The Lakehead Thunderwolves mens hockey team open the OUA regular season with a two-game home stand against OUA Far West Division opponents Windsor Lancers this Friday and Saturday at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay.
The Thunderwolves enter the weekend with a 4-3-2 record after a very tough non-conference schedule against Canada West, AUS, and NCAA opponents. The Wolves are coming off two home non-conference losses to Saskatchewan last weekend. This regular season series against the Lancers will be Lakeheads first games against an OUA opponent this year.
Windsor arrives in Thunder Bay sporting a 0-6 non-conference record; all played against NCAA Division I opponents so this will be their action against an OUA/CIS opponent this year. The Lancers are coming off two exhibition losses to the University of Alabama-Hunstville last weekend.
Head to Head:
Lakehead has a 16-3-1 record against Windsor in four seasons of OUA play; but the Lancers have been playing the Thunderwolves very tough over the last two seasons. Lakehead is 12-3-1 in regular season play and 4-0 in playoff games vs. Windsor. Last season, Lakehead defeated Windsor twice in Thunder Bay in October in two close games while Windsor won their two home games vs. the Wolves in January.
Lakehead Head Coach Pete Belliveau said his team must be ready for a battle. This will be a great opening weekend series for valuable Far West Division points. We are facing one of our biggest Division rivals in the Windsor Lancers and Coach Stenlund will have his squad ready to go as always. They split with us last season, they've had a good recruiting class and they are coming here after playing tough NCAA teams. The Lancers are always pumped to play us. They follow their game plan to perfection and show lots of desire and character so we must be ready to battle for 60 minutes!
Lakehead will have an extra challenge in Friday nights game as they will be missing players sitting out due to suspensions incurred during the non-conference pre-season schedule. The players are senior defenseman Hugo Lehoux, fifth year senior CIS All Canadian defenseman Erik Lodge, freshman forward Dan Speer, junior defenseman Mike Self,and sophomore defenseman Drew Kivell. So, the Wolves will suit up 10 forwards and six defensemen for Friday nights regular season home opener. All of the suspended players will be ready for action for the second game on Saturday.
The Wolves will need continued production from their second line of Peter Cava (5 goals, 7 assists), Jason Lange (4 goals, 6 assists), and Murray Magill (2 goals, 4 assists); especially on Friday. Captain Joel Scherban (1 goal, 12 assists) will also be key Friday as he will be playing with Andrew Brown (5 goals, 2 assists) and a new linemate to replace the suspended Richards (6 goals, 1 assist). Mike Wehrstedt, Shandor Alphonso, and Brad Priestlay will need to be aggressive and forecheck the Lancers if Lakehead is to be successful.
On defense, Mike Jacobsen (1 goal, 4 assists) will be key Friday. He showed spurts of his creative offensive flair against Saskatchewan but he will need to step to the forefront against Windsor and to direct Lakeheads attack from the blue line. Erik Lodge will be back Sunday and his offense and defense will be crucial. He leads the Wolves in scoring with 5 goals and 8 asissts. Big defensemen Steve Rawski and Mike Self will have to keep the front of the Lakehead goal clear to support their goaltenders.
Fifth year senior netminder Grant McCunewill still be sidelined with a groin injuryand sophomore centre Tobias Whelan remains out with lower body injury. Rob Cundari remains in backup role for starting goalie Chris Whitley.
Scherban Watch:
Lakehead Captain Joel Scherban collected three assists against Saskatchewan and now has tied the Lakehead career mark for assists with 134. He ti