Former Lakehead Thunderwolves star defenseman Erik Lodge has packed his bags and headed to Heilbronn, Germany where he has started playing for Heilbronner Falkens EC of the German Third Division or Oberliga. Lodge graduated from Lakehead this past spring after playing five seasons for the Thunderwolves since the inception of the program in 2001-02.
Lodge left the Wolves as the teams all time scorer for defensemen (58 goals and 93 assists for 151 points) and is third all time in Thunderwolves scoring. He was named to the CIS and OUA All Rookie Teams in his first season; was a CIS Second Team All Canadian in 2004-05, a three-time OUA West All Star, and a member of Team Canada for the Winter University Games in Innsbruck, Austria in 2005.
Lodge was married to his wife Janessa in June and they decided it would be an exciting start to their lives together to live overseas for a while. Lodge, who has a teachers degree, plans to return to Canada to teach when his playing days are over.
Lodge said Lakehead University, the Thunderwolves, and all the people involved have had a huge impact on his life. Janessa and I both very much miss Thunder Bay and all the special people. Thunder Bay, Lakehead, and the Thunderwolves hockey program have played a huge part in my life and I am very excited to see the great things that they will accomplish now that I have moved on.
Lodge continues his prolific offensive ways in Germany as he has recorded a goal and three assists in his squads first three games. Lodges Heilbronner team-mate is former CIS All Canadian Chris Stanley from Dalhousie University.
Lodge said he has a lot of great memories from his Lakehead days. Some that really stick out are wining the Queens Cup at home in front of the best crowd in Canada; scoring the OT winner at home against York with .003 seconds left; winning in triple overtime and scoring against Western in Western; being named An All-Canadian two times, and being to two National Championships. One of my strongest memories is from the Queens Cup game last March at the Fort William Gardens; and I realized I was putting on the Thunderwolves jersey at my last home game and knowing that I had been there at the start, the first year, and helped to start a strong winning tradition with a lot of great people that will continue for a long time to come.
To follow Erik and his Falken team this season; go to: http://www.heilbronner-falken.de/
In other Thunderwolves Alumni news; Austin Wycisk who played for the German Third Division Fischtown Pinguins as well as REM Bremerhaven last season; is now playing for EV Landsberg 2000 of the German Bundesliga (Second Division) and leads the club in scoring with four goals and one assist in only three games.
Austin made the Wolves as a walk-on and played two seasons from 2003-04 to 2004-05. Wycisk was a formidable power forward for Lakehead who notched 16 goals and 31 assists in his two seasons. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2005.
To check on Austin and his team this season; go to: http://www.evl2000.de/