplay but again couldn't solve Gibson. Lakehead outshot Guelph 19-8 in the second.
Guelph started the third applying some pressure and Cory McEachran came up with a save. Lakehead's Mike Jacobsen laid a punishing hit on Guelph's Adam Kennell at 2:35 along the boards at the Lakehead blueline. The hit fired up the Wolves and they began to pressure the Gryphons. Guelph's Gibson made a great save to rob Lakehead's Leon Cooper who snapped a quick shot from in front of the Gryphon's net. Lakehead's Chris Shaffer was then assessed a five minute major and a game misconduct for boarding which put the Wolves in a dangerous situation. Lakehead were aggressive and kept Guelph pinned in their own end for the first two minutes of the penalty. Then, Guelph's Clayton Carson fired a quick shot that Cory McEachran handled well. McEachran then made another good stop to keep the Gryphons. Lakehead's Jeff Richards then crushed Guelph's Greg Edgar in front of the Gryphons' bench. With 30 seconds left in the major, Guelph's Rozendal hooked Lakehead's Murray Magill and Rozendall was called with interference and put the teams at four skaters apiece. Lakehead then had the man advantage and again buzzed the Guelph net but again Gibson kept the puck out. Guelph then broke up the ice and Adam Kennell fired a sharp angle shot from the left side that deflected through McEachran's pads at 13:05 to tie the game. Assists went to Jon Abbot and Rozendal. The Thunderwolves again controlled play and kept the puck<