The Lakehead Thunderwolves mens hockey team opens up OUA regular season play on the road this weekend in Windsor, Ontario against the Windsor Lancers Friday and Saturday night. Both games face off at 7:05 pm EST at the Adie Knox Herman Arena in Windsor and can be heard live in Thunder Bay on CKPR FM Radio 91.5 and on the internet at www.ckpr.com with Bryan Wyatt calling the action live and Jonas Gilbart handling pre-game and intermission duties.
The Thunderwolves are coming off two home losses to Alberta last weekend in non-conference action, while this weekend will be the Lancers first game action of the season.
Lakehead Head Coach Don McKee said a strong beginning to the OUA season is very important for the Wolves. Getting off to a great start for a new season with some positive results in Windsor will be critical for our team to develop confidence. Playing against Alberta was extremely valuable as learning opportunities for our entire team. Now we must learn how to win as the Bears demonstrated to us. Windsor is always tough in their building. I am positive that Coach Belliveau will want to win over his former team. Emotions may ride high in this game so it is critical that we remain disciplined and focused.
The series will have extra interest for both Lakehead and Windsor fans as the Lancers are coached by Pete Belliveau; the coach of the Thunderwolves for the teams first six seasons.
Head to Head:
The Thunderwolves are 22-5-1 against Windsor in six seasons of OUA play; 18-5-1 in regular season play, and 4-0 in playoff action. The Wolves have outscored the Lancers 134-67 in those 28 games.
Last season, Lakehead went 3-1 against Windsor; winning 7-3 and 6-2 at home, and losing 5-4 in OT and winning 5-3 in Windsor.
Lakehead Thunderwolves:
New Head Coach Don McKee and his Thunderwolves are coming off a very tough and competitive training camp and made their final cuts after their two games against Alberta. Lakehead will field a roster of 23 players for the 2007-08 campaign; two goaltenders, eight defencemen, and 13 forwards.
Lakehead will look for scoring and leadership from veterans like OUA All Star Tobias Whelan, Mike Wehrstedt, Dan Speer, and new captain Andrew Brown; and hope to see strong offense from sophomore and last years OUA West Rookie of the Year Mark Soares.
Goaltender Chris Whitley has looked sharp and fit at the Lakehead camp and he will be ably backed by freshman Kyle Moir (Swift Current WHL); who looked very good against Alberta.
Other freshmen to watch are forwards Kris Hogg (Lethbridge WHL) and Devin Welsh (Okotoks AJHL) as well as defensemen Mitch Maunu (Saginaw -OHL), Pierre-Marc Guilbault (QMJHL Gatineau), and Jordan B. Smith (Fort William SIJHL). Welsh, Guilbault, and Smith looked very strong in the second game vs. Alberta. Lakehead hopes to see offense from Hogg against the Lancers this weekend and he looked good last Saturday against the Golden Bears. This will be Maunus first game action of the season for the Wolves.
The Wolves will look to Matt Maisonneuve, and Brock McPherson to play strong two-way hockey and sophomore Nathan Breukelman could develop into a very strong playmaker this season.
With the addition of the three strong freshmen defensemen; Lakehead looks to have perhaps its strongest defensive corps ever, anchored by veteran Drew Kivell. Jordan C. Smith and his rugged blue line presence returns for his sophomore season. Andy Zulyniak will be counted on to add offense from the blue line.
Lakehead 07-08 Results:
Sep. 29, 2007: Alberta 3 Lakehead 1
Sep. 28, 2007: Alberta 3 Lakehead 0
Windsor Lancers:
The new-look Lancers under new Head Coach Pete Belliveau will be a very young team with 15 freshmen starters. The La