The Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey program is pleased to announce that Head Coach Bill McDonald has chosen former team captain Andrew Wilkins as a full-time Assistant Coach. This is the first time in the programs history that an assistant coaching position has been full-time.
Wilkins will replace Malcolm Sutherland who travelled with the team as McDonalds main assistant last year, but was forced to step down due to the time and travel constraints of his new position as Health and Safety Advisor for the Ministry of Government Services.
Malcolm did a great job for us last season, and I would like to thank him for his contribution to our program, McDonald said.
Long-time assistant Dan Bissonnette will remain on the Thunderwolves coaching staff in his usual part-time role.
McDonald feels that Wilkins will be a major asset to the program in several respects. Andrew will be a great addition to our team. Hell bring the same passion he displayed on the ice to his role as an assistant coach, McDonald said. And with the type of dedication he possesses, hell do a great job as the face of the Thunderwolves hockey camps as well as assisting our front office staff with corporate sales and other fundraising or promotional events.
Wilkins played five seasons for Lakehead, and finished his career 16th on the list of the Thunderwolves all-time scoring leaders.
In his final campaign in a Wolves uniform last season, the Pickering, Ontario native was named the Lakehead University Male Athlete of the Year in addition to being selected as the teams Most Valuable Player.
Wilkins is looking forward to taking on his new role with the team. The opportunity to work for a nationally recognized program is something Ive always dreamt of doing, Wilkins said. Its an honor to return to a team that Ive already dedicated five years of my life to, and to have another opportunity to win a championship with a group of people I admire. I cant wait to get started and begin contributing to the development of our student athletes on and off of the ice.