Box Score In a CIS career that has included countless inspired performances, Colin Behenna (Waterloo) might have played his finest 60 minutes on Saturday night in Thunder Bay.
Behenna scored and added three assists as the shorthanded Waterloo Warriors gutted out a 5-4 win over the Lakehead Thunderwolves, earning a split on their back-to-back set in Thunder Bay.
Playing without top scoring weapons Chris Chappell (Pickering) and Andrew Smith (Kitchener), and down to just 11 forwards on the Thunder Bay trip after an injury to Joey Champigny (East Angus) Friday night, the Warriors got offensive contributions from all over the lineup. Stephen Silas (Georgetown) scored twice on a pair of gorgeous Behenna feeds, while Mitch Elliot (Prince George) and Brett Mackie (Whitby) contributed with a pair of assists each. But it was undoubtedly Behenna's night; his four points helped supplement the missing offense on a night the undermanned Warriors needed it the most.
The win snaps Waterloo's three-game losing slide, and moves the Warriors to 13-11-0 on the season. Most importantly, the win also clinched Waterloo a spot in the postseason.
Meanwhile, the loss severely damages the Thunderwolves' playoff aspirations. Carson Dubchak and Kelin Ainsworth each put up a goal and an assist, but it wasn't enough to keep Lakehead to falling to 6-14-4. Devin Green took the loss in the Wolves net, turning away 36 shots. His counterpart, Mike Morrison (Hamilton), made 27 saves to claim the victory.
The game was actually scoreless through one period, but the second stanza was eventful to say the least. Ainsworth opened the scoring with a shorthanded breakaway marker just 40 seconds into the period, but the Warriors bounced back with a goal from Mike Moffat (Waterloo) just over a minute later.
Silas broke the deadlock on a power play midway through the frame when he streaked to the back post and tapped home an incredible cross-ice feed from Behenna to make it 2-1. Matt Amadio (Sault Ste. Marie) doubled the lead, and then Behenna ripped one home from the slot to make it 4-1, but the Wolves got a goal from Justin Sefton before the end of the period to make it 4-2 after 40 minutes.
Matt Alexander drew the hosts to within a goal seven minutes into the third, but the Lakehead momentum was once again snuffed out by Behenna – his beautiful pass was completed once again by Silas, restoring the Warriors' two-goal advantage. The Wolves scored on a late power play with the extra attacker on to make it 5-4, but that's as close as they would get.
The Warriors now return to Waterloo for their final two home games of the regular season. They'll host the UOIT Ridgebacks on Friday, February 5, before welcoming the Queen's Gaels on Saturday, February 6. Puck drop for both games are slated for 7pm.
