TORONTO – The Lakehead Thunderwolves are getting into the habit of scoring last-minute goals to send games to overtime.
Jake Ringuette scored with 30 seconds to go in regulation on Friday night to earn the visiting Wolves a point against the York Lions, who would go on to secure a 5-4 win on Derek Sheppard’s shootout winner.
Lakehead entered the third trailing 4-2, but Sam Schutt got the Wolves on the board again quickly, beating Alex Fotinos 1:51 into the period to cut the Lions lead to one. Brennen Dubchak and Patrick Murphy staked the visitors to a 2-1 lead with goals 39 seconds apart in the middle stanza, both goals assisted by rookie Scott Gall.
Stefano Pezzeta tied the game 2-2 50 seconds after the Wolves took the lead, then Adam Marsh scored back-to-back goals 47 seconds apart with less than four minutes to play in the second to give the Lions a 4-2 lead after two.
Nic Renyard faced 37 shots in taking the loss for LU.
Fotinos stopped Grant Valiquette, Dylan Butler and Billy Jenkins in the shootout.
The two teams play again on Saturday night.
