London, ON- Mustangs returned home to face the Lakehead Thunderwolves for the first leg of their double header, battling it out, but falling short in the third. Western played the tough Brock Badger's hard, but weren't able to pull out a win in a tight game that was decided in overtime.

Lakehead came out strong, playing the Mustangs tough right off the bat and generating lots of chances. Western was first to earning a powerplay only eight minutes into the game, but it was quickly equalized 10 seconds later.

With six min remaining in the first period, Western gained the offensive zone, moving it around. The puck popped out to defenceman Jack Tucker, who beat the high winger, creating enough space to shoot it top shelf to beat Lakehead's goaltender Wright.

Western was almost able to escape the first unscathed, but with just 38 seconds remaining, Lakehead tied it up. Thunderwolves' Blackwell was able to capitalize on a Western turnover and bang in a loose puck in the Mustangs crease. The first finished 1-1, with lots more action to come. 

The second period excitement began instantly, with Lakehead coming down on a 3-on-2 and scoring just 30 seconds in. This goal gave the Thunderwolves the lead, but there was still lots of game left to play.

Twelve minutes into the second, Western's Franco Sproviero got his fifth of the year to tie it at 2 for the Mustangs. Sproviero's goal was assisted by Shane Bulitka. The tie did not last long, with Lakehead getting one right back to regain the lead only 40 seconds after Sprovieros goal.

The third began with Lakehead generating some close chances to start off the final frame, ringing it off the crossbar within the first two minutes. Eight minutes into the third, Mustang's Bruder took a high sticking penalty that put Mustangs down a man, forcing them to kill off two minutes of the third.

With just over a minute left in Bruder's penalty, Western's Boushy took another high sticking penalty to put the Mustangs down on a 5-on-3. These penalties proved to be troubling for the Mustangs, with Lakehead took advantage of the 2 man advantage to give them a 4-2 lead. Just 20 seconds later while still on a powerplay, Lakehead won the faceoff draw and with a few quick passes were able to set up forward Greg Smith to give the Thunderwolves a commanding 5-2 lead.

With nine minutes remaining in the game, Mustangs caught a break with Lakehead given a holding penalty. The Mustangs were able to capitalize on the powerplay with Sean Montgomery getting his ninth of the year from Sproviero to bring the game within 2. 

Western wasn't able to pull it together in the last minutes, pulled the goalie with two to go in a last attempt to tie it. Instead, Lakehead was able to notch one more on  an empty net in the final seconds to take it 6-3. Final shots were 35-28 in favour of Western.

Following the game head coach Clark Singer said "I thought we had a bit of a slow start in the first but I thought we played a pretty good second period. It just seems like when we make a mistake the puck keeps ending up in the back of our net."

Mustangs will look to change the narrative and steal a win back in the second of their doubleheader with Lakehead. Singer noted "We got to be better tomorrow and find a way to win."

Western will play their final game of 2023 tomorrow for a rematch against Lakehead. The game is at Thompson arena and puck-drop is at 3pm.