THUNDER BAY – Lakehead’s spirited third-period comeback bid fell a goal short on Friday night.
The Thunderwolves spotted the visiting Guelph Gryphons a 4-0 lead through 40 minutes at Fort William Gardens, before rallying for three goals in a 12-minute span in the third to make it a close contest.
Keighan Gerrie, with his first of the season, started the ball rolling at 3:37 of the final stanza, ending Guelph goaltender Tanner Wickware’s shutout bid. Spencer Blackwell cut the gap to two less than two minutes later and Richard Whitaker made it a one-goal game at 15:39.
But that’s where the comeback ended.
The Thunderwolves pulled Christian Cicigoi late in the game, but couldn’t score the equalizer with the extra attacker and dropped a 4-3 decision to fall to 6-4-1 on the season.
Jacob Winterton, with the lone goal of the first, Ethan Doyle, Julien Gervais and Dylan Hudon replied for the Gryphons.
Wickware faced 47 Lakehead shots, stopping 44.
Cicigoi was good on 22 of 26,
The two teams meet again on Saturday night at the Gardens. Game time is 7 p.m.
