The Lakehead Thunderwolves were downed 7-1 by the UPEI Panthers on Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens in front of 2339 fans.
It was a feisty opening period as the Thunderwolves looked like they wanted to set a physical tone early on. Both teams traded chances in the opening half of the period but it was the visiting Panthers that got on the board first. Forward Jordan Mayer found himself streaking in alone and put the puck past Lakehead starting netminder Justin McDonald at 11:51.
Chris Desousa made it 2-0 for the visitors at 14:40 of the opening frame as he banged home a rebound. Shortly after Matt Brenton gave the Panthers a commanding 3-0 lead as his backhand shot found daylight behind McDonald.
It was much of the same in the second period as Casey Babineaux padded P.E.Is lead to 4-0 in the opening minute of the middle frame. Brock Beukeboom continued the onslaught as he increased the Panther lead to 5-0 a short while later. Lakehead goalie Justin McDonald was relieved after the fifth Panther goal and replaced by Jeff Bosch.
Mike Hammond finally got the Thunderwolves on the board at 15:56 of the second period on the power-play when he whacked home a rebound from a Mike Quesnele point shot. Mitch Fillman was credited with the other assist.
In the third period Dana Fraser made it 6-1 for the Panthers as he broke in and fired a shot past Bosch at the 3:16 mark.
Freshman Cody Alcock had a golden chance halfway through the third as he broke in and ripped a backhander that beat Panther goaltender Mavrick Parks, but couldnt beat the iron.
UPEI continued its run and made it 7-1 on a 5-on-3 power-play on a goal from Dana Fraser, his second goal of the game.
Shots on goal for the game were 40-29 in favor of the Panthers.
The Molson 3 Stars of the game were:
1st Star Matt Brenton, UPEI
2nd Star Reggie Tracitto, UPEI
3rd Star Mike Hammond, Lakehead
The Thunderwolves will hit the road to take on the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on Monday night and then return home next weekend to take on RMC in their OUA regular season opener.