Box Score The Windsor Lancers dropped the puck on the 2017-18 OUA hockey season Friday night at York University to take on the Lions. The Lancers played tough but fell one goal short in a 3-2 loss to open their season.
 
Game Stats
Back-up goalie Jonathan Reinhart played the final 48 minutes of the game, stopping all 18 shots he faced. Lancer rookie Jake Brown got his first OUA career goal out of the way scoring earlier in the second period, while captain Blake Blondeel scored the Lancers second marker.
 
York Goalie Mack Shields made 36 saves on the night, Shields faced 38 shots
 
Despite losing, the Lancers outshot the Lions 38-29
 
Game Action
The 2017 OUA hockey season began in forgetful fashion for the Windsor Lancers Friday night in Toronto. The York Lions pounced on the Lancers, scoring three goals before the 11-minute mark of the first period. After Reid Jackman's goal at 10:39 to make it 3-0 the game looked over and the Lancers looked lucky to make it out of the period without allowing another goal.
 
The Lancers came out firing in the second period and looked like a different team than the one that had played the first. In the second period Jake Brown got the Lancers on the board, beating York's goal keeper off assists from Ryan Shaw and Kyle Hope. The Lancers and Lions continued to trade opportunities through the period however, no team was able to find the mesh. The score at the end of two periods read 3-1 York.
 
In the final period of play both teams came out to good starts in the period, with fierce battles being fought in the neutral zone for puck control. Late in the third period the Lancers would light lamp again when captain Blake Blondeel was able to redirect a puck near the net to cut the Lions' lead to one. The Lancers pulled their goalie with 55 seconds left in an effort to net a tying goal but Shields held strong, not allowing a puck through. York was able to run out the clock and start off 1-0 in OUA play.
 
The Lancers will stay in Toronto over the weekend to take on the Ryerson Rams on Sunday at 2:00pm, the game can be seen online at www.oua.tv.