Photo by Cole Breiland

Men’s hockey team sweeps past Western to earn OUA Championship birth and hosting duties

Lyle Morissette
Sports Editor

With the Cavendish Cup just weeks away, the ‘Wolves wanted to keep the momentum going into the National Finals, and what better way to do that than to keep sharp by staying on the ice and handily dishing out beatings along the way. And while they are at it, why not pick up a little hardware as a prize.
During this season’s OUA playoffs, the obstacles that the ‘Wolves have thus far faced have resembled speed bumps, not mountains; last week’s OUA West Division finals series against rivals the Western Mustangs proved to be no different—too much bewilderment. The Wolves easily swept the three-game series two games to nothing and now find themselves on the doorstep of winning the OUA Championship, where they will face the OUA East Champion McGill Redmen.
In what was a surprisingly lopsided series against the #1 Mustangs, the ‘Wolves easily dispatched their rival foes in consecutive games, outscoring Western 9-3 in the series two games. And LU’s brightest star during the matchup, just like the rest of the playoffs, was once again goaltender Alex Dupuis, who earned the victories in both games and now sits a perfect 6-0 in the playoffs since taking over the net for the Wolves back in the first round.
In the decisive series clincher in London on Saturday night, the ‘Wolves came back from behind and scored five unanswered goals to close out the game, beating the Western Mustangs 5-2 to earn the much celebrated sweep and the OUA West Champions moniker.
Dupuis stopped 28 of 30 shots on the night while five different ‘Wolves scored including Ryan McDonald, Dan Speer, Scott Dobben, Shandor Alphonso and Mark Soares – all of which were scored in either the second or third periods.
On Wednesday night, the series opener played out quite differently as the ‘Wolves easily controlled the game all night as Dupuis had yet another fantastic game, tossing aside 34 of the 35 shots he faced as the ‘Wolves easily won 4-1 at the Fort William Gardens to take the early series lead.
Lakehead got goals from defensemen Ryan Baird and Jordan Smith—LU’s leading playoff goal-scorer—while Alphonso potted another and Kris Hogg also tallied as the ‘Wolves and ‘Stangs each had 35 shots.
“The road to the nationals or an OUA championship always seems to go through Western. That’s kind of how you measure yourself and your success,” said coach Scherban earlier on in the week. Thankfully for the ‘Wolves the series turned out to be just peachy. And if they measure themselves based on these recent performances, future aspirations and championship hopes look very fruitful.
With the win at the Gardens, the ‘Wolves stayed undefeated all-time at home in the playoffs against the Mustangs and with the series sweep they improved their overall playoff record against Western to 10-6, having won four of the six playoff series meetings between the two.
Now, too many fans delight the ‘Wolves will not only be the National Championship hosts—and possible victors—but they now to will play and host the provincial title as well, with the ‘Wolves being able to possibly capture both on home ice.
The Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay will play host to this Saturday’s (March 13) one game OUA Championship final.