I admit some disappointment that the Thunderwolves
didn't get to the OUA West final, to have a shot at getting to nationals.
But, I am not willing to throw the team under the bus wheels, like some fans seem to be suggesting.
I think fans have to look at the facts, such as the
Lakehead finished only six points ahead of Windsor in the standings, basically a
margin of three wins.
The two games in the regular season won by the
Thunderwolves in November in Windsor, were by a total of three
goals. The first game of the semifinal series went to
overtime, as did the final game at the Fort William Gardens.
The two teams were closer than most people wanted to believe, and when you add the factor of a very good goaltender (Parker Van Buskirk) it's easier to accept why the team came up a bit short.
Look at the Thunderwolves regular season record, an impressive 19- 9. Six of those losses came against McGill and Western, which consistently have been in the upper part of the top 10 all season -- both were No. 1 at some point in time. And, I have been following the Thunderwolves for a long time on the road, and let me tell you that this season's Western squad is perhaps the best I have seen that school have.
There is no question some things need to be
addressed, such as taking unnecessary penalties.
Although, the penalty
killing was a high-point all year, led by Andrew Wilkins who scored three
short-handed goals in the playoffs.
This was a very good team, and
there are other very good teams in this league, more than there were in the
first few years of the franchise.
Remember, they are students playing hockey, not hockey players going to school. It's a big difference, and when I see players studying on road trips, I am very impressed with their dedication and perseverance.
Obviously the overall goal every year is to win, but it's not realistic to expect that will happen every year. A 19-9 record in regular season and a 3 -3 playoff record maybe wasn't enough, but certainly not a disaster
