The No. 3 Lakehead Thunderwolves welcome the No. 9 UQTR Patriotes to the Fort William Gardens on Friday and Saturday nights. Lakehead goes into the series with an 18-8-1-1 overall record while UQTR has a 13-9-2 overall mark. UQTR is coming off losses to St. FX and Calgary at the Montreal University Cup Tournament over the holiday while Lakehead is coming off a 2-2 record at the Bell Varsity Cup.
UQTR was the first CIS team that the Thunderwolves played in 2001-02 and this will be a continuation of what has developed into quite a rivalry. Lakehead has played Les Patriotes six times; recording a 3-3 record with the Thunderwolves outscoring UQTR 16-15.
Les Patriotes have won the CIS Championship four times and the Queen's Cup seven times. UQTR posted a 14-6-4 OUA record (20-10-5 overall) last season and were defeated in the OUA Far East Finals by Ottawa two games to one. Lakehead enters the New Year in second place in the OUA Far West with a 10-0-2 record; three points behind Western. UQTR begins the second half of the season in first place in the OUA Far East with a 9-3-2-1 mark; four points ahead of second place No. 11 Ottawa.
UQTR was fourth in the CIS in team scoring in the first half; averaging 4.6 goals per game. Lakehead was first at 5.1. Lakehead was first in the nation in team defense; allowing 1.4 goals per game while UQTR was fifth at 2.4. Lakehead will be playing without five of its star players; Captain Joel Scherban, OUA MVP Jeff Richards, defenseman Erik Lodge, and forwards Murray Magill and Peter Cava. All six have left for Innsbruck Austria as part of the OUA All-Star Team that will represent Canada at the World Winter Universiade Games from Jan. 12-22. The five players will also be lost to Lakehead for the first four crucial games of the second half of the regular season against OUA Far West Division rivals Waterloo and Windsor.
Lakehead will count on the leadership of goaltender Grant McCune and Assistant Captain Chris Shaffer as well as fellow veterans such as Jason Lange and Leon Cooper. The Thunderwolves will also try to develop some chemistry with the new lineups caused by missing five of its starters. Lakehead will look to its talented recruits and seasoned veterans to lead the way against the formidable UQTR side and prepare for Lakehead's four tough regular season games against Windsor and Waterloo.
Head Coach Pete Belliveau said the series will be a great way to start the second half of the season. "We will be hosting UQTR for the third time and we know that they will be bringing their fast skating exciting brand of hockey to the Lakehead. Our fans will enjoy their style of hockey and it should be a great series."
UQTR will also have players with Team Canada in Austria as star goaltender Danny D'Allaire and team leader Jean-Phillippe Glaude will represent Les Patriotes. Glaude was one of the CIS players involved in the CBC TV reality show Making The Cut. Les Patriotes can put the puck in the net and have 8 players in double digit points after the first half of the OUA regular season. Leading the way is big second year forward Nicolas Pelletier who has 13 goals and 11 assists. Playmaking centreman Jean Morin is also dangerous and he has notched 4 goals and 12 assists. Gabriel Belascu, Pierre Morin, and Louis Mandeville are also dangerous scorers.
Head To Head Results:
Sep. 25, 2004: UQTR 6 Lakehead 3
Mar. 20, 2003: UQTR 2 Lakehead 1
Oct. 13, 2002: Lakehead 4 UQTR 2
Oct. 12, 2002: Lakehead 4 UQTR 0
Oct, 13, 2001: Lakehead 3 UQTR 1
Oct. 12, 2001: UQTR 4 Lakehead 1
UQTR 2004-0