Thunder Bay Timberwolves Hockey Club

Thunder Bay, ON- After scoring three in the third, the Timberwolves couldn't hold a two goal lead and settle for a 4-4 tie with the Springfield Homers in front of a sold out Canadian National Gardens on Opening Day on Sunday.
>>>Springfield came out the gate hot, and tallied two goals in the first ten minutes to put Thunder Bay on their heals.
>>>Without a late powerplay goal in the first by the newly, re-acquired Ales Hemsky, the Timberwolves were looking like a superior team being completely outplayed.
>>>"I think we got caught up in the festivities and weren't prepared for them to come at us the way they did early," said Timberwolves captain, Keith Ballard. "Hemmer (Hemsky) scored at the right time and helped us get our heads out of our asses."
>>>The second period was 20 minutes of two teams jockeying for position and not allowing the other much room to skate. The game would remain 2-1 Homers going into the final period.
>>>Ballard opened up the scoring, tying the game with a wristshot from the left circle, over Cam Ward's left shoulder.
>>>Thunder Bay would score two more times, once with a helper from rookie, Bryan Little. His first career CCHL point. But the lead could not be held, and Springfield would answer with two more of their own to tie the game up.
>>>Five minutes of OT could decide nothing, and both teams skated away with a point and an undecided finish.
>>>"We showed we can score at will," said Timberwolves head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "But we have alot to work on in defending a lead. We should have took two points and we ended up lucky to get the one."
>>>The Timberwolves also lost defenseman, Bryce Salvador for the next 7 days with an undisclosed injury. He should be back for Thunder Bay's fifth game at Victoria. Roman Polak has been brought up from the practice squad to replace Salvador.
>>>The Timberwolves next game will be Tuesday night against Copenhagen. The Crusaders are coming off a 7-goal win led by Kris Versteeg and Mike Richards.
>>>"We will have our hands full," said Hartsburg. "They're incredibly young and talented. Our game will have to be simple and puck possession will be key for victory. They're too talented for us to just hope they don't score. They will if we don't first shut them down."