THUNDER BAY — Throughout his hockey career, Griffen Fox has put up points.
He led The Trenton Golden Hawks with 60 points in 2019-20, was second on the Amherst Ramblers the following year, despite playing 12 fewer games that teammate and team leader Stephen Fox, and he was fourth on the Lakehead Thunderwolves last season, his rookie campaign, putting up 11 points in 15 appearances.
The Branford, Ont. native is at it again in 2022-23.
Fox leads a resurgent Lakehead Thunderwolves team with 14 points in 16 games and on Tuesday was named the hockey squad’s player of the month for November, putting up points in six of seven games to close out the OUA men’s hockey first half.
More importantly, the T-Wolves are sitting at 9-5-2, deep in the playoff hunt, a great sign for a team that missed the OUA post-season a year ago.
“I think I’m just starting to get my confidence a little bit,” said Fox, who had three helpers in last Saturday’s 6-3 road win over one-time rival Western.
“Last year I think that’s a thing I talked about with the coaching staff. And obviously I’m playing with some great linemates. (Spencer) Blackwell came back from suspension and he and I kind of have a history of playing together, back in junior. And Kevin Stiles, as well, they’ve been great.”
Fox’s biggest goal of the season came on Nov. 18. The Thunderwolves had surrendered a three-goal lead on the road against Toronto Metropolitan, but he needed just 85 seconds to pot the overtime winner, helping LU put up a second straight win on the board after dropping five straight and endangering their playoff hopes.
“I think my mindset is just even-keel, no matter the time of the game,” said Fox, who only scored once in his first 10 games of the season, but has four goals in his most recent six outings.
“I just kind of try to do the best I can for the best of the team and see how it goes from there.”
Coach Andrew Wilkins said Fox is one of those players who impacts every situation on and off the ice. It helps that statistically, after a bit of a slow start, he’s managed to pick things up and start producing in a tangible way.
“He’s had a couple big weekends in a row, but he’s just a player who seems to keep getting better and leads by example. He’s playing really good hockey,” Wilkins said, adding he’s also helping elevate the games of his linemates.
“Griff had three assists and Spencer had three goals, so they work really well together. They were matched up last year in their first year together. They seem to have good chemistry. I think they’re guys that feed off each other really well.”
Wilkins said he brought Fox into the Thunderwolves fold because everywhere he’s been he’s produced. It helped that he had his doubters, the veteran coach added.
“I think he had a little bit of a chip on his shoulders to prove he could be a top player in the league. I think he’s getting there. He’s still going to continue to get better as a second-year player, but he’s been really good for us.”
The Thunderwolves return to non-conference play on Dec. 29 and Dec. 30 at home against Windsor. They host Toronto on Jan. 6 in the return to regular-season play.
Claw marks: The team has yet to confirm a rescheduling date to make up for a fog-cancelled game against Windsor on Nov. 25, but the Thunderwolves are leaning toward a new date in the new year, rather than counting one of the post-Christmas games against the Lancers as a regular-season contest.
