WATERLOO, Ont. – It’s been more than five years since the Lakehead Thunderwolves claimed victory over the Laurier Golden Hawks.
The streak came to a merciful close on Saturday night.
Josh Van Unen scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with 3:03 to go in the second period – the final goal of the night by either team – the T-Wolves escaped with a 3-2 triumph, taking three of four points from the Golden Hawks on the road this weekend.
Dylan Massie, who opened the scoring a 9:26 of the first, and Spencer Blackwell, who gave them a 2-1 lead midway through the first, just 47 seconds after Laurier’s Callum Chisholm had tied the game, also scored for Lakehead.
Lakehead's last regular-season win against Laurier came on Nov. 22, 2019, another 3-2 triumph.
Kai Stothers had the Golden Hawks other goal, knotting the game at two goals apiece at 14:53 of the second at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.
Carson Cherepak got the start in nets for the Thunderwolves and stopped 23 of 25 shots to earn the regulation win. Paris O’Brien made 29 saves in a losing cause for Laurier.
The win vaulted Lakehead (10-6-2) back into a tie for second in the OUA West with the idle Windsor Lancers, one point behind Toronto Metropolitan (11-8-1).
Laurier, last in the conference, slipped to 4-12-3
The Thunderwolves are five points up on No. 7 Brock, who would miss the playoffs if the season ended today. The top six teams in each conference make the postseason.
Lakehead remains on the road next weekend, heading back to Waterloo to take on the Waterloo Warriors at the Columbia Ice Field Arena.
They’re back at home on Jan. 24 against Concordia.
