The Lancer men's hockey team opened up the 2022-23 regular season with a tough 1-0 loss to the visiting Lakehead Thunderwolves on Friday night at the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex.
 
GAME FLOW
The blue and gold came into the game ready to make their mark at the start of the season and defend their territory. Multiple Lancers that included Holden Wale, Matt McNamara, and Nolan Gardiner applied pressure early and had several scoring opportunities throughout the first period but were unable to convert. A close strike by Matt McNamara in the Lakehead zone allowed him to get his stick on the puck but it was directed into the glove side of the Thunderwolves goaltender.
 
The score remained deadlocked at zero until late in the second period when, with four minutes remaining the middle frame, a battle erupted in the Windsor corner. The Thunderwolves got it out and Kevin Stiles found an opening to put Thunderwolves up first on the board. Windsor trailed 1-0 against Lakehead at the end of the second period.
 
In the last period, both teams increased the physicality and intensity of the game with the Lancers looking for their breakthrough. With a huge rush by the Thunderwolves, goaltender Dakota Lund-Cornish was faced with pressure to keep the puck out of the net and made a collection of three stellar saves back-to-back. In the final twenty seconds of the game the blue and gold had several scoring opportunities but were unable to capitalize to tie the game.
 
UP NEXT
Windsor and Lakehead will face off in game two of the weekend series on Saturday afternoon at 4:00pm.