It only took the Lakehead Thunderwolves 11 seconds to realize this was going to be a different Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks squad.
That’s how quick it took Ontario Tech’s Tony Rizzi to beat Jeff Bosch, a lead they carried into the second period.
But even after the Wolves tied the score, the Ridgebacks (1-6-0) showed plenty of spunk, retaking the lead and upping their advantage to a pair before a late third-period rally dashed any hopes of them staging the upset of the young OUA hockey season.
Lakehead (6-2-0) scored three times in a 2:13 third-period span, the goals coming from Mitch Maunu, Jadran Beljo and Mitch Fillman, then added an empty netter by Trevor Gamache to eke out a come-from-behind 5-3 win, their sixth straight after opening the season with a pair of losses.
“We started off slow. That’s obviously not the way we wanted to get going. But the way we came back in the third and the heart that we showed, that’s very promising going forward,” Beljo said. “It’s always good to get four points out of the weekend whenever you can. Even though it’s not pretty, it’s still two points in the standings, so we’re happy with that.”
Fillman, who scored just five goals in 136 major junior games with Saginaw, said his winning tally was a case of happening to be at the right place at the right time.
“I turned around at our blue-line there and I saw that they were changing,” said the first-year Fillman.
“So I just rushed it up a bit. When I crossed the blue-line I had about two guys on me, but the forward went off, so I just put it on net and obviously it turned out pretty well.”
Equally unlikely a hero was Maunu, known more for his defensive play than being perched on the opposition netminder’s doorstep.
His first goal at the 7:34 mark of the second, tied the game 1-1, his second opened the floodgates and allowed the Wolves offense to crash over an overwhelmed OIT blue-line.
“I’m surprised a little bit,” said Maunu, a one-time draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks who guessed his last two-goal game must have come while playing junior for the Windsor Spitfires.
“I was working really hard out there and we needed a couple. Obviously we were down 3-1. It feels nice to get a couple ... Usually I’m in my own end.”
For Maunu, 25, it was also a chance for redemption, having started the season on a bit of a sour note, when coach Joel Scherban held him out of the lineup, upset at his conditioning level.
“That was tough, really tough on me, but it was the right decision made by Joel. It was kind of a wake-up call for me and I feel much better out there on the ice.”
In Beljo’s case, it just felt good to be playing again. Beljo was only making his third regular season appearance, having missed time with concussion-like symptoms.
He said he and his teammates knew what they had to do, and didn’t need a lecture from Scherban between periods to figure it out.
“We had a lot of pressure on (Guy). He stood on his head and made a lot of great saves, but we knew if we kept the pressure on that we’d get something and we got a couple real quick there and it turned the game around for us,” said Beljo, who finished with a goal and an assist, giving him five points in the weekend sweep.
The real key to the win, however, might have been a coach’s decision.
Scherban gave starter Jeff Bosch the early hook in the second, after allowing three goals on just 13 shots. Alex Dupuis came in and shut the Ridgebacks down the rest of the way, allowing the T-Wolves offense to get going.
“(Bosch) just didn’t look comfortable all evening,” Scherban said. “I thought he was battling the puck a little bit. We don’t really blame him for any of the goals. They were all tough. But it was also a way to save a timeout and get a bit of a break there with the goalie switch.”
Mike Montgomery was the second Ridgeback to beat Bosch, connecting with five minutes to go in the second. Kevin George, on a breakaway, made it 3-1 for the visitors just 30 seconds later.
The Wolves will travel to Kitchener-Waterloo next weekend for a two-game set against winless Laurier.
Claw marks: With a pair of assists, LU’s Matt Caria is three points up on teammate Trevor Gamache and two others in the OUA scoring race. Caria is also second with 48 penalty minutes. Only Carleton’s Tyler Taylor, with 51, has more ... Gamache is tied for the league lead with seven goals ... Out of the Wolves lineup were injured forwards Brennan Menard and Ryan McDonald, defenceman Danick Malouin (suspension) and forward Jake Carrick. Third-string goalie Josh Mrakic also sat this one out.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Ontario Tech, Rizzi 5 (Wise) 0:11. Penalties: Wetering OIT (interference) 0:37, Anilane LAK (holding) 6:06, Whelan OIT (high sticking), Caria LAK (hooking) 7:50, Woodcroft OIT (cross checking) 9:12, Roezler OIT (high sticking) 12:10, Sagert LAK (holding) 15:13, Vatri OIT (hooking) 15:48, Wilkins LAK (high sticking) 17:05, Quesnele LAK (), Whelan OIT (unsportsmanlike conduct) 19:15.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 2. Lakehead, Maunu 1 (Grecica, Magill) 7:34. 3. Ontario Tech, Montgomery 1 (unassisted) 14:46. 4. Ontario Tech, George 1 (Oliver) 15:16. Penalties: Grondin LAK (hooking) 12:37, Whelan LAK (hooking) 16:26, Wilkins LAK (high sticking), Pasztor OIT (holding) 16:34.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 5. Lakehead, Maunu 2 (Beljo, Hammond) 12:29. 6. Lakehead, Beljo 1 (Hammond, Caria) 13:05. 7. Lakehead, Fillman 1 (Caria) 14:42. 8. Lakehead, Gamache 7 (unassisted) 19:58 en sh. Penalties: Quesnele LAK (interference) 4:03. VanMoerkerke OIT (holding) 6:19, Quesnele LAK (boarding), Whelan OIT (cross checking) 12:46, Wilkins (closing his hand on the puck) 19:32.
GAME DATA – SOG – Ontario Tech 8-7-0-0, Lakehead 12-11-0-0; Power plays (goals-chances) – Ontario Tech (0-4) Lakehead (0-5); Goaltenders – Ontario Tech: Jason Guy, Lakehead: Jeff Bosch (13 shots, 10 saves), Alex Dupuis (15:16, second period); A: 2,268 (paid).
