THUNDER BAY – Getting a lead doesn’t seem to be a problem for the Lakehead Thunderwolves.
Keeping it is an entirely different story.
For the third time in four games, the Wolves jumped out in front of their opponent on home ice, only to have them storm back to claim victory.
On Saturday, for the second straight night, it was the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.
Greg Smith scored the lone goal of the first period for the Thunderwolves, but 48 seconds into the middle stanza, Oliver Benwell tied it up for Toronto, potting his third goal of the 2019-20 campaign. Within seven minutes Joey Manchurek had the Varsity Blues in front to stay.
Something’s got to change, Smith said.
“We’re still trying to put together a full 60 minutes. We’re almost there. We’re competing every night, but it’s just not enough,” the Ajax, Ont. native said.
“I think we’ve got to get more committed to winning and being more thorough. We’re in the right positions, but we’re not doing what we should be doing in that position.”
Forward Josh Laframboise was a little more blunt.
“It’s really frustrating and right now in the locker room we’re really embarrassed. We probably have the best fans in Canada and you can see in warm-ups, the crowds are dwindling. They come to watch hockey and then yesterday we give them a good start and then we shot ourselves in the foot and they leave the rink unhappy,” said Laframboise, temporarily paired with Tomas Soustal and Daniel Del Paggio on the Thunderwolves top line.
“Today it was the same thing. It’s kind of embarrassing. You’ve got to be proud to wear that Thunderwolves logo. You look back at the heritage – everyone wins all of the time. This community, all they know is winning. I think it’s time we do a reality check, look in the mirror and be ready to go on Monday, especially with this bye week coming up.”
Coach Andrew Wilkins said blowing leads of 3-0 and 1-0 against the Varsity Blues is something that has to change.
“It’s finding the right mentality. We talked about it, especially last night with a 3-0 lead in the first period. Tonight it was a different game. It was tighter,” said Wilkins, whose team dropped to 3-5-1, registering a fourth straight defeat.
“It’s just finding the right way to play, working together and then it’s just whatever happens, the high or the low, you have to handle it the right way.”
Things also need to tighten up in the defensive zone.
Down 2-1 to start the third, Scott Kirton, whose uncle Brock Tredway had a brief NHL career, fired what appeared to be a harmless shot through traffic at Nic Renyard in the Thunder Bay net. The high shot eluded the LU goaltender and the Wolves found themselves in a two-goal hole.
Scott Gall smacked one of the post with 3:41 to play, and Lakehead hit the post again late in the third, but were unable to slip it past Toronto goaltender Alex Bishop, who made 30 saves to pick up a 3-1 win.
The Wolves (3-5-1) next play on Nov. 8 at home against Concordia. Toronto improved to 5-2-0.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Lakehead, Smith 2 (unassisted) 11:21. Penalties: Kuczek LAK (interference) 6:11, Bruce (high sticking) 17:21.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 2. Toronto, Benwell 3 (Thomson) 0:48. 3. Toronto, Manchurek 4 (Thomson) 7:41. Penalties: Hanson TOR (slashing) 5:27, Bruce TOR, King LAK (roughing) 10:03, Dempster LAK (boarding) 12:23, Laframboise LAK (high sticking) 14:49.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 4. Toronto, Kirton 2 (Hanson) 12:41. Penalties: Leitch LAK (cross checking) 9:24.
GAME DATA – SOG – Toronto 9-11-13-33, Lakehead 10-7-14-31; Power plays (goals-chances) – Toronto (0-4), Lakehead (0-2); Goaltenders – Toronto: Alex Bishop, Lakehead: Nic Renyard; A: 1,727.
