The Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey team will make its first road trip of the season this weekend. The Wolves are heading to Windsor to take on the Lancers with games Friday and Saturday night beginning at 7:30 p.m. Games will be broadcast on Rock 94.3 F.M.
Last Time Out
The Thunderwolves opened up the 2010-11 OUA regular season last weekend at home versus the Waterloo Warriors, and collected three out of four points available for the series. Lakehead collected one point in a 5-4 overtime loss on Friday, and then rebounded strong on Saturday night with a 7-3 victory for two more points.
Solid Scorers
Senior Kris Hogg (Sicamous, BC) has scored a goal in each of the Thunderwolves first four games so far this season. Freshman Mike Quesnele (Sault St. Marie, ON) netted two goals in the 7-3 win over Waterloo on Saturday night and is tied with Hogg for the team lead in goals scored with four each.
Series History
The Thunderwolves have dominated the all-time series versus the Lancers with a record of 30-7-1, but many of the games over the years have been close contests particularly those played in Windsor. As part of the new OUA West Division rotating schedule, Lakehead did not have to travel to Windsor last season. The Wolves swept the Lancers last January at the Fort William Gardens, winning by scores of 8-2 and 8-6.
About the Lancers
Windsor finished 7th in the competitive OUA West Division last season, but knocked out the 2nd seeded Waterloo Warriors two games to one in the first round of the playoffs, before being eliminated by the Western Ontario Mustangs two games straight in the semi-finals. The Lancers are 0-2 in OUA play so far this season, after losing by scores of 5-2 and 3-2 at York last weekend.
Windsor is a veteran team this year, with only one freshman on the team. The Lancers return 9 of their top 10 scorers from last season, led by forwards Mark Thorburn and Kyle Nishizaki up front, and by Matt McCready on defence. Windsor has 12 former Major Junior players on the roster, with experience in either the OHL or the WHL.
Sherbans Take
Lakehead Head Coach Joel Scherban knows that the long road trip to Windsor wont be an easy one, but feels his troops are ready for the challenge. We look forward to continuing with our tough early-season schedule this weekend in Windsor, Scherban said. He added The Lancers will be a very difficult opponent. They are a big, physical, veteran team that is built for their arena.