Summer is winding down and that means the Lakehead Thunderwolves will soon take to the ice in preparation for the upcoming 2005-06 OUA/CIS hockey season. The Wolves only lost Austin Wycisk and Jounni Kuokkanen to graduation so they have high hopes for 05-06 and they will feature a formidable cast of returning All-Stars and veterans and a strong group of new recruits.
Headlining the returnees is Sullivan Trophy Winner, CIS All Canadian, four-time OUA All Star, and team Captain Joel Scherban who is back for his fifth and final season. Scherban is the Thunderwolves All Time Leading scorer and will most likely set the Lakehead All Time mark this season as he begins 05-06 with 208 total points, only 18 behind the Lakehead record of 226 set by Murray Smith of the Lakehead Norwesters. Scherban said he and the Wolves have unfinished business. I am really looking forward to this season as this is my last year and I think we have an excellent group of guys that can make a strong run in the OUA and the CIS.
Also returning is fellow All Canadian, OUA All Star, and fan favourite Jeff Richards who again will wow the Fort William Gardens crowds with his offensive talent. The speedy Richards (fourth year) is second in career Thunderwolves points and goals.
All Canadian defenseman Erik Lodge will also be back for his fifth year to anchor the blue line and the powerplay, as well as the strong goaltending duo of Grant McCune (fifth year) and Chris Whitley (second year). Lodge leads the Wolves in almost every statistical career category for defensemen. McCune has the Thunderwolves record for most career wins and starts while Whitley set the rookie record for wins last season.
Also back at forward are players such as Peter Cava, Murray Magill, Jason Lange, Mike Wehrstedt, and Andrew Brown who the Wolves will be counting on for their experience, offensive output, and all around play.
On the blue line, there is a lot of great news for Lakehead fans. Last season the defensive corps was hampered by injuries and the loss of OUA All Star Mike Jacobsen. Drew Kivell (second year) and his accurate breakout passing will be back as he is fully recovered from the concussion suffered against Michigan Tech that put him out for the second half of last season. The final piece of fantastic news for Thunderwolves fans and the Lakehead blueliner corp is that Mike Jacobsen should be back in the lineup this year.
Defenders like Hugo Lehoux (fourth year) and third year stalwarts Steve Rawski and Mike Self are also back on the point to keep opponents honest in front of the Lakehead net.
Added to this mix of talented veterans is this years recruiting class; offensive defenseman Matt Jacques, big defensemen Dan Rogers and Jeff Whitfield, and skilled forwards Dan Speer and Shandor Alphonso.
Head Coach Pete Belliveau is back for his fifth season behind the Lakehead bench. Belliveau, who holds the All Time Lakehead Career Coaching wins record of 104 set in four seasons, thinks the 05-06 Wolves will be the best team that the Thunderwolves have put on the ice. We are very optimistic about this years team as we have great returning veterans with a lot of OUA and CIS experience and some fantastic new recruits. We think this team has what it takes to be very competitive and make some noise in the OUA and the CIS this season.
Training Camp opens on September 6th and the Thunderwolves open their season on September 23rd and 24th against the nationally ranked Manitoba Bisons at the Fort William Gardens.