The Lakehead Thunderwolves are busy preparing for this weekend's non-conference series against the visiting Les Patriotes de la Universite du Quebec Trois Rivieres. Les Patriotes are the defending OUA Champions and University Cup Runners-Up and have added a strong group of new recruits.
Lakehead Head Coach Pete Belliveau has finalized his team's roster and is looking forward to testing his young team against the tough UQTR squad.
"We are hosting one of Canada's best University hockey teams, they have gone to the CIS championship the last 5 years. They've had a great recruiting year with the addition of four top over aged major junior players. Our fans will be seeing fast, hard hitting hockey at its best. This will give us a chance to elevate our total game early on in our second season of competition."
The two teams take to the ice Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay.
LES PATRIOTES DE L'UNIVERSITE DU QUEBEC A TROIS-RIVIERES
2 Philippe Cloutier DEF 5'11'', 203, St. Georges-QC
4 Jean-Phillippe Leclerc DEF 5'10'', 182, Mont-Laurier (Que)
6 Phillippe Debiols ATT/FOR 5'6'', 160, Lac-Etchemin (Que)
8 Jonathan Lessard DEF 6'2'', 209, St. Leonard D Aston (Que)
9 Jean-Pierre Cadorette ATT/FOR 5'11'', 187, St. Bruno, (Que)
10 Alexandre More DEF 6'3'', 215, Repentigny, (Que)
11 Nicolas Poirler ATT/FOR 6', 197, St. Georges-QC
12 Marc-Etienne Hubert ATT/FOR 6'2'', 183, Chicoutimi, (Que)
14 Alexandre Tremblay ATT/FOR 5'9'' 183, Beaupre, (Que)
15 Jean-Nicolas Bordeleau DEF 6'0'', 190, Shawinigan, (Que)
16 Simon Tremblay ATT/FOR 5'9'' 176, Jonquiere, (Que)"
17 Alexandre Piche ATT/FOR 5'11'', 190, Rimouski, (Que)
18 Jereme Bergeron ATT/FOR 5'9'' 192, Beauport, (Que)
20 Jerome Tremblay ATT/FOR 5'11'', 178, Quebec, (Que)
21 Jean Morin ATT/FOR 6'3'', 210, Victoriaville (Que)
23 Eric Jean DEF 6'0'' 218, Granby, (Que)
24 Patrick Moaraga DEF 6'1'', 211, Ancleane-Lorette (Que)
25 Jean Mallette DEF 6'0'', 206, Ville LaSalle (Que)
27 Roberto Bissonnette ATT/FOR 5'11'', 196, Caracas, Venezuela
28 Jean-Phillippe Pare DEF 5'11'', 175, Laval (Que)
29 Eric Desjardins GAR/GOAL 5'10'', 172, St.-Jerome, (Que)
34 Jean-Phillippe Pare ATT/FOR 5'11, 185, Longueuil, (Que)
37 Jean-Phillippe Piche GAR/GOAL 5'11'' 182, Mont-Joil, (Que)
27 Msteve Mongrain GAR/GOAL 5'10'', 196, Lac St.-Charles (Que)
Martin Cote ATT/FOR 6'1'', 215, Jollette, (Que)
Head Coach: Jacques Laporte (3rd year)
Assistant Coaches: Olivier Denis, Sylvain Beauchesne, Dominic Ducharme
Trainer: Pierre Milette
Equipment: Stephane Roberge
Les Patriotes de UQTR are a formidable team again this year. They are four time defending Queen's Cup Champions and have been to the CIS University Cup Tournament five years in a row. They are led by OUA Playoff MVP and league scoring runner-up C Jean-Philippe Pare (20-28-48), with fellow third-year linemates RW Alexandre Tremblay (17-19-36) and LW Jerome Tremblay.
This year Head Coach Jacques Laporte has more added size to his club and placed more of an emphasis on defensive players. During the last two seasons, UQTR has ended the year with only four defensemen, so Coach Laporte has recruited newcomers Eric Geant, 6-4, 230 (Drummondville); Alexandre Morel, 6-3, 225 (Baie Comeau); Patrick Mbaraga, 6-2, 210 (Sherbrooke) and Jonathan Lessard, 6-2, 210 (Moncton) to provide some muscle in front of returning goaltender Eric Desjardins (2.33). They also recruited rookie goaltender Steve Mongrain to back up Desjardins. Mongrain played in all three major junior leagues (Halifax, Oshawa, Swift Current).