Pouliot leads Lakehead to series win over Toronto.
Toronto opened the scoring in the 1st period with a squeaker that just got past a sprawling Max Wright.
Later in the period Spencer Blackwell would get the crowd going with a thunderous hit along the boards on the Blues Elliot.
Wright would be tasked with stopping Toronto multiple times late in the period to keep the score 1-0.
Lakehead would get their share of scoring opportunities but were thwarted by Jett Alexander.
The second would see the Wolves garner many scoring chances but it was Josh Van Unen who would get the 2789 fans on their feet at the 16:28 mark of the second when he banged home a rebound just inside the post to tie the game up at 1.
Toronto would get their fair share of chances in the period as well but could not convert.
The third would see the a very motivated Thunderwolves team come roaring out of the gate scoring two goals in the first :53 seconds of the frame.
First off Olivier Poliuot would rip home a Blackwood pass to put the Wolves up by one. They would strike again while the iron was hot when Keighan Gerrie would pick up his own rebound and head around the back of the net and tuck in a beautiful wrap around goal to up the lead to 3-1.
The Wolves were not done yet as Olivier Pouliot would pick up his second of the period 3:15 later with a beautiful deke around Jett Alaexander to score what would be the eventual game winner.
Toronto's Ryan Barbosa would bring the Blues within 2 ripping a Owen Robinson pass from the high slot past Max Wright.
Olivier Pouliot with the hot stick would complete the hattrick before the midway point of the period when he picked up a loose puck and plowed his way to the net and tucked it just past a sprawled Alexander. Pouliot would join some elite company with his hat-trick becoming only the 5th Thunderwolve to accomplished the feat joining Joel Scherban (2), Jeff Richards and Mike Hammond.
Cole Purboo of the Blues would be sprung by Barbosa and wrist a shot over Max Wright's shoulder to cut the lead to 5-3.
The Wolves Griffen Fox would put the game out of reach scoring into and empty net only 4 seconds after Alexander was pulled to make the final 6-3.
The Thunderwolves will now face the Windsor Lancers in the OUA Western Conference Finals. Lakehead will play game 2 on Friday Mar 3rd at 7pm.
Molson 5 Forks 3 Stars of the Game:
- Olivier Poliuot - Lakehead
- Josh Van Unen - Lakehead
- Keighan Gerrie - Lakehead