Hockey Northwestern Ontario and Lakehead Athletics are proud to announce an exciting new partnership that will see Lakehead Thunderwolves mens hockey players mentoring Junior A players from the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL).
The partnership will have Lakehead players discussing hockey career choices with SIJHL players as well as giving them personal insight into their experiences as Canadian University and Lakehead hockey players. The first three Lakehead players taking part in the program are captain Jeff Richards and defensemen Steve Rawski and Matt Jacques.
Hockey Northwestern Ontario General Manager, John Pucci, said this new partnership will be of great benefit to both the Junior players and the Lakehead players. This is the unique partnership between Lakehead and Hockey Northwestern Ontario; and it will hopefully be the start of a great relationship that can be developed in the coming years.
Lakehead Athletics Director Tom Warden said this new partnership is a positive way for Lakehead athletes to give back to the community. I am really excited about this partnership as it reflects Lakehead Athletics belief in working together with community partners. I think this new relationship between Lakehead Hockey and Hockey Northwestern Ontario will prove to be very beneficial to all involved.
Pucci said the program is important because many Junior A players are uncertain as to what hockey path to follow after Junior hockey and the Thunderwolves players have already been on the same journey and can offer their personal experiences to their younger counterparts. The Lakehead players will also mentor the SIJHL players on such topics as professional hockey choices in North America and Europe.
The SIJHL teams taking part in this partnership are the Dryden Ice Dogs, the Fort William North Stars, the Marathon Renegades, the Schreiber Diesels, the Thunder Bay Bearcats, and the Thunder Bay Bulldogs.