The Lakehead Thunderwolves lost their non-conference opener a year ago and ultimately fell a game short of a trip to nationals.
They’re hoping history repeats itself in 2014-15 – well perhaps with a slightly different storybook ending.
The Wolves were stymied Friday night by Mount Royal Cougars goalie Dalyn Flette, who stopped all 25 shots directed his way to power the visiting Canada West conference squad to a 1-0 season-opening win at Fort William Gardens.
Truro, N.S.’s Matt Brown scored the winner, tucking it past LU goalie Jeff Bosch with 1:38 to go in the opening stanza. Cody Cartier added the insurance marker with less than five minutes to go in the third, lifting a second-chance, shorthanded backhander past an outstretched Bosch to wrap up the scoring.
LU's Ryan Magill, who had one of the Thunderwolves few scoring chances, stuffed by Flette in the final minute of play, said he and his teammates aren't going to worry too much about one loss.
"I think we actually lost our first few by quite a bit (last year) and I think we ended up going 9-0-1 after that or something," Magill said. "I don't think we have to hit the panic button yet. Although you want to win every game you play, a the end you have to take the little things you can and move toward them working tomorrow."
Lakehead simply couldn't generate any offence, and had trouble in the faceoff circle all night long.
If you can't score, you're not going to win too many hockey games.
Magill said at least the Thunderwolves recognize what went wrong.
"They came out strong and I think they played a few games. We had a lot of new faces in the lineup tonight. I think we went out there looking to win, but more important start doing the right things and start working within a system and toward getting ready for the season."
It certainly wasn't all negative.
For the most part, Magill said, the rookies looked like they belonged. E.J. Faust and Austin McDonald showed they've got plenty of speed in their debut, while Thunder Bay's Dylan Butler didn't look out of place skating regular minutes.
"I think it's going to be a good year, good competition for who's going to be a regular. Tonight, everyone was a little slow. I think the ice was the same for both sides. Once we do a little more skating and a little less watching and fitting into the system I think we'll be OK," Magill said.
Lakehead coach Bill McDonald said he plans to rotate the rest of the players, including second-year veteran Kelin Ainsworth who sat after missing a mandatory team meeting, into the lineup in Saturday's rematch.
The second-year coach said he thought the Royals were a bit more technical and a step ahead of Lakehead all night long.
"We didn't really have a lot of good looks maybe until the end, but it was just one of those games where you evaluate. We had a couple of guys who I don't want to say didn't show up, but they were a step behind," McDonald said, praising sophomore Matt Kaarela for his hustle throughout the contest.
Cody Alcock had LU's first great chance to score in the second, but fired wide of the Mount Royal net as he bore down the right side of the ice.
Their best chance came with seconds to go, and it was Alcock again, firing a puck at Flette that deflected off the post and out of harm's way with Bosch on the bench for an extra attacker.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Mount Royal, Brown (Cartier, Fiddler) 18:21. Penalties: A. McDonald LAK (hooking) 5:58.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: No scoring. Penalties: Fiddler MR (holding) 8:28, Baker MR (hooking) 15:58.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 2. Mount Royal, Cartier (Brown) 15:21 sh. Penalties: Barrett MR (tripping) 0:14, Hammond LAK (high sticking) 9:04. Brown MR (roughing), Tessier LAK (roughin) 9:48, Fiddler MR (holding) 14:27, Trzonkowski MR (high sticking, roughing), C. Dubchak LAK (roughing) 19:57.
GAME DATA – SOG – Mount Royal 14-6-0-0, Lakehead 7-9-0-0; Power plays (goals-chances) – Mount Royal (0-2), Lakehead (0-5); Goaltenders – Mount Royal: Dalyn Flette, Lakehead: Jeff Bosch. A: 2,759.
