Lancers Men's hockey tame Tigers
By Tanya Quaglia
Lance Writer
October 28, 2009
 Travelling stateside this past weekend, the Windsor Lancers Men’s hockey team looked to get back on the winning road in exhibition games versus Ivy League Colleges.
After a devastating 7-0 blow-out at the hands of the Cornell Big Red, the Lancers came back to defeat the Princeton Tigers 5-3 on Sunday.
The Lancers’ offensive woes continued to rear their ugly head when the Lancer took on the Cornell Big Red in New York on Friday.
After holding off the Big Red for a majority of the first period, Tyler Roeszler picked up a loose puck at the blue line and fired it behind Lancer goalie Jim Watt with less than a minute left to play in the first period.
Roeszler added another tally halfway through the second, bringing the score to 2-0.
The Lancers could not gain an edge, and heading into the third, they were down 4-0, the fourth goal coming yet again in the last minute of the period.
Windsor could not find a way to get the puck to the net. Without the shots on net, there is no possible way to generate scoring chances.
The third period saw the Lancers allow another three goals, bringing the final score to a dismal 7-0 rout by the Big Red.
In the third period, the Lancers only managed three shots on net and allowed the Big Red to have 22.
In all, Windsor was outshot 51-20. Jim Watt saved 44 of the 51 shots he faced.
Also, allowing the opposing team to take over 50 shots on net a game is proof that defence also needs improvement.
Whether it was the 51 shots or the 7 goals allowed, or just an overall disappointing showing by the Lancers, everything in the Lancers game improved and changed on Sunday in New Jersey versus the Princeton Tigers.
Despite being outshot 19-5 in the first period, Windsor finally managed to score just under three minutes into the game.
Mark Thorburn netted the goal for Windsor after a turnover in Princeton’s zone. The assist was credited to Brett Vandehogen.
The Tigers answered right back 50 seconds into the second period to tie the game at one. Thorburn, who did not want to see his team fall into another hole, responded two minutes later when he score on the power play off a pass from Kyle Lang.
Despite Princeton tying the game at two shortly later, the Tigers had no answers for Thorburn.
With just six seconds left in the second period, Thorburn recorded his third goal of the game. Again, the goal coming on the power play.
Despite being outshot 49-24 in the game, the Lancers held on for their first win in a month.
Scott Todd added an unassisted tally in the first six minutes of the third period, and despite allowing the Tigers to score in the last five minutes of the game, bringing the score to a 4-3 Lancer lead, the Lancers responded in the last minute of the game when Vandehogen scored on the empty net, ensuring the Lancers win.
Jim Watt was spectacular in net, making 46 saves for the Lancers.
While the Lancers need to generate more shots on net, this game was an improvement for Windsor.
While these two games do not count in OUA standings, hopefully the win versus the Tigers sparked something in this Lancers team.
Coach Mike Hamlin’s Lancer squad has the talent and the depth to win games and be a top contender.
Windsor faces the Brock Badgers on Saturday and Sunday.
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