1,173 fans showed up to see the Lakehead University (LU) Thunderwolves first exhibition game of the year at Fort William Gardens, LU taking the game 4-3.

It was their first game in over 600 days because of the pandemic as they took on NCAA opponent Northland College, a school based in Wisconsin.

The Thunderwolves struck early in the first, notching three goals in 67 seconds, taking the lead into the intermission.

Northland College scored three unanswered of their own to tie the game, before LU netted their fourth before the end of the period. It would end 4-3 after a scoreless third, where both teams had solid opportunities.

After the game, head coach Andrew Wilkins reflected on what he saw from his squad.

“I think there’s some things we need to work on,” explains Wilkins. “Special teams obviously but I think you just want to try and build some momentum, get the guys playing together. I think as the game went on, we got a little more consistent with our play, it wasn’t a couple shifts here a couple shifts there. Again, we’re still shaking off the rust a little bit, and it’s a good opportunity for us again tomorrow.”

Wilkins concluded by explaining what it meant for him and his players to have fans cheering them on again in Fort William Gardens.

“We talked about that after the game, it’s the best environment in the league,” says Wilkins. “You could see when you get an opportunity or the goalie makes a save, you have that low ceiling and you have 2,000 fans screaming, it sounds pretty loud, it’s amazing. Just to feel that adrenaline again as a coach, for the players, as a team, it was a lot of fun.”

LU will play their second straight exhibition against Northland on Saturday evening, again at Fort William Gardens.

Under the OUAs adjusted schedule, the Thunderwolves will play a total of 20 regular season games this year, including 12 at Fort William Gardens.

LU will kick off their OUA regular season with an eight game home-stand beginning Thursday, Nov. 4 against the York Lions, before hitting the road for 10 games.