The Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey team is heading out on the road this weekend for a pair of games with the York Lions. Friday nights gameis a 7:00 p.m. startat the Canlan Ice Sports Arena on the York campus. The Saturday night game starts at 7:30 p.m. and will be played at Lakeheads Orillia campus, giving the Wolves a home game feel - although York is officially the home team for this game also. Both games will be broadcast on Rock 94.3 F.M.
Last Time Out
The Thunderwolves are coming off a very successful home series against the Guelph Gryphons. The Wolves offence was firing on all cylinders with wins of 5-1 on Friday night and 8-2 on Saturday. Alex Dupuis was solid in goal, allowing only 3 goals in both wins. Lakehead collected 4 points with the series sweep, putting them back in the hunt for first place in the OUA West Division.
Dynamic Duo
The Thunderwolves Matt Caria and Ryan McDonald both scored 5 points each in Saturdays 8-2 drubbing of Guelph. Caria scored 1 goal and added 4 assists, while McDonald notched 2 goals with 3 assists.
Series History
The Thunderwolves hold the lead in the all-time series versus York with a record of 23-7-1, but the games played in York are often tougher tests for the Wolves. As part of the new OUA West Division rotating schedule, Lakehead did not have to travel to York last season. The Wolves swept the Lions last October at the Fort William Gardens, winning by scores of 4-1 and 9-2. The two teams met again in the first round of the playoffs, with Lakehead losing game one of the series at York 3-2 in overtime. The Thunderwolves returned home facing elimination, but rebounded with a convincing 9-5 win to take game two and even the series at one game apiece. In the third and deciding game, Lakehead won the game and the series with a 6-2 victory.
About the Lions
York currently sits fourth in the nine-team OUA West Division with a record of 3-3-0, and is only 1 point behind the third-place Thunderwolves. The Lions are a young team, with 12 freshmen on the roster. York is coming off a weekend split with a 5-3 Friday night win at Waterloo, followed by a 3-0 home loss to Brock on Sunday. The Lions home arena has an Olympic-sized ice surface which is often challenging for teams like Lakehead that are used to playing on smaller sheets.
Scherbans Take
Thunderwolves Head Coach Joel Scherban knows that winning rivalry games on the road is never easy, but hopes the team will be ready to face the young Lions. We look forward to renewing our rivalry with the York University Lions, Scherban said. York is a young hard-working team that always plays well on home ice.