Robert Kay’s hat trick performance would not be enough as the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s hockey team fell to the Lakehead Thunderwolves 7-6 on Friday, November 13 at Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ont. 

With the loss, the Blues are 5-5-1 and sit in fifth place in the OUA East division. 

Lakehead opened scoring as Brock McPherson netted two powerplay goals just 28 seconds apart, the last coming at 9:48 of the first period. 

A weak Wolves defensive effort towards the end of the period let Toronto tie things up as Matt Walters (Winnipeg, Man.) banged one home, before Blues leading scorer Byron Elliott (Burlington, Ont.) beat Lakehead goalie Alex Dupuis to a loose puck before deking around him and sliding it into the empty net. 

Mark Soares opened the second period scoring at 1:17 with an unassisted goal that slipped through Toronto netminder Andrew Martin’s (Mississauga, Ont.) five-hole. 

The Varsity Blues countered two minutes later with a five-on-three powerplay goal from Robert Kay (Orono, Ont.), who slapped a one-timer in from the left slot. 

Two consecutive Thunderwolves’ powerplay goals made it 5-3 before Kay would tally his second goal of the night with 1:30 remaining in the frame. However, this was countered by McPherson’s second of the game as Lakehead held a 6-4 lead heading into the final frame. 

Kay’s third goal, a powerplay marker at 6:47, brought the Blues within one and the team later tied things up at 17:15 when Bryden Teich (Toronto) found the back of the net. 

Unfortunately for the Blues, Dobben’s winner came less than 30 seconds later with the man advantage as he tipped a McPherson shot through traffic and into the net. 

The Blues seek revenge in their second game against the Thunderwolves tonight (Nov. 14) at 7:30 p.m. 

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.