The Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey team released its 2011-12 season schedule today, and it may be the toughest the program has had for quite some time.
The Thunderwolves will play 20 home games against some familiar rivals (Ontario Tech, Guelph, Laurier, Waterloo, Western Ontario and Brock) as well as some high-caliber teams that dont frequently visit the Fort William Gardens (UQTR, McGill, Calgary and Carleton).
Lakehead will begin the season at home on September 23-24 versus the eight-time Queens Cup champion UQTR Patriotes, followed by a U.S. road trip to take on Michigan Tech and the defending NCAA champion Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.
Things dont get any easier the following weekend when the two-time defending Queens Cup champion McGill Redmen invade the Gardens on October 7-8 for the OUA regular season opener.
Ontario Tech, Guelph, Laurier and Calgary will all come to Thunder Bay before the end of the first term in early December, and Carleton will be the Wolves opponent in the annual RBC Christmas Challenge on December 29-30.
McGill, UQTR and Carleton finished 1-2-3 in the OUA East Division last season.
Waterloo visits Lakehead in early January, and then fans will be happy to see the Western Ontario Mustangs return the Gardens later in the month after missing last season as a result of the OUAs rotating schedule.
The regular season will wind up at home on February 10-11 against the Brock Badgers.
The complete schedule of both home and away games can be viewed and printed on the teams official website, thunderwolveshockey.com.
Season tickets will go on sale August 15 at the Fort William Gardens box office.