THUNDER BAY – The Ryerson Rams sent the Lakehead Thunderwolves into the pandemic 21 months ago, unceremoniously dumping them from the opening round of the 2020 OUA men's hockey playoffs in two straight games.
LU still hasn't figured out a way to fleece the Rams.
Ryerson was on the board 63 seconds into Thursday's opener of a three-game set at Fort William Gardens and hung on to edge the T-Wolves 3-2, the home side losing for the third time in four outings to start the current campaign.
“It was a tough start, for sure,' said Lakehead coach Andrew Wilkins. “It was a three-on-one against, something that we tried to manage going into the game. I thought we mis-executed there.”
Kyle Bollers finished off the play for the Rams, blasting a shot that rang off the iron and into the net behind Thunderwolves starter Blake Weyrick, who was pulled after the opening 20 and replaced on the bench by back-up Max Wright.
No explanation for his departure was given, though he did take a shot off his face mask in the first period.
The Rams doubled their lead at the 13:36 mark of the first, firing a wrist shot from the slot that went off Weyrick's blocker and slipped through, Ryerson taking a 2-0 lead into the break.
Brock Aiken took over in net for Lakehead to start the second and was tested early and often, turning aside five straight shots in the first 2:37 of the period – with some help from the post on a Jeremiah Addison attempt.
After withstanding the initial barrage, the Thunderwolves finally got on the board, Stephen Fox netting his first in an LU uniform at 5:18 of the first, finishing off a quick cross-crease backhand pass by captain Jordan King.
Five minutes later the Rams restored their two-goal lead, Addison's shot dribbling through traffic and behind Aiken, his lone blemish on the night.
Greg Smith had a breakaway chance for LU midway later in the second, but was stopped by Ryerson goaltender Lucas Peressini, author of 37 saves in the game.
Lakehead got one back in the opening minute of the third, a period in which they out-shot the visiting Rams 19-7. Spencer Blackwell stripped the puck from Ryerson forward Chris Playfair, and worked it to rookie Kevin Stiles who slid it home to make it 3-2.
Late in the third the Wolves were awarded a 1:41 two-man advantage and kept the pressure on the Rams defenders, but couldn't beat Peressini. Aiken was pulled with 90 seconds to go, but again, the Lakehead offence came up short.
“I think going back to the second we had some good looks too,” Wilkins said. “I think we had two breakaways. I thought we were the better team after that first period.”
Ryerson's David Miller and Lakehead's Troy Williams were both ejected for fighting in the second and will serve automatic one-game suspensions.
The two teams meet up again on Friday night at the Gardens. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
Claw marks: Ryerson's Michael Cramarossa is the younger brother of Minnesota Wild farmhand Joseph Cramarossa, who has played 63 NHL games over three seasons with Anaheim, Vancouver and Minnesota.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Ryerson, Bollers 2 (McCool) 1:03. 2. Ryerson, Barwell 2 (Fellows, Bollser) 13:36. Penalties: Nosella RYE (boarding) 2:16. Auger LAK (hooking) 9:08.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 3. S. Fox 1 (King, Egan) 5:18. 4. Ryerson, Addison (Commisso, Cramarossa) 10:56. Penalties: N. Massie LAK (hooking) 6:17, Edwards LAK, McCool RYE (slashing) 11:44, Miller RYE, Williams LAK (fighting majors, game misconducts) 13:03, Fellows RYE (slashing) 14:59, Ho LAK (interference) 15:58.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 5. Lakehead, Stiles (Blackwell, G. Fox) 0:52. Penalties: Kuczek LAK (boarding) 5:10, Kamps RYE (charging) 7:56, Smith LAK (boarding) 14:12, Harland RYE (high sticking double minor) 15:17, McCool RYE (interference) 15:58
GAME DATA – SOG – Ryerson 14-12-7-33, Lakehead 8-12-19-39; Power plays (goals-chances) – Ryerson (0-5), Lakehead (0-4); Goaltenders – Ryerson: Lucas Peressini, Lakehead: Blake Weyrick. (13 shots, 11 saves), Brock Aiken (0:00, second) A: 1,040.
