Thunder Bay Timberwolves Hockey Club

Thunder Bay, ON- For the second game in a row, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves scored four goals. The difference in the second game was a win for the boys on the Lake Superior north shore.

>>>The Copenhagen Crusaders came to town off a dominating victory and scoring seven goals in their first game. The Timberwolves knew that this young, up-start squad could not be taken lightly.

>>>"They're like us in alot of ways," said Timberwolves forward, Patrick Sharp. "They're young and have been building through the draft and drafting and developing pretty much most of their guys in their system."

>>>The Crusaders would open up the scoring at 7:30 in the first with a sniper's shot from Anze Kopitar.

>>>Matt Niskanen (pictured) tied things up for the Timberwolves at 12:31, but Copenhagen's Chris Kelly took back the lead 25 seconds later.

>>>Marian Gaborik decided enough was enough and took a series of tape-to-tape passes from Jay McKee and Roman Polak and buried his shot between the legs of Tomas Vokoun.

>>>"It was great puck movement from two guys on the backend that are normally more inclined to simply keep the puck out of their own net," said Timberwolves head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "Marian did an excellent job of doing what he does best and that's scoring clutch goals."

>>>Like the first game for Thunder Bay, they would go toe-to-toe with their opponent and keep the scoring down to none in the second period.

>>>At 12:21 in the third, Thunder Bay's Sheldon Souray lowered the boom on Vokoun as the Czech netminder was likely thrilled to have survived a 1-on-none canon from the Alberta-native.

>>>Four and a half minutes later at 16:52, Bryan Little scored his first career CCHL goal and put sent the Crusaders packing with their first loss of the season.

>>>"It's obviously a great feeling getting that first goal," said Little. "But it feels so much better have it be a goal that put this team over the top with a victory."

>>>"The boys answered the bell and took it to a very talented squad on the other side," said Timberwolves GM, Blake Wendt. "It's a great game to learn and grow from, but tomorrow is another day and we have another huge test in a couple days in Portland."

>>>Thunder Bay's next game is against the Owls on Friday night. The beginning of a 3-game road trip against some of the traditionally powerful CCHL clubs that also includes the Dayton Musicmen on Sunday and back to the west coast against the Victoria Ronin next Tuesday.

>>>"Should be a good opportunity for the guys to more used to each other and gel," said Souray. "We have alot of talent. We just need it all to work as one."