The Lakehead Thunderwolves took the second game of their OUA Far East tour by defeating the McGill Redmen 4-0 at the McConnell arena in Montreal Saturday night. Lakehead was led by rookie goaltender Chris Whitley as the ex-Aurora Tiger turned aside 29 Redmen shots for a shutout in his first-ever CIS hockey game. The Thunderwolves outshot the Redmen 32-27 and the win raises Lakehead's record to 1-1 and puts McGill's record at 0-1.
Lakehead was led offensively by Jeff Richards with a goal and an assist and Jouni Kuokkanen with two assists. Chris Shaffer notched his second goal in two nights while the other Lakehead markers came from Jesse Baraniuk and Mark Robinson on a beautiful individual effort. The Redmen had three five-on-three powerplay opportunities but Lakehead's Whitley was there to turn them away at every opportunity.
Lakehead Head Coach Pete Belliveau was again very happy with his team's play. "It was another solid effort; we checked well and worked very hard. It's only our second game but the players are learning very fast so I'm very happy with what I'm seeing. I was also very happy with Whitley's play as it's quite an accomplishment for a rookie netminder to post a shutout in the opponent's barn in his first game. We are very lucky to have such a great goaltending tandem as Grant McCune and Chris Whitley."
Lakehead plays its final game of the Far East tour when it plays the Ottawa Gee Gees Sunday afternoon in Ottawa.