WATERLOO, Ont. – After a one-year absence the Lakehead Thunderwolves are headed back to the OUA men’s hockey playoffs.
But they got there the hard way.
The Thunderwolves on Saturday dropped a 2-1 decision to the host Waterloo Warriors, but backed into the post-season when Western fell 5-3 to the UQTR Patriotes, eliminating the once-powerful Mustangs from playoff contention.
Sam Schutt had the lone goal for LU, shutout through 40 minutes by Warriors goaltender Mike Morrison, who made 21 stops in the matinee tilt.
Riley Sonnenburg, in the first, and Michael Morgan, in the second, staked Waterloo to a 2-0 lead through two.
With the loss the Wolves (11-13-2) slipped into eighth place in the OUA West, the Warrios (11-12-3) jumping into seventh.
Lakehead, which wraps up regular-season play next Friday and Saturday night at Fort William Gardens against Western (8-16-2), can finish as high as fifth, but would need help.
The Wolves missed the playoffs last season for the first time since returning to the university ranks in 2001-02.
