THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – The Lakehead Thunderwolves will take on the York Lions in a pair of games this weekend, with the opening face-off set for 7:00 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday nights.
The Matchup
Lakehead: 11-3 overall, 7-2 OUA (2nd place West Division, ranked #10 nationally)
York: 7-5-1 overall, 5-2-1 OUA (5th place West Division)
Recent Results
Lakehead is coming off a very successful three-game road trip as the Wolves captured a weekend sweep by winning 3-1 in Guelph, followed by 5-1 and 5-4 (overtime) victories at Toronto.
York played just one game last weekend, falling 8-3 at home to crosstown rival Ryerson on Friday night.
Series History
The Thunderwolves and Lions have quite a history together as the two programs have squared off 60 times over the past 17 years. Lakehead holds the advantage in the all-time series with a record of 35-25 versus York, but the Lions have dominated recently by winning 12 of the last 13 and have knocked the Wolves out of the playoffs in each of the past two seasons.
Lakehead did come out on top the last time the Lions visited the Fort William Gardens, a 3-2 triple-overtime victory in the first game of the OUA West Division quarter-finals last February.
Long Train Running
The Thunderwolves have won six games in a row, the longest winning streak of any team in the OUA.
Friendly Confines
Lakehead has been dominant on home ice this year, posting a record of 7-1 in games played within the friendly confines the Fort William Gardens.
Getting Closer
A week ago, the Thunderwolves were in fourth place in the OUA west but now sit in second place, just one point behind the division-leading Ryerson Rams.
Welcome Back
For the first time in over four years, the Lakehead Thunderwolves have broken into the U SPORTS Hockey Top 10, resurfacing in this week’s national rankings at #10.
About the Lions
York has been the most consistent team out of the ten schools in the OUA West Division for the past three years, finishing the regular season in second place for the past two seasons and winning the division title the year before that.
Forwards Reid Jackman, Scott Feser and Josh LaFrance are the Lions’ top point-getters, while Daniel Nikandrov, Justin Maiolino and Dexter Bricker are also scoring threats. Defenceman Sal Filice adds even more offensive punch from the back end, and goaltender Mack Shields is among the best in the league.
