The Lakehead Thunderwolves open their 2003-2004 Canadian University Hockey Season with a two game non-conference series against the UBC Thunderbirds on Friday and Saturday nights at The Fort William Gardens. The series marks UBC's first visit to Thunder Bay. The series will give Lakehead Head Coach Pete Belliveau a chance to see his new line combinations and defensive pairings.
The Thunderwolves boast a strong returning group from last season, with such players as third year team Captain Joel Scherban (two time OUA All-Star, CIS Most Sportmanlike Player 2002-2003), second year speedster Jeff Richards, (OUA All-Star 2002-2003), third year sniper Chris Shaffer (OUA All-Star 2002-2003), third year defenseman Erik Lodge (OUA All-Star 2001-2002), and standout third year goaltender Grant McCune. Also, returning are third year players Robert Hillier, Craig Priestlay, Leon Cooper, Shawn Perring, Matt Kenny, and Cory McEachran. Second year returnees are Jeff Adduono, Murray Magill, Jason Lange, Wyatt Tunnicliffe, Tyler Williamson, and the high scoring Bryan Duce.
Lakehead comes into the series with a lot of new faces to add to their already deep squad. The new recruits are Kris Calloway (Defense, Vancouver, B.C.), Mike Self (Defense, Peterborough, Ont.), Steve Rawski (Defense, Mississauga, Ont.), Jesse Baraniuk (Defense, Thunder Bay, Ont.), Mike Wehrstedt (Right Wing, Thunder Bay, Ont.), Austin Wycisk (Right Wing, Windsor, Ont.), Jouni Kuokkinen (Left Wing, Thunder Bay, Ont.) and Peter Cava (Centre, Thunder Bay, Ont.).
Coach Belliveau said this series will be a good test to see how his new lineup meshes together on the ice. "We are very happy and eager to match up against UBC. There will probably be some rust for a couple of periods knowing this is our first game and it will be their fifth game. This should give our fans a great idea of this year's team, and we are all looking forward to see our boys of winter play their first game of 2003-2004."
The UBC Thunderbirds have had a hard go in the tough Canada West Conference, only making the playoffs twice in the last 20 years. But, second year coach Milan Dragecevic feels he is putting together a very competitive young team and believes playing against Lakehead will only be a positive experience. "We are looking forward to playing one of the best teams in Canada, Lakehead has a strong reputation out West, and we want to be able to compete with some of the better teams such as Lakehead. I feel that it is important for our players to get different experiences in University hockey and playing in front of a packed house, away from Canada West will add great enthusiasm to the start of our season."
The Thunderbirds have some regional flavour on their team with dangerous scorer Steve Bunney. Bunney played Junior A for the Dryden Ice Dogs last season and notched two goals this year in UBC's 5-3 exhibition loss against the Vancouver Canuck Rookie Prospects Team. UBC also dropped two non-conference games against Alberta, 5-2 and 2-1. Other players to watch are goalie Rob Flic, 2003 CIS All-Rookie defenseman Ryan Thrussel, and defenseman Jarett Winn who played in Halifax of the QMJHL last season. Of note to Thunderwolves' fans, Coach Dragecevic coached Lakehead's Craig Priestlay in Alberta Junior A with Drayton Valley<