The Varsity Blues men's hockey team fell 5-3 to the no. 8 nationally-ranked Lakehead Thunderwolves in Game 1 of the OUA quarter-final on Wednesday (Feb. 22) night at Varsity Arena.

WHAT HAPPENED: Despite outshooting the Thunderwolves 16-10 in the first, the Blues were unable to get past Lakehead goalie Max Wright. The Thunderwolves opened the scoring five minutes into the period with a goal from Ben Badalamenti. They doubled their lead 10 minutes later with the help of Geoff Dempster. 

The Blues came storming back in the second period taking back the momentum from the Thunderwolves. Third-year forward Kyle Potts put the Blues on the board just over five minutes into the period. A wide-open Quinn Hanna tied up the game later on in the second.  
 

Pott-ing it in!

Kyle Potts put the Blues on the board!

TOR 1 | LAK 2
2nd | 13:01

WE ALL #BLEEDBLUE | #WeAreTO pic.twitter.com/Y8aV6uaLTU

— U of T Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) February 23, 2023

The Thunderwolves regained the lead early in the third period after a goal from Keighan Gerrie. Spencer Blackwell scored back-to-back goals to put Lakehead up by three. The Blues cut into the lead a couple minutes later after a Cole Purboo goal.  

Blues starting goalie Jett Alexander made 23 saves through the 60 minutes.

UP NEXT: Game 2 is set for this Friday, February 24 at Fort William Gardens. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, will take place in Thunder Bay, Ont. on February 25 at 7 p.m.