THUNDER BAY -- Bill McDonald isn’t particularly concerned with wins and losses in preseason play.
That’s why, even though his Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey team picked up their first win of the campaign, the second-year bench boss wasn’t really in a mood to celebrate Friday night.
“I guess if I wanted to grade it out of five I would say two-and-a-half,” McDonald said after the team’s 4-2 win over the Laurentian Voyageurs in non-conference action at the Fort William Gardens.
“It was better towards the end but we can be better in a lot of areas.”
It wasn’t an ideal start but Lakehead rebounded after giving up the opening goal to answer with four straight to gain control over their conference rivals from Sudbury.
Two of those came off the stick of senior forward Keith Grondin, who struck twice in the opening four minutes of the middle stanza to give the Thunderwolves some much needed breathing room.
For a team that struggled at times offensively last weekend against the Mount Royal Cougars in their first game action of the season, finding the back of the net gives the forwards a shot of adrenaline.
“It’s a huge confidence booster not only for myself but for our line and our team,” Grondin said.
“Getting goals is going to be key for us this year. That’s how you’re going to win games.”
But it was a defensive error that resulted in Lakehead looking at an early deficit.
Blueliner Nathan Bruyere made an egregious giveaway in his own zone, putting the puck on the stick of Voyageurs forward Nicolas Dionne, who fired the puck high glove on Lakehead keeper Jeff Bosch.
The Thunderwolves would erase that lead, and then some, before the clock hit zero.
Defenceman Mitch Fillman got the first as he pinched down to the doorstep to finish a pretty pass from Kelin Ainsworth.
Ainsworth then got in on the scoring two minutes later, ending a goalmouth scramble on a delayed penalty with
Despite carrying the lead, the performance in the opening 20 minutes earned the players a speech from their irked coach when they returned to their locker room for the intermission.
“I didn’t read the riot act but I raised my voice a bit,” McDonald said. “It’s about competing a little harder. I don’t think we were physical, there was a lot of stick checking in the first period.”
That’s when Grondin took over.
The Winnipeg native got his first just 98 seconds into the frame after taking a pass from linemate Cody Alcock and finding just enough space through Valiquette.
His second was also highlight reel calibre, tipping home a nifty slap pass from Bruyere, who redeemed himself for the earlier miscue.
Laurentian’s Daniel Pachis scored the third period’s lone goal to bring the visitors within two.
At this point McDonald has a pretty good idea of what his line combinations will look like with the start of the regular season only one week away.
He praised the forward units of Grondin, Alcock and Jason Grecica, as well as the trio of Ainsworth, Mike Hammond and Jake Wright.
The rematch against Laurentian on Saturday will be the last chance for guys to vie for a spot in the starting lineup next week against the Waterloo Warriors and Laurier Golden Hawks.
“I don’t number my lines but three that were out there (Friday) will be playing and we’ll be putting three other guys in,” he said.
Claw marks: Fifth-year senior forward Ryan Magill was scratched from the lineup following the death of his father, who passed away earlier this week…Rookie forward Trevor Hynnes will be sidelined for the weekend as he continues to recuperate from a concussion suffered last Saturday against Mount Royal…Voyageurs forward and former Thunderwolf Mike MacDonald made his return to the Gardens ice. MacDonald played in 34 games with Lakehead during the 2012-2013 campaign…The two teams are back at it on Saturday night with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Laurentian, Dionne (unassisted) 8:43. 2. Lakehead, Fillman (Ainsworth) 16:01. 3. Lakehead, Ainsworth (Hammond, M. Quesnele) 18:07 pp. Penalties: Grondin LAK (boarding) 1:10; C. Dubchak LAK (interference) 10:18; M. MacDonald LAU, M. Quesnele LAK (boarding) 13:39; Yeo, LAU (hooking) 16:46; Apperson LAU (roughing after the whistle) 18:07.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 4. Lakehead, Grondin (Alcock, Tessier) 1:38. 5. Lakehead, Grondin (Bruyere, Fillman) 3:20. Penalties: Smith LAU (tripping) 6:17; Gilbert LAK (boarding) 7:21; Thommen LAU (cross-checking, slashing) 7:50; Alcock LAK (hooking) 14:15.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 6. Laurentian, Pachis (Begin, Haines) 11:20. Penalties: Thommen LAU (hooking) 2:57; D. Quesnele LAK (boarding) 6:36; M. MacDonald (unsportsmanlike conduct), Hammond LAK (roughing) 7:19; Pachis LAU (roughing), Eddy LAU (high-sticking), Carrick LAK (roughing), C. Dubchak LAK (spearing) 14:29.
GAME DATA – SOG – Laurentian: (8-9-9-26), Lakehead (11-15-9-35); Power plays (goals-chances) – Laurentian (0-5), Lakehead (1-6); Goaltenders – Laurentian: Alain Valiquette, Lakehead: Jeff Bosch; A – 2,074.
