Team captain Shayne Rover scored the winning goal with just 38 seconds left in overtime to lead the York University Lions men's hockey team to a 5-4 comeback victory over the Lakehead Thunderwolves at Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ont., on Friday night.
 
The Lions twice trailed by two goals, including a 4-2 deficit after the second period of play. But a furious rally in the third period sent the game to the extra frame, where Rover was the hero while scoring his first goal of the season. It was a part of a three-point night as he also tallied a pair of assists in the win.
 
Lakehead opened the scoring just 4:12 into the game on a power play tally by Sam Schutt. The lead was short-lived, however, as Kyle Campbell netted his own power play goal at 10:37 to level the game at 1-1.
 
The Thunderwolves wasted little time pulling ahead after that, with Cooper Leitch scoring only nine seconds after Campbell's goal and then Scott Gall stretching the lead to two only 34 seconds after that. Lakehead carried the 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
 
Just 33 seconds into the second period the Lions began the comeback with a goal off the stick of Scott Feser, but again a quick goal negated the headway they were making. Leitch was again the scorer, this time finding the back of the net only 17 seconds after Feser's goal for a 4-2 advantage. Those would be the only two goals of the second period.
 
The Lions dominated the final frame, outshooting the Thunderwolves 16-4 and getting the two goals they needed to extend the game. Reid Jackman scored at 3:48 and Colton Vannucci scored the tying goal at 9:11 to give the Lions an important point in the standings, and Rover ensured they'd get two in the dying seconds of the extra frame.
 
The Lions have won three straight and are now alone in second place in the OUA West standings with a 15-8-1 record for 31 points, just one point ahead of Ryerson and two ahead of Laurier. The Thunderwolves remain in a playoff spot with a 10-8-4 mark to tie Western for seventh place.
 
The two squads will square off again on Saturday night when they return to Fort William Gardens for their fourth meeting of the season. Puck drop is set for 7pm.