THUNDER BAY – How pumped were the Lakehead Thunderwolves to get a jump on their 2021-22 campaign?
How about three goals in 67 seconds – in the first four minutes of play – kind of pumped?
Griffin Fox, Tyler Ho and Troy Williams found the back of the Northland College Lumberjacks net in just over a minute, then the Wolves hung on to down their visiting NCAA Division 3 opponent 4-3, Lakehead’s first game at Fort William Gardens in 615 days.
“For a lot of us, we hadn’t played in a while,” said Griffin Fox, a newcomer who circled around the net and let loose a low shot that slipped through the skates of Lumberjacks goaltender Chris Curr just 2:03 into the contest.
“Especially the guys who were here previously playing school hockey. It’s been over a year for them, so it was a pretty exciting start to get three that quick. We were hoping to keep it going, but they shut it down.”
Coach Andrew Wilkins said it was a dream first few minutes.
“That was exciting for our guys to start like that. I thought the game changed after. I thought there was a little bit of a break in the flow with all of the penalties and the style of game that was happening. It started to get a little bit chippy and then a little bit sloppy on our end,” said Wilkins, entering his fourth year as head coach with the Thunderwolves.
“I thought we could have handled ourselves a little bit better, but you know what, it’s a good opportunity to learn and just get out there and play in a real meaningful games. For some of our guys, it was two years.”
Ho said the three-goal barrage showed just how anxious he and his teammates were to put on a good show for the 1,173 fans in the stands.
“I think everyone was just eager to come out there and show what they’ve got. We were just funnelling pucks to the net and crashing the nets and it worked out for us in the beginning.”
Anytime the Wolves are up against an NCAA, they know no lead is safe.
The Lumberjacks were down, but not out and continued to press, finally beating first-year Lakehead goaltender Blake Weyrick at the 6:27 mark of the opening period, a loose puck bouncing off Jake Lamberty and into the twine.
Eddie Gallagher cut the LU lead to one on the power play with 1:50 to play in the first, ripping a quick shot past Weyrick. They tied it on the power play just 44 seconds into the final stanza, Cameron Coutre burying his own rebound.
Lakehead kept its composure, despite losing a three-goal lead and Ho rewarded them, beating Curr in traffic just past the five-minute mark of the second.
“It’s always good to get the first win, especially in your first game,” he said. “Hopefully we can continue it tomorrow and keep building.”
Lakehead out-shot Northland College 33-31 on the night. The game got rough at times, Northland scoring twice in seven power-play chances. Lakehead was 0-4
The two teams meet again on Saturday night. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Lakehead, G. Fox (S. Fox, Blackwell) 2:03. 2. Lakehead,Ho (King, Egan) 2:55. 3. Lakehead, Williams (Ho, King) 3:10. 4. Northland College, Lamberty (Breton) 6:27. 5. Gallagher (Craycroft) 18:10 pp. Penalties: Dempster LAK (tripping) 4:08, Mack LAK (cross checking), King NC (slashing), Petrie NC (roughing), King LAK (roughing), Kuczek LAK (check from behind, misconduct) 10:45, Coutre NC (high sticking) 11:42, Van Den Hurk LAK (roughing) 17:22, Kuczek LAK (slashing) 19:10.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 6. Northland College, Coutre (Gallagher) 0:44. 7. Thunder Bay, Ho (Kuczek, G. Fox) 5:10. Penalties: Auger LAK (check to head, misconduct, served by Dermpster) 2:21, Jette LAK (roughing), Chartrand NC (roughing, Lamberty NC (check to the head, misconduct) 5:31, Aspro NC (slashing) 10:46, Williams LAK (check to the head, misconduct, served by D. Massie) 16:21.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: None. Penalties: Liwiski NC (slashing) 7:11, Badalamenti LAK (hooking) 9:31.
GAME DATA – SOG – Northland College 12-6-13-31, Lakehead 13-12-8-33; Power plays (goals-chances) – Northland College (2-7), Lakehead (0-4); Goaltenders – Northland College: Chris Curr, Lakehead: Blake Weyrick; A: 1,173.
