Thunderwolves Hockey is pleased to announce the commitment of highly touted forward, Victor Anilane of Goteborg, Sweden, for the 2009-10 season.
A 6-3, 202 lb., left winger, Anilane has built an impressive junior and international resume and will give the Wolves an impact player on both ends of the rink. He arrives at Lakehead having declined numerous full NCAA scholarships and European professional contract offers.
Anilane twice competed for Swedens national junior teams, first for their U19 squad during a European tournament in the Czech Republic in 2007-08, and again in 2008-09 for their U20 team at a Czech-hosted World Juniors tune-up tournament with top European competition. He was a final cut for the Swedish U20 team that went on to win the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championships silver medal.
The twenty-year-old played his first two years of junior hockey with Frolunda J18, leading the team to second place in the J18 Allsvenskan 2006-07 national title race while posting 18 goals, and 13 assists for 31 points in 30 games.
Anilane joined Rogle J18 of the Swedish SuperElit league, the top junior league in the country, in 2007-08. There, he scored 23 goals, 17 assists and 40 points in 38 games. The left shooting sniper also dressed for 19 games with the Rogle mens team of the Allsvenskan, Swedens second division.
In 2008-09, Anilane turned his attention to North America, joining the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL where he scored 10 goals, 18 assists for 28 points in 57 games.
Anilane is looking forward to continuing his development in Thunder Bay.
It feels great to join the Thunderwolves and I am really excited to be here, Anilane said. Lakehead University gave a professional impression from the beginning and this will be a great place for me to continue my career."
Thunderwolves head coach Joel Scherban is pleased to have Anilane choose Lakehead after being heavily recruited worldwide.
We are extremely excited that Victor has chosen Lakehead University to further his education and advance his hockey career over the numerous other universities and professional teams in both North America and Europe that were recruiting him.
Victor is a skilled player who should make an easy transition to CIS hockey having already had one year to adjust to North America.