GUELPH, Ont. -- The Lakehead Thunderwolves will miss the OUA men’s hockey playoffs for the first time in the team’s 15-year history.
The Wolves were eliminated on Friday night by the Guelph Gryphons, who blasted Lakehead 6-2 on home ice to ensure the playoff miss.
Carson Dubchak scored both Lakehead goals, his first tying the contest at 12:07 of the first. But the Gryphons erupted for four straight tallies, taking a 5-1 lead into the second intermission.
Robert Lepine had a pair for Lakehead, with singles going to Dyan Gilbert, Nicholas Trecapelli, Andres Kopstals and Scott Simmonds.
Devin Green was tagged for six goals on 29 shots, taking the loss for Lakehead. Matt D’Agostini was equally busy, but more effective, for the Lions, making 27 saves to pick up the victory.
Third-place Guelph improved to 15-11-0, four points behind top-ranked York in the OUA West. The last-place Thunderwolves dropped to 6-15-4 and can do no better than ninth in the 10-team division.
The Wolves and Gryphons meet again on Saturday night. Lakehead wraps up the 2015-16 campaign at home next weekend against the Laurier Golden Hawks.
