Lakehead University

The CIS No. 5 Lakehead Thunderwolves men’s hockey team returns to the battle of the trenches this weekend when they travel to Windsor, Ontario to take on the Windsor Lancers Friday night and Saturday afternoon.  This series will be the first of four consecutive weekend series against OUA Far West divisional rivals that will end the Wolves regular season play.

 

Lakehead enters the weekend with a 15-3-1-1 OUA record (21-6-1-1 overall) while Windsor is 11-8-0-1 in OUA play and 12-13-0-1 overall.  Lakehead is in second in the OUA Far West with 32 points; three points behind No. 6 Laurier and three points ahead of No. 9 Western.  The Lancers are in fifth place in the OUA Far West with 23 points. 

 

The OUA Far West Division is the toughest in the OUA (with respect to the OUA Far East); with three teams ranked in the CIS Top 10.  As an example; although Windsor is in fifth in the five-team OUA Far West; they would be in first place in either the OUA Mid West or Mid East Divisions by points. 

 

As another example of the strength of the OUA Far West; last weekend saw eight interlocking games between OUA Far West and OUA Mid East teams.  The result was eight wins for OUA Far West teams by a combined score of 45-7 with three shutouts.  The last four weekends of the OUA regular season should be a wild ride as all five teams in the division play each other to end regular season play and this weekend’s series between the Wolves and the Lancers should prove no exception. 

 

Lakehead Head Coach Don McKee said the run to the playoffs begins in earnest with this series.  “Coach Kevin Hamlin and his staff at the University of Windsor have very quickly turned their Lancers into a very strong team that should qualify for the West Conference playoffs.  With the outstanding goaltending of Jim Watt, they have the potential to beat any team in the OUA.  Their 3-1 victory in the first game of the regular season over the Thunderwolves was indeed a warning that they cannot be taken lightly.  The tight standings in the OUA West Conference make every game important for playoff standings and home ice advantage.  The Lancers have demonstrated a balance of offense/defense and this weekend should be two very exciting games for the fans of Essex County.”

 

Friday night’s game goes at 7:05 pm EST and will be broadcast live on Rock94 FM in Thunder Bay and online at www.rock94.com.  Bryan Wyatt will be calling all the action live.

Friday's game will also be broadcast live in Windsor on CJAM Radio 91.5 FM and online at http://web2.uwindsor.ca/cjam/index.html  Saturday's game will be broadcast in the Windsor area on TV Cogeco Cable 11.

 

Head to Head:
Lakehead has a record of 27 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie all time vs. Windsor; 23-6-1 in the regular season and 4-0 in the playoffs.  Lakehead outscored Windsor 166-75 in those 34 games.

 

The two teams kicked off their respective regular seasons against each other in Thunder Bay in October with Windsor winning the opener 3-1 and Lakehead taking the second game 6-1. 

 

Lakehead is fourth in CIS goals for with 4.2 per game while Windsor is tied for 12th with 3.1 per game.  Lakehead is third in CIS goals allowed with 2 per game while Windsor is tied for 7th with 2.8 per game.  

 

Lakehead Thunderwolves:
The Wolves had an interesting home series against Ryerson last weekend; winning 8-0 on Friday and then battling hard to a 3-2 Saturday win. 

 

Junior forward Brock McPherson continues to shine for the Wolves and is 8th in OUA scoring with 14 goals and 13 assists.  His leadership will be key.

 

The Wolves will also need strong play from sophomore Kris Hogg who has 11 goals and 11 assists.  Last year’s OUA scoring leader senior Dan Speer continues to regain his offensive touch and now has 7 goals and 15 assists.

 

Junior Mark Soares also continues to play well; and has 7 goals and 10 assists.  Fifth year senior captain Andrew Brown also seems to be finding his offensive flair and now has 5 goals and 12 assists. 

 

Lakehead will also look for strong play from senior Scott Dobben (6 goals, 9 assists) and freshmen Arron Alphonso (2 goals, 9 assits) and Andy Hyvarinen (6 goals, 3 assists).

 

Lakehead’s defense will need to be solid this weekend; led by fifth year senior Drew Kivell (2 goals, 4 assists) and junior Jordan Smith (4 assists).  Sophomore Pierre-Marc Guilbault (1 goal, 8 assists), Mitch Maunu (1 goal, 2 assists), and Ryan Baird (8 assists) will also be key as well as the play of freshmen Bryan Wilson (3 goals, 4 assists) and Kalvin Sagert (3 goals, 4 assists).  The Wolves will also look for offense from Andy Zulyniak (1 goal, 6 assists).

