THUNDER BAY – What a difference a week has made for the Lakehead Thunderwolves.
After being on the wrong side of a seven-goal blowout on the road against McGill last week, a pair of three-point nights from freshmen Jordan King and Caleb Boman lifted the Thunderwolves to a 4-3 victory over the Royal Military College Paladins on Friday for the team’s second straight victory.
“It was a good response for sure,” said first-year Lakehead bench boss Andrew Wilkins. “There’s no nights off. I think we had a night off against a really good team and we were ready (Friday). RMC is a strong team that works hard and can definitely keep you honest.”
The line of King, fellow rookie Dexter Kuczek and sophomore Josh Laframboise combined to fill the scoresheet with six points, with all three factoring in on third period goals by King and Jonathan Masters to respond after the Paladins got on the board just nine seconds into the frame.
“I think just working hard and just doing the simple things, working hard and getting the puck on net and making good passes,” Kuczek said when asked about what made that line click. “I think we both see the ice really good and we can find each other in open areas.”
The Thunderwolves (3-2-0) broke the ice halfway through the first period, capitalizing on a man advantage when Boman crept in off the blueline and beat Paladins goaltender Brad Van Schubert low on the glove side.
That lead held up through the opening 20 minutes before the home side extended it early in the middle stanza when Kuczek found the back of the net just past the two-minute mark.
Lakehead had developed a regimented policy of starting Nic Renyard in net on Friday nights and Devin Green on Saturdays but Wilkins chose to break from that tradition, turning to Green for the first of the doubleheader series.
“Both of our goalies have been really good for the last two years,” Wilkins said. “I just went with Green. I thought he played really well (last) Saturday, just changing it up a little bit. Getting them a little uncomfortable is never a bad thing.”
With the Paladins showing signs of life with a power play in the middle of the second, Green stood tall and stonewalled multiple dangerous close chances.
The senior netminder’s shutout bid was ruined just nine seconds into the final period when RMC’s Alex MacDonald netted his first of two on the night just nine seconds into the frame.
But rather than stagger, the Thunderwolves roared back with a goal from King just 28 seconds later. Drawing a quick penalty to build further momentum, Lakehead’s second power play tally of the night came off the stick of Masters for a three-goal lead just 1:33 into the period.
“I think we just kept our cool and we just battled through the first goal there,” King said. “We didn’t worry too much and we didn’t let it get to us.”
That goal became crucial as the Paladins refused to quit, with Rhett Wilcox and MacDonald cutting into the lead but that was as close as the visitors would get.
Claw marks: Boman has now scored in three straight contests…Senior forward Brennan Dubchak, who missed last Saturday’s game against McGill, did not play. Forward Tomas Soustal, who missed last weekend’s series, was also held out against RMC. Wilkins said both players are considered day-to-day with minor injuries but are not expected to suit up on Saturday…Wilkins said he was undecided about whether Green or Renyard would start on Saturday…Puck drop for the rematch is 7 p.m. at the Fort William Gardens.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Lakehead, Boman (Laframboise, King) 10:28 pp. Penalties: Boman LAK (boarding) 1:04; Bissonnette RMC (holding) 5:32; Michie RMC (slashing) 9:42; Michie RMC (slashing) 12:14; King LAK (holding) 17:21.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 2. Lakehead, Kuczek (Butler, Fryer) 2:02. Penalties: McKitrick LAK (high-sticking) 9:06; Wolframe LAK (high-sticking) 14:38; Maguire RMC (tripping) 16:32.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 3. RMC, MacDonald (Boudreau, Savery) 0:09. 4. Lakehead, King (Laframboise, Boman) 0:37. 5. Lakehead, Masters (Boman, King) 1:33 pp. 6. RMC, Wilcox (MacDonald, Savery) 5:28 pp. 7. RMC, MacDonald (Boudreau) 17:02 sh. Penalties: Murray RMC (cross-checking) 0:55; Larson LAK (spearing) 3:26; Murray RMC (interference) 9:40; Michie RMC (roughing), Donnelly LAK (high-sticking, cross-checking, misconduct), Murphy LAK (roughing) 11:33; Giberson (slashing, unsportsmanlike conduct) 13:04; Leitch LAK (interference) 17:54.
