THUNDER BAY -- After the Lakehead Thunderwolves went scoreless in their season opener, Mike Hammond was determined to not let it happen again.
But a hat trick was just one goal short of lifting the Thunderwolves to their first win of the season.
The senior forward struck three times but the Mount Royal Cougars had the last laugh, as forward Jeff Barrett scored in the game’s second overtime session to notch a 5-4 victory in CIS non-conference action at the Fort William Gardens on Saturday.
Playing in the new four-on-four followed by three-on-three sudden death format, Barrett capitalized on an odd man rush against Lakehead goalie Justin McDonald just seconds after Keith Grondin rang a shot off the post at the other end.
Despite failing to put a tick in the win column, the Thunderwolves insist the weekend wasn’t all doom and gloom.
A number of players made their season debuts in the second game of the weekend series, including rookies Jake Wright, Nathan Cull, Trevor Hynnes, Dylan Butler along with McDonald, the sophomore keeper.
For head coach Bill McDonald, seeing his squad in game action is an opportunity to assess his roster and get a sneak preview of how they’ll play in the upcoming season.
“I’ve seen a few things of what I think our team is going to be like,” the second year bench boss said after the game. “We have a lot of energy and speed. It was a good building weekend even though we didn’t win any games.”
Part of that process includes putting those rookies on the ice in key situations, such as on penalty kills and during overtime play.
“You’re not going to find out what they’re going to be able to do until you put them in the fire,” he said.
Wright, a new forward, spent time on the top line with last year’s leading scorers Hammond and Cody Alcock and got minutes during the pivotal three-on-three overtime period.
He appreciates the opportunity to show not only the coaches but his teammates that he belongs in those settings.
“It’s a great vote of confidence from (McDonald) to give us that chance. That’s all we’re asking for as young guys coming in. The older guys are established here so we’re just trying to make a name for ourselves and stay in the lineup,” Wright said.
“I was out there for the three-on-three and it was a little nerve wracking for sure, a lot of room out there.”
Even though McDonald was pleased with what his side showed up front, he insisted there was room for improvement on the back end.
He felt that aspect of the team’s game regressed compared to their 2-0 defeat on Friday.
“I don’t think our (defence) played as well as they did (Friday),” McDonald said. “They made some mistakes but it was two in two nights and I only went with the six guys so some fatigue might have set in.”
Lakehead put up two goals in the first period, but the visitors were able to provide a response each time.
Hammond took only 81 seconds to get on the board, taking advantage of a Cougars neutral zone turnover to elude the lone defender in his path and beat netminder Cameron Lanigan.
That early goal, breaking the 61:21 goalless drought to start the campaign, took the monkey off the backs of the forwards.
“It was very important for me and the team. Seeing it go in you believe you can put it in again,” Hammond said.
After Zack Henry equalized it with a doorstep deflection, Hammond responded three minutes later, taking a breakout feed from linemate Cody Alcock and finding the top corner on a partial break.
But, once again, the Cougars had the answer with MacKenzie Johnston tickling the twine to send both teams to their rooms even at 2-2.
In the second Matt Kaarela scored the only non-Hammond Lakehead goal of the evening, putting his backhand past Lanigan to restore the lead.
That was snuffed out in the final minute of the frame as Brett Zarazun rocketed a rebound off the end boards into the net on an out of position McDonald.
The Cougars took their first lead of the game in third after Matt Brown picked up a loose puck in the corner, walked out and fired a bad angle riser over McDonald.
The advantage was extinguished by Hammond, who brought at least two hats to the Gardens ice after he scored to electrify his bench and the home crowd.
Rob Trzonkowski finished the contest with three helpers for the Cougars.
Claw marks: This marked the second straight year the Wolves dropped their season opening series at home. They were swept last year by the UPEI Panthers…Rookie defenceman Cody Kostecki was the lone listed player on the roster to not see the ice this weekend…McDonald says he expects to start solidifying line combinations this upcoming a week and that an announcement on the team’s captain status might be made next week…Hammond, Mike Quesnele, Mitch Fillman and Ryan Magill all wore ‘A’s during the series…The Wolves continue their non-conference slate next weekend as they host the Laurentian Voyageurs.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Lakehead, Hammond (Maw) 1:21. 2. Mount Royal, Henry (Johnston, Trzonkowski) 9:31. 3. Lakehead, Hammond (Alcock, Tessier) 12:43 pp. 4. Mount Royal, Johnston (Trzonkowski, Henry) 18:00. Penalties: Marshall MR (interference) 2:08; Grondin LAK (holding) 3:58; Gilbert LAK (elbowing) 10:29; Stephens MR (tripping) 11:29.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 5. Lakehead, Kaarela (Cull, B. Dubchak) 5:44. 6. Mount Royal, Zarazun (McKay, Trzonkowski). 11:59 19:04 pp. Penalties: C. Dubchak LAK (cross-checking) 2:29; Butler LAK (checking to the head, misconduct) 6:54; Maw LAK (boarding) 8:22; Jewitt MR (checking from behind, misconduct) 11:17; Scott MR (tripping) 14:59; Tessier LAK (high-sticking) 17:38.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 7. Mount Royal, Brown (Fiddler, Cartier) 6:25. 8. Lakehead, Hammond (M. Quesnele, Ainsworth) 11:59. Penalties: Barrett MR (high-sticking) 7:06; Grondin LAK (checking from behind, misconduct) 9:08; Jewitt MR, Fillman LAK (roughing after the whistle) 10:00; Stephens MR (boarding) 16:25; Alcock LAK (boarding) 18:53.
FIRST OVERTIME
Scoring: None. Penalties: None.
SECOND OVERTIME
Scoring: 9. Mount Royal, Barrett (Cartier, Lanigan) 2:09. Penalties: None.
GAME DATA – SOG – Mount Royal (13-9-10-6-38), Lakehead (12-6-12-1-31); Power plays (goals-chances) – Mount Royal (0-2), Lakehead (0-2); Goaltenders – Mount Royal: Cameron Lanigan, Lakehead: Jeff Bosch; A: 2,454.