 

Lakehead has received excellent goaltending this season from both fifth year senior Chris Whitley (7-1-0-0, 2.40 GAA, .914 SV%) and sophomore Kyle Moir (8-2-1-1, 1.87 GAA, .923 SV%).  Both netminders are among the leaders in most categories in the OUA and CIS (Combined Stats: 15-3-1-1, 2.09 GAA, .919 Sv%).  

 

Lakehead 08-09 Results:
Sat Jan 17 Lakehead 3 Ryerson 2
Fri Jan 16 Lakehead 8 Ryerson 0
Sat Jan 10 Lakehead 6 Queen's 2
Fri Jan 9 Lakehead 1 Queen's 0
Sat Dec 27 Lakehead 3 Manitoba 2 NC OT
Sun Dec 28 Lakehead 4 Laurier 3 NC OT SO
Mon Dec 29 Lakehead 5 Saskatchewan 4 NC OT SO
Tue Dec 30 Lakehead 4 Saskatchewan 3 NC Champ
Sat Nov 29 Lakehead 6 Guelph 3
Fri Nov 28 Lakehead 6 Guelph 4
Sat Nov 22 Lakehead 3 Brock 0
Fri Nov 21 Lakehead 3 Brock 0
Sat Nov 15 York 7 Lakehead 6 OL
Fri Nov 14 Lakehead 3 York 1
Sat Nov 8 Lakehead 6 UOIT 3
Fri Nov 7 Lakehead 5 UOIT 1
Sat Nov 1 Lakehead 5 Western 2
Fri Nov 31 Western 3 Lakehead 0
Sat Oct 25 Lakehead 6 Laurier 1
Fri Oct 24 Laurier 3 Lakehead 2 OL SO
Sat Oct 18 Lakehead 2 Waterloo 1
Fri Oct 17 Waterloo 7 Lakehead 5
Sat Oct 11 Lakehead 6 Windsor 1
Fri Oct 10 Windsor 3 Lakehead 1
Sun Oct 5 MN-Duluth 6 Lakehead 0 EX
Sat Oct 4 Saint Mary's 2 Lakehead 0 NC
Fri Oct 3 Lakehead 3 Saint Mary's 1 NC
Sat Sep 27 Carleton 3 Lakehead 2 NC
Fri Sep 26 Lakehead 3 Carleton 2 NC PPD Sat SO

 

Windsor Lancers:
Coach Kevin Hamlin’s great recruiting job has paid off in only his first season as the Lancers have emerged as a very strong hockey team.

 

They are led from the back by goaltender Jim Watt; who is 8-1 in OUA play and has a GAA of 2.70 and a SV% of .927. 

 

The Lancers have a balanced attack led by Kyle Nishizaki who has 4 goals and 16 assists.  Windsor also gets scoring from Josh Gaynor (5 goals, 9 assists), Scott Gillis (8 goals, 6 assists), Mark Thorburn (7 goals, 6 assists), Shane Taylor (8 goals, 3 assists), and Jonathan Sciacca and Brett Vandehogen (both with 4 goals, 5 assists). 

 

Windsor 08-09 Results:
Sat Jan 17 Windsor 4 Toronto 1
Fri Jan 16 Windsor 2 Toronto 0
Sat Jan 10 RMC 3 Windsor 1
Fri Jan 9 Windsor 7 RMC 2
Sat Nov 29 Brock - Windsor - NA Suspend Injury
Fri Nov 28 Brock 3 Windsor 1
Fri Nov 21 Windsor 5 Guelph 2
Thu Nov 20 Windsor 2 Guelph 1
Sat Nov 15 Windsor 5 UOIT 4
Fri Nov 14 Windsor 5 UOIT 3
Sat Nov 8 York 6 Windsor 1
Fri Nov 7 Windsor 3 York 0
Fri Nov 31 Waterloo 6 Windsor 3
Thu Oct 30 Laurier 4 Windsor 3
Sat Oct 25 Lake Superior St 7 Windsor 0 EX
Fri Oct 24 Waterloo 3 Windsor 1
Sun Oct 19 Windsor 3 Western 0
Fri Oct 17 Laurier 6 Windsor 5 OL SO
Sat Oct 11 Lakehead 6 Windsor 1
Fri Oct 10 Windsor 3 Lakehead 1
Sun Oct 5 Ferris St 4 Windsor 1 EX
Sat Oct 4 W Michigan 5 Windsor 2 EX
Sun Sep 28 Windsor 12 Oakland MI 1 EX
Sun Sep 21 RMC 5 Windsor 2 NC
Sat Sep 20 Queen's 3 Windsor 0 NC