Hockey Wolves fall in playoff opener

Two years ago the Waterloo Warriors ousted the Lakehead Thunderwolves in the opening round, the first time the team bowed out that early in its 10-year history.

On Friday, they’ll have a chance to do it again, after manhandling LU 7-2 Wednesday on opening night of the OUA men’s hockey playoffs.

The Wolves will likely face elimination without its top scorer after Matt Caria was ejected in a disastrous second period for a check to the head.

It’s a game Lakehead lead 2-1 1:20 into the middle stanza when Ryan Magill scored shorthanded on Waterloo goalie Keaton Hartigan.

But the Warriors, who knocked off Lakehead 5-3 Saturday in the OUA regular-season finale, scored five straight, chasing Alex Dupuis from the Thunderwolves net in the process.

Andy Smith evened the score 20 seconds after Magill’s marker, and less than a minute after that Brett Mackie put the Warriors up for good.

Kirt Hill, with a pair, and Matt Amadio also scored for Waterloo. Dupuis left after 40 minutes, replaced by Jeff Bosch, with LU trailing 6-2. 

Ken Allicock scored the lone goal of the third for Waterloo, who out-shot Lakehead 30-23.

The Thunderwolves will try to stave off first-round elimination Friday night at Fort William Gardens. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, will go Saturday night in Thunder Bay.