THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – The Lakehead Thunderwolves are out for blood tonight at Fort William Gardens following a heartbreaking goal to end Friday’s game with 2.7 seconds left in overtime.
The Thunderwolves got going early at 4:35 with Dylan Butler putting the puck past Brendan O’Neil. Butler’s goal, his third of the season was assisted by Kelin Ainsworth and Tyler Anton.
The Wolves continue the push toward the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks with a flurry of action before the net that ended with the puck pushed into the net by Carson Dubchak, his third of the campaign assisted by Kelin Ainsworth.
The TWolves are showing a lot of poise early in the first period. They are also shooting the puck more. The Wolves scored on their first two shots on goal tonight.
With 9:32 to go, the Thunderwolves are headed to the powerplay after a roughing call on Ryan Doucette of the Ridgebacks. The Ridgebacks kept the Wolves off the board for that power play.
However the Wolfpack kept the focus and with 5:16 left in the first took a three goal lead when Patrick Murphy put the puck between the pads of O’Neil. The goal, Murphy’s second of the season was assisted by Kelin Ainsworth and Dylan Butler.
The pair of Wolves, Butler and Ainsworth are taking a strong game to the Ridgebacks.
The first period ended with the Wolves taking their 3-0 lead to the dressing room
First Period Shots: Thunderwolves 12 – Ridgebacks 9
Thunderwolves Second Period
The Wolves continued the scoring 51 seconds into the second Kelin Ainsworth was fed a breaking pass by Dylan Butler that led to a break-away. Ainsworth pocketed his 9th goal of the season.
Then Cody Alcock fed TWolves Captain Justn Sefton a perfect pass that Sefton punched into a blistering slapshot past O’Neil to take a five goal lead.
The Ontario Tech team isn’t giving up however, at 4:51 the Ridgebacks scored with Anthony Latina scoring assisted by Ben Blasko.
For much of the second period play was end to end with penalties.
The Wolves however pressed hard on the Ridgebacks. Coughing up the puck, Evan Mignault fed the disk to Brennen Dubchak who got out in front of the Ridgebacks defense and put the puck into the net to take a five goal lead.
Shots after Two Periods: Thunderwolves 20 – Ridgebacks 18.
The Thunderwolves dodged one early as the Ridgebacks bounced a slap shot off the crossbar behind Devin Green.
The Ontario Tech Ridgebacks got the final goal of the game to make it a 7-2 final score with the Thunderwolves taking the win.
The Wolves have maintained their composure and focus tonight along with working the puck well. Devin Green over the weekend played two solid games in net.
The game should go a long way to boosting the confidence of the TWolves as they head out on the road for their next games.
Shots: Thunder
Molson Three Stars
1. Kelin Ainsworth
2. Dylan Butler
3. Devin Green
Attendance: 1922
