Chronicle Journal - Stories -

Opinion Poll
A wind farm is proposed for the Nor‘Wester range south of Thunder Bay. What‘s your view on the proposal:
	In favour — green energy is the way to go
	No way, not in our backyard
	Well, it might spur much needed economic development
	Don't know — I hear many conflicting claims

More Links	tbayjobline	TbayWeddings	Play Games!	^New! eVents Calendar	Advertise with Us	Contact Us

Other Links	Movie Times	Airport	Bus Schedule	Road Conditions	Library	Weather

Wolves blanked
By Reuben Villagracia
Sunday, October 5, 2008

Email this article
Send a Letter to the Editor
Printer friendly page

Lakehead‘s Mark Soares tries to hit Saint Mary‘s Scott Brophy Saturday night at Fort William Gardens.

The Saint Mary‘s Huskies hope this weekend in Thunder Bay is merely a dress rehearsal.
Brandon Verge made 25 saves and Cam Fergus had a goal and an assist to give Saint Mary‘s a 2-0 win over the Lakehead Thunderwolves Saturday night at Fort William Gardens. This venue will host the Canadian university hockey championship in March and the Halifax-based Huskies are intent on booking that return trip.
“If we make the (Atlantic) final we‘ll be here,” Saint Mary‘s assistant coach Paddy Flynn said. “It‘s going to be a tough road. Most of the roads are going to be paved through (the New Brunswick Varsity Reds) to get here. It‘s good for us to know what the crowd base here is like and everything and the intensity. Probably some of the officiating, too. It was a good test for us.”
The Thunderwolves, meanwhile, fell short of delivering back-to-back solid outings for the second-straight week of non-conference play. They struggled with the Huskies‘ physical play and the ability to get the game-tying goal when they earned four powerplays in the third period.
“It‘s what a national championship team will look like,” said Lakehead goalie Chris Whitley, who stopped 25 of 26 shots before Marc Rancourt scored an empty net goal in the final minute. “We have to be prepared for that. Duluth (today) will be another challenge.”
A bizarre turn of events began midway through the first period with the Huskies on the powerplay. Fergus unleashed a shot from the off-wing that soared past Whitley. The goal light did not go on and referee Andrew Brewer allowed play to continue, eventually watching Mark Soares hop out of the penalty box and score for Lakehead on the breakaway 90 seconds later.
Brewer, who was waiting for a stop in play, then ruled the Huskies‘ goal stood despite the goal judge claiming he didn‘t see the puck hit the net. He took plenty of heat from the 2,000-plus in attendance the rest of the way.
“Guys that are refereeing up in this area have to live here too,” Flynn said. “It was a gutsy call on his part to make sure that it was the right call. It would have changed the tide of the game, for sure.”
The goal-swap took some starch out of the Thunderwolves‘ attack. Tobias Whelan and Dan Speer created the best scoring chances in a sluggish second period in which they posted only seven shots. In the third, defenceman Mitch Maunu fumbled on a rare breakaway attempt and Speer missed the net on diving tip attempt late.
“I don‘t know if the hands aren‘t there or just rust or what it is,” Thunderwolves captain Andrew Brown said. “Maybe their D and forwards did a better job blocking us out, so we have to battle a little better for rebounds.”
Head coach Don McKee was concerned with his team‘s bounce back effort and failure on every line‘s part to transition the puck.
“Every time we got the puck, it was out of the zone,” he said. “There were four times more icing calls last night than there were tonight.”

DOG TAGS: The OUA regular season opened in southern Ontario on three fronts Saturday. Trois-Rivieres, Western and Carleton picked up wins. . . . Lakehead forwards Scott Dobben, Kris Hogg and Arron Alphonso were healthy scratches. Defenceman Bryan Wilson, still nursing a groin injury, played just two periods and isn‘t expected to dress for tonight‘s game. . . . . Thunder Bay native Travis Oleksuk is in his freshman season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, who host the Thunderwolves at the Duluth Entertainment Centre tonight.
Top of Page

Games!
Canadian Crossword
PlayFour!
Word Roundup