THUNDER BAY -- Mike Hammond had the puck on his stick, a wide open net and the chance to end what could be his final regular season home game as an overtime hero.
The goal would have given the Lakehead Thunderwolves their second win in as many nights, putting a team that at one point this week was last in their division firmly in contention for a playoff spot.
Instead he was not able to capitalize, allowing the Guelph Gryphons to take the puck the length of the ice which culminated in Seth Swenson scoring the double overtime winner as the Gryphons edged Lakehead 6-5 at the Fort William Gardens on Saturday.
“They went down and had the two-on-one play and it didn’t work out and (Guelph) came down with an odd-man rush,” said Thunderwolves goalie Justin McDonald, who allowed the winning goal during the three-on-three session.
“It’s quick back and forth hockey. It’s too bad we couldn’t have won but the one point was good to get.”
Hammond and Mike Quesnele had a rush and executed a pretty give and go, with Quesnele making an extra pass that his partner wasn't expecting. From behind the goal, Hammond tried to reverse course and jam the puck home but fell. Guelph then picked up the puck and took advantage.
The loss leaves Lakehead (9-13-3) in a three-way tie for sixth place in the OUA West, along with the Laurier Golden Hawks and Gryphons (9-13-3).
“It would have been nice to get the point,” coach Bill McDonald said. “Your emotions go so high for a few seconds because I honestly thought we were going to score, it was a pretty bang-bang play.”
The wild finish was the conclusion of a crazy night that started almost immediately after the opening puck drop.
Adrenaline was fully flowing for both sides in an opening 20 minutes that featured six goals and a combined 52 penalty minutes.
Each team got three goals with Cody Alcock, Hammond and Nathan Bruyere all finding the back of the net for Lakehead.
“It was unbelievable. It felt like playoff hockey out there,” said Bruyere, who finished with a pair of power play goals.
But the biggest moment from the frame came when Thunderwolves starting netminder Jeff Bosch took a slap shot to the head, breaking his mask and forcing him from the game and requiring assistance from teammates to get off the ice.
Though McDonald wouldn’t say, it appears likely Bosch suffered his second significant head injury in the past three months.
Either way, it continues a rash of bad luck for the veteran goalie that McDonald said he’s rarely seen in his career.
“I’ve been around a long time but for one guy, no, I’ve never seen nothing like this,” he said. “He’s obviously a key catalyst to our team. It’s just something different every time and I feel for the guy.”
Once again, that pressed Justin McDonald into duty between the pipes.
His night didn’t get off to a smooth start as Guelph took the lead on the first shot McDonald faced as Kyle Neuber scored a power play marker.
Though Lakehead would eventually tie the contest with a Bruyere goal before the end of the period, that sequence took the life out of a raucous crowd that had been on the edge of their seats with every hit and shot.
The second period was much tamer with only 14 minutes of penalties, though Guelph went ahead where it mattered with their special teams.
The Gryphons went ahead on their second power play tally of the game when Mac Nichol beat McDonald.
A little more than six minutes later Lakehead appeared poised to tie it with a power play but the Gryphons won the face off, sending Andres Kopstals on a shorthanded breakaway where he deked out McDonald for the goal.
Despite the shaky first period and a half, the second-year goalie settled down in the third by making a handful of key saves that kept his team in the game.
“He might have gotten us the point,” Bill McDonald said. “He made some huge glove saves in the third period. I guess he’s getting used to going in.”
Bruyere started the comeback with his second of the night, guiding a seeing-eye shot from blue line that snuck through the crowd and into the net.
That sparked life throughout the Lakehead bench, which provided jump and allowed the team to control the pace of play.
The rally was completed with about six minutes left in regulation when Luke Maw fed a long pass through to Brennan Dubchak, which ended with EJ Faust finishing a scramble with the equalizer.
Having the ability to chase a game after being down has frequently been a problem for a Lakehead.
With a pivotal road trip ahead that will decide whether the team makes the playoffs or misses for the first time in the program’s 14 seasons, any potential momentum could be vital.
“Hopefully it’s a confidence builder for these guys as far as coming back when you’re down,” McDonald said.
Claw marks: At 21 points, Lakehead, Guelph and Laurier all sit one point clear of Brock (9-14-2) and York (9-14-2) for the final three playoff spots…Lakehead has a 3-7-3 mark in one goal games this season…Wolves forward Kelin Ainsworth (ankle) left the game and reportedly went to the hospital for x-rays…Seniors Mike Quesnele, Ryan Magill, Keith Grondin, Jake Carrick and Hammond were honoured in a pre-game ceremony...Lakehead concludes the regular season next weekend on the road for one game each against Waterloo (16-7-2) and Laurier (10-14-1).
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Guelph, Huard 11 (Swenson) 1:24. 2. Lakehead, Alcock 6 (unassisted) 4:29. 3. Lakehead, Hammond 15 (Bruyere, Fillman) 9:47 pp. 4. Guelph, Simmonds 7 (Nichol) 10:36. 5. Guelph, Neuber 7 (Amestoy, Nichol) 11:35 pp. 6. Lakehead, Bruyere 4 (Hammond, Wright) 16:51 pp. Penalties: Gilbert LAK (interference) 5:49; Broussard GUE (roughing) De Fulviis GUE (roughing) 8:00; B. Dubchak LAK (delay of game) 10:51; Huard GUE (checking to the head, misconduct), M. Quesnele (checking to the head, misconduct) 11: ; Strong GUE (cross-checking), Amestoy GUE (roughing), Neuber GUE (checking to the head, misconduct), C. Dubchak LAK (unsportsmanlike conduct) 15:37; De Fulviis GUE (interference) 19:26.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 7. Guelph, Nichol 6 (Huard, Swenson) 10:08 pp. 8. Guelph, Kopstals 6 (Broussard, Nichol) 16:26 sh. Penalties: Broussard GUE (slashing) 1:12; Simmonds GUE (cross-checking) 3:40; Cull LAK (cross-checking) 8:07; Maw LAK (interference) 9:37; Fabbri GUE (hooking) 13:00; Trecapelli GUE (tripping) 16:18; C. Dubchak LAK (tripping) 20:00.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 9. Lakehead, Bruyere 5 (Fillman, Hammond) 2:31 pp. 10. Lakehead, Faust 5 (B. Dubchak, Maw) 13:59. Penalties: Huard GUE (roughing) 1:30; Rycroft GUE (tripping) 7:59.
FIRST OVERTIME
Scoring: None. Penalties: None.
SECOND OVERTIME
Scoring: 11. Guelph, Swenson 4 (Huard, Broussard) 2:10. Penalties: None.
GAME DATA – SOG – Guelph (17-7-15-1-2-42), Lakehead (14-12-12-2-3-43); Power plays (goals-chances) – Guelph (2-4), Lakehead (3-11); Goaltenders – Guelph: Andrew D’Agostini (38 saves, 43 shots), Lakehead: Jeff Bosch (10 saves, 12 shots), Justin McDonald (26 saves, 30 shots); A: 2,641
