Last weekend may have been the single toughest non-conference weekend this team has had to date. While the coaching staff was pleased with our performance early on in this young season, we knew that three games in four nights, against Michigan Tech on the road and defending CIS champion St. Francis Xavier X-Men would be extremely revealing. Throw in about eighteen hours on a bus and we would certainly find out what we were made of.
The three game set didn't start well. Name a statistical category that is taken in a hockey game; and we were outperformed in it by Michigan Tech. We had a difficult adjusting to the faster, more wide-open pace of NCAA hockey, as well as the differences in officiating. We really had a tough time getting anything going, and dropped a 4-1 decision. First year netminder Chris Whitley was the Thunderwolves star of the game facing 48 shots and had the team trailing only 2-1 entering the third period.
Coming back to the Garden's we knew we would be in tough against the X-Men. Defending National Champs, they came to the Bay having yet to win a game, albeit their non-conference schedule was challenging as well. After going 0 and 3 against NCAA competition, they dropped a game in overtime at UPEI on Friday night; then headed to Thunder Bay.
The X-Men looked like national champs early on in game 1 Sunday night, building leads of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2. Our team showed tremendous character late in the game, and rallied to tie it on goals from Murray Magill and Austin Wycisk by the end of regulation. Magill struck again nearly three minutes into the overtime session to earn the victory.
In the "Turkey Bowl" Thanskiving Monday afternoon, the rematch was sure to be a rugged affair. The 'Wolves responded well, jumping out to a 1-0 lead early, courtesy of Murray Magill who had a hot hand all weekend, notching five goals in the three game set. It was a lead we would never relinquish, building it to 3-0 after two periods. Chris Whitley's shutout was broken late in the third courtesy of a goal surrendered on a penalty shot. It was the only chink in his armor all night.
While not a total success, the coaching staff is very encouraged by the results this weekend. We know we will have to step up our play when Michigan Tech visits the Gardens in mid-December, but our series against the X-Men, with 15 returnees from last year's team, leads us to believe this edition of the squad can compete with any team in the CIS.
On the injury front, Erik Lodge missed the St. FX games with an injury picked up against Michigan Tech. He is expected back in the lineup Friday against Saskatchewan. Kris Callaway, who has missed the entire season this far with fatigue symptoms, is hopeful to begin skating soon.
We hope to see you at the rink for our final non-conference action, Friday and Saturday, October 15th and 16th against the University of Saskatchewan. It should prove to be a great test before the OUA regular season gets underway the following weekend in Waterloo.
Darrin Nicholas
Assistant Coach.