Box Score Thunder Bay, ON – The Mustangs opened their opening round OUA playoff matchup with a 2-1 win over Lakehead on Wednesday night.

The Mustangs got the lone goal in the opening period to take an early lead and then added the eventual insurance marker with under seven minutes remaining in the third to take the victory.

GAME RECAP
After both sides opened up the game trading shots, The Mustangs would get the puck in the offensive zone, and Jake Gravelle got a shot through from the Lakehead blueline at 8:38 of the 1^st period to open the scoring for Western.

M?? MUSTANGS GOAL!
The night's first goal goes to the ??&?? as Jake Gravelle powers the puck through from the blue line.

?? Gravelle (1) unassisted @ 8:38

WES l 1
LAK l 0
?? Watch the live action at https://t.co/otXrD4PfAj #RunWithUs l #LetsGoMustangs l #LAKvsWES l pic.twitter.com/vSMgTQ0ft5

— Western Mustangs (@WesternMustangs) February 20, 2025

The Mustangs would hold on to the one-goal advantage through the opening period.

The second period saw the Mustangs continue their offensive zone pressure, sending 13 shots on the Lakehead goal with the Thunderwolves getting 8 of their own but neither side was able to find the back of the net, and it remained a 1-0 game for Western through 40 minutes of play.

With just under seven minutes remaining in the third period the Mustangs would get a two-on-one as Owen Say skated the puck into the Lakehead zone and then sent a cross-ice pass to Zach Power who buried a wrister and gave Western a 2-0 lead.

M?? MUSTANGS GOAL!
The Mustangs 2-on-1 ends with Zach Power giving Western a bit of breathing room.

?? Zach Power (1) from Owen Saye @ 13:16

WES l 2
LAK l 0
?? Watch the live action at https://t.co/otXrD4PfAj #RunWithUs l #LetsGoMustangs l #LAKvsWES l pic.twitter.com/Hpmz5EvxSX

— Western Mustangs (@WesternMustangs) February 20, 2025

Lakehead would put added pressure on in the remaining minutes of the game including pulling their goalie with just over a minute left, and it worked as they scored with just over 40 seconds remaining and cut the Mustangs lead to 2-1.

Western would kill off the remaining time on the clock and hold on to the lead and take a 1-0 series lead.

GAME STATS
1^st Period – Jake Gravelle – unassisted @ 8:38
3^rd Period – Zach Power from Owen Say @ 13:16

NEXT GAME
Game 2 of the series is set for Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm from Thompson Arena. Tickets are on sale now at WesternMustangs.ca/tickets. The first 100 Western students who reserve a playoff ticket online for each game will receive FREE admission! Once the promotion ends, Western student tickets will be available online for $5 per ticket (fees and taxes included).

Any remaining tickets will be sold to Western students at the door while supplies last. Students must present a valid Western ONECard to claim the student ticket discount at the door.