The Lakehead Thunderwolves will host the Western Ontario Mustangs this Friday and Saturday at the Fort William Gardens, with the opening face-off set for 7:30 p.m. both nights. These will be the last games for the Wolves before the Christmas exam break.
Last Time Out
The Thunderwolves are coming off a road-series split with the Queens Gaels in Kingston last weekend. After falling 6-0 in the Friday contest, Lakehead rebounded nicely with a 7-6 overtime win the following evening.Western Ontario had a successful weekend in Quebec. The Mustangs defeated the Concordia Stingers 8-4 in Montreal on Friday night before moving on to Three Rivers and downing the East Division-leading UQTR Patriotes 5-1 on Saturday.
Series History
Western Ontario is the only OUA West Division rival that holds a winning record over the Thunderwolves. Lakehead is 23-39-1 all-time versus the Mustangs.The Thunderwolves played the Mustangs twice last season in split trips to London, Ontario, losing both times. Lakehead fell 5-1 to Western Ontario in January before being edged 4-3 by the Mustangs a month later.
Injury Report
Forward Cody Alcock had been out since early October, but returned to the line-up last weekend. Defencemen Nathan Bruyere and forward and Jason Grecica (both with shoulders) will be game-time decisions. Goaltender Jeff Bosch and defencemen Andrew Tessier and Mitch Fillman (all with concussions) are likely to miss.About the Mustangs
Western Ontario is historically one of the strongest programs in the OUA, and this year is no different as the Mustangs will enter the weekend with a 10-3-0 conference record, good for second place in the ten-team West Division.The Mustangs main scoring threats are a pair of fifth-year seniors, Steven Reese and Stefan Salituro. Junior winger Kyle DeCoste is also someone the Wolves will need to keep an eye on.
Junior defenceman David Corrente and sophomore rearguard Alex Micallef anchor the Western Ontario blue-line.
Sophomore goalie Greg Dodds has been rock-solid this season, posting a 2.07 goals-against average with a save percentage of .938.