THUNDER BAY – Seconds after Josh Laframboise netted the shootout winner on Saturday night, he turned and pointed to the sky.
It was his way of honouring his best friend, former Humboldt Broncos captain Logan Schatz, one of 16 members of the team killed last April in a horrific bus crash in northern Saskatchewan.
It was an emotional moment for the Lakehead Thunderwolves forward, his team having battled back from two goals down in the third to force overtime and eventually send it to penalty shots.
Teammate Cooper Leitch, who tipped home a Matt Alexander shot to pull the Wolves within a goal at 7:01 of the final stanza, then pounced on a loose puck in a goal-mouth scramble to tie the game with 1:46 to play in regulation, called it a fitting end to the 6-5 contest.
“It’s a tough time, it’s a horrible thing that happened,” said Leitch, noting that Hockey Night in Canada’s Ron MacLean had made mention of the relationship between Schatz and Laframboise when he met with the team prior to the game.
“I thought (the goal) was a nice memorial for his friend there.
Lakehead coach Andrew Wilkins said the Thunderwolves remain Humboldt Strong.
“It was good to see Josh come through. He had a long year last year and he worked hard in the offseason to get himself ready. He had a good weekend and it was a great way to cap it off,” Wilkins said.
Laframboise, the fourth shooter in the shootout, wouldn’t have been in any position to score the game-winner if it weren’t for Leitch. It was a case of twice being in the right place at the right time.
“I think today was kind of lucky bounces here and there, but the boys batted hard tonight and my line especially got things going early, so I think it kind of played out like it should have,” Leitch said.
Getting a pair of tallies on opening weekend was a great start to the season, the 22-year-old added, coming off a rookie campaign that saw him score just seven times in 37 appearances.
“Obviously last year I was a little snake-bit at the start of the year, so it felt really good to get it out of the way.”
While the result may have pleased Wilkins, who rang up his second win in as many games behind the LU bench, how they got the two points was a little concerning.
The Wolves were 0-for-7 on the power play, allowing Lethbridge a pair of shorthanded goals in the process.
Brooks Maxwell picked Devin Green’s pocket on the first one, the LU goalie stumbling as he scrambled to get back in position. A stolen puck led to the second shorthanded marker, Connor Sanvido beating Green at 15:14 of the second to give the Pronghorns a 3-2 lead.
“At times our power play was OK and at times we were unorganized and we were giving up chances against,” said Wilkins, whose team also gave up a shorthanded goal on Friday night.
Jonathan Masters opened the scoring for the Thunderwolves, his shot from inside the blue-line deflected high, the puck floating over Lethbridge starter Garrett Hughson just 69 seconds into the contest.
Sam McKechnie gave the visitors the lead on the power play late in the first, but Lakehead rookie Dexter Kuczek tied it up five minutes into the second. Joseph Leonidas evened things up again late in the period, the two teams hitting the break knotted at three.
Lethbridge scored twice in the opening 3:30 of the third, McKechnie and Sanvido each potting their second of night.
Claw marks: The 3,244 in attendance for student night marked the Wolves largest crowd since Jan. 3, 2015 when the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs visited Fort William Gardens and drew 3,276 ... Lakehead's Scott Gall and Lethbridge's Justin Valentino traded shootout goals to set the stage for Laframboise ... The Thunderwolves started OT on a 1:28 power-play, but couldn't capitalize in the 4-on-3 situation ... The two teams combined for 64 penalty minutes in a scrappy second ... Defenceman Chase Stewart will head to Belleville this week for tryouts with the AHL Senators ... MacLean dropped the ceremonial first puck before the game.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Lakehead, Masters (Gall, Del Paggio) 1:09. 2. Lethbridge, B. Maxwell (Wardley, Chynoweth). 15:11 sh. 3. Lethbridge, McKechnie (Valentine White) 18:30 pp. Penalties: R. Maxwell LTH (roughing) 2:21, Leonidas LAK (high sticking) 4:35, Mick LTH (high sticking double minor) 7:16, Roy LTH (roughing) 13:52 Leonidas LAK (tripping) 17:09.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 4. Lakehead, Kuczek (Larson) 5:05. 5. Lethbridge, Sanvido (R. Maxwell) 15:14 sh. 6. Lakehead, Leonidas (Murphy, Del Paggio) 17:37. Penalties: Wardley LTH (interference) 9:19, Wolframe LAK (roughing), Donnelly LAK (unsportsmanlike conduct, misconduct), Schutt LAK (roughing), Dubchak LAK (roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct, misconduct), Orban LTH (roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct, misconduct), Roy LTH (roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct, misconduct), Fisher LTH (roughing) 13:47, Masters LAK (cross checking) 18:22.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 7. Lethbridge, McKechnie (Filbrandt, Sward) 1:25. 8. Lethbridge, Sanvido (R. Maxwell, Rayman) 3:30. 9. Lakehead, Leitch (Alexander, King) 7:01. 10. Lakehead, Leitch (Del Paggio, Murphy) 18:14. Penalties: Lethbridge, Sanvido (tripping) 19:27.
OVERTIME
Scoring: None. Penalties: None.
SHOOTOUT
Sanvido LTH (miss)
Gall LAK (goal)
B. Maxwell LTH (miss)
Del Paggio (LAK) (miss)
Valentino LTH (goal)
Soustal LAK (miss)
Jensen LTH (miss)
Laframboise LAK (goal)
GAME DATA – SOG – Lethbridge 13-10-14-4-41, Lakehead 19-15-17-8-59; Power plays (goals-chances) – Lethbridge (1-3), Lakehead (0-7); Goaltender – Lethbridge: Garrett Hughson, Lakehead: Devin Green; A: 3,244.
