Western’s archrival has done it again.
Since joining the Ontario University Athletics conference at the beginning of the decade, the Lakehead Thunderwolves have contested six playoff series against the Mustangs, never with home-ice advantage. For the fourth time, the Thunderwolves knocked the Mustangs out of the Queen’s Cup race after a two-game series sweep on the weekend.
“We played well throughout the series, just not well enough to win the West final. Lakehead is a very good team and they showed it,” Mustangs head coach Clarke Singer said.
The defending OUA champions started the series on the road, heading to Thunder Bay for game one. The ‘Stangs returned to London empty handed after a 4-1 defeat, thanks to a 34-save performance by Lakehead goaltender Alex Dupuis.
“They are tough to play in their home rink. They had a better game up there than we did and deserved to win,” Singer said.
The Mustangs came out with all guns blazing in game two. They were successful in the first period, as Mike Sharp and Keaton Turkiewicz gave them a two-goal lead heading into the first intermission.
In what is a tradition for these rivals, the first period saw a lot of physicality and penalties, which continued throughout the game. The teams combined for 17 penalties, totalling 42 minutes.
“There is such a history there and both teams are so committed to winning so it’s going to be physical,” Lakehead head coach Joel Scherban said. “[In] games like this, the adrenaline gets running and both teams are giving everything they have.”
In the second period Western created lots of chances, but Dupuis would not let them through.
“It was just like the first game against Lakehead where we would have a lot of chances, and not score. Then we would make a crucial mistake and they would capitalize. You can’t do that against a team like Lakehead,” Mustangs captain Luc Martin said.
These spurned opportunities haunted the Mustangs halfway through the period when Ryan McDonald broke through for Lakehead. McDonald’s shot from the top of the circle took a deflection in front, lobbing over goaltender Keyvan Hunt’s head and into the net. Dan Speer scored a power play goal for Lakehead with just over a minute left in the period.
“We really let them back in the game and they took full advantage,” Singer said. “That first goal was huge for them because we had all the momentum to that point. We needed to respond better than we did.”
The Thunderwolves continued to create chances. Winger Scott Dobben intercepted a pass in his zone and raced down the ice where he was hauled down by Mustang defenceman Ryan Martinelli. Dobben was awarded a penalty shot, which he fired over Hunt’s shoulder.
“Dobben is just so fast and he generates offence with his speed,” Scherban said. “It was crucial to go into the intermission with a one-goal lead.”
The goal shattered Western’s chances as they came out flat in the third. The Mustangs didn’t produce offensively and Lakehead added two more goals, courtesy of Shandor Alphonso and Mark Soares.
“We tried to regroup [after the penalty shot]. But we didn’t come out in the third the way we wanted and they took full advantage,” Singer said.
Despite losing out on the OUA title, the Mustangs still have an opportunity to qualify for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport national championships. Western will play a single game against the OUA East runner-up, the UQTR Patriotes, for the final Ontario berth.
“They’re a tough team to play against. They have a great goaltender and are a skilled hockey team,” Singer said.
Western will need more production from their top line of Turkiewicz, Aaron Snow and Kevin Baker, who combined for 49 goals and 119 points during the season, but have only managed four goals throughout the playoffs.
The Mustangs will also need to get their power play going. Through seven playoff games, they have only managed to convert on three of their 36 man-advantages, while giving up two shorthanded markers.
“We are going to have a good week of practice and work hard. We will need to cut down the mistakes and stay disciplined,” Martin said. “We are just going to have to play the best game we can.”

Piotr Angiel/Gazette