The Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey team beat the Guelph Gryphons 5-4 on Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, ON in front of a crowd of 2,734.
It wasnt the start Lakehead envisioned after a Friday night Thunderwolves shootout victory, as the Guelph Gryphons scored two goals in the first 47 seconds of the game, giving them an early two-goal lead. Guelph captain Chris Belan got the Gryphons on the board first, followed by Thunder Bay native Justin Gvora. Those two goals silenced the crowd very early on.
The two quick goals woke the Thunderwolves up as they started to lay the body and put the puck on net. The hard work paid off as Ryan Magill, with some nice work down low, found Grondin alone in the slot, who put the puck past Guelph netminder Cody St Jacques at 9:04 of the first. The assists on the goal were credited to Magill and Victor Anilane. Gryphons defenseman Nathan Martine restored Guelphs two-goal lead at 17:25 after sneaking a shot through traffic. Lakehead quickly replied at 18:56 of the first as Jason Grecica fed a beautiful pass to Mike Hammond who fired the puck past St Jacques, pulling the Wolves within one. Assists went to Grecica and Chris De la Lande.
Lakehead came out in the second looking to avenge a shaky first period and made the most of their opportunities. With Gvora in the box, Adam Sergerie scored from an awkward angle on a nice pass from Mike Quesnele to knot things at 3-3 at 2:14 of the second. The Thunderwolves continued to apply the pressure, and at 7:07, Quesnele found the back of the net on a rocket one-timer to give Lakehead its first lead of the game at 4-3. Assists on the goal went to Mitch Fillman and Mike Hammond.
Guelph fought back when Phillip Teri tipped a shot from the point past Thunderwolves netminder Alex Dupuis at 17:41 sending both teams to the dressing room with the game knotted at 4-4.
The third period was a tight-checking affair with both teams not wanting to slip-up and find the puck in their own net. Lakehead got the break it needed with Guelphs Andrew Merrett in the box, when Quesnele picked the corner after receiving a terrific pass from Fillman at 12:39 of the third. Quesneles second goal of the night put Lakehead in front for good, 5-4.
The Molson 3 Stars of the Game were:
1. Mike Quesenele, Lakehead
2. Mitch Fillman, Lakehead
3. Mike Hammond, Lakehead
Lakehead is on the road next week to take on the Windsor Lancers. As always, the game will be broadcast live on Rock94 FM.