The Lakehead Thunderwolves kicked off their 2008-09 season in an electrifying manner Friday night in Thunder Bayas a lightning strike on the Fort William Gardens caused a power outage and the postponement of the Wolves season opener against the Carleton Ravens. Score was tied 2-2 after two periods of play when the lightning hit and put a stop to the match; the first time in Thunder Bay hockey history that a game was stopped due to lightning.
The final outcome of the game will be decided before Saturday night's second game in the two-game set as the two teams will do a five-player shootout to decide tonight's final score.
The Ravens looked very quick and sharp in the first half of the game and built a 2-0 lead on goals by former Thunderwolves player Francis Walker (18:26 of first period, assists to Jared Cipparone and Bobby McBride) and Michael Testa (4:17 of the second period; assist to Brandon MacLean). Carleton freshman netminder Alex Archibald was on fire for the Ravens, making a number of big saves throughout thetwo periods.
This was Carleton'sthird game of the year and Lakehead's first and the Wolves looked rusty in the first 25 minutes but then began to find their legs and pick up the pace; forcing Archibald to make a number of big stops. The Wolves were finally rewarded at 16:34 on the powerplay when freshman Andy Hyvarinen scored his first goal of his Lakehead career in his first game; a good sign of things tocome for Lakehead. Hyvarinen bangedthe puck into an empty net after Archibald was caught out of position after a hard shot from Pierre-Marc Guilbault banked off the backboard from the right side and came out the left right to Hyvarinen who fired it home. The other assist went to Jordan B. Smith.
Lakehead's second goal of the game came at 18:15 when Brad Priestlay scored a shorthanded marker after a beautiful steal and setup by Matt Maisonneuve. All four goalsin the game came from special teams; two powerplay tallies for Carleton and and powerplay goal and shorthanded marker for Lakehead.
Shots on goal were30-19 Lakehead in the firsttwo periods The finish of Friday's game and Saturday's second game of the series faces offat 7:30 pm EST at the Gardens. The game(s) will be videowebcast live pay per view with ordering information available by CLICKING HERE.
Game Summary:
First Period Scoring: 1. Carleton, Walker (McBride, Cipparone) 18:26 pp. Penalties: Medel CAR (interference) 2:55, Molenaar LAK (interference) 6:44, Manitta CAR (tripping) 8:59, S. Alphonso (double-minor high sticking) 11:07, Priestlay, LAK (hooking) 17:10, Maunu LAK (holding) 17:45, Marriner CAR (holding) 17:53.
Second Period Scoring: 2. Carleton, Testa (McLean) 4:17 pp. 3. Lakehead, Hyvarinen 1 (Guilbault, J.B. Smith) 16:34 pp. 4. Lakehead, Priestlay 1 (Maissoneuve, Kivell) 18:15 sh. Penalties: Molenaar LAK (cross checking) 3:51, J.C. Smith LAK (cross checking) 4:17, M.Smith CAR (tripping) 8:12, Medel CAR (interference) 11:05, Bench Minor CAR (too many men, sevd by Bakker) 13:26, Beard CAR (unsportsmanlike conduct) 15:53, McPherson LAK (roughing after the whistle) 17:42, Cipparone CAR (high sticking) 19:21, Hogg (check to the head, misconduct) 19:46, Maunu LAK (roughing after the whistle), Stanley CAR (high sticking) 20:00.
Third Period Not played.
Game Data SOG Carleton: 9-9-18, Lakehead: 10-20-30; Power plays (goals-chances) Carleton (2-10) Lakehead (1-8); Goaltenders Carleton: Alexander Archibald, Lakehead: Chris Whitley; A: 2,854 (announced).