THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – The Lakehead Thunderwolves hockey team will begin its 2016-17 campaign with a two-game home series versus the Lethbridge Pronghorns this weekend. Game times are 7:00 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday nights at the Fort William Gardens.
Last Time Out
This will be Thunderwolves’ first game since February, when Lakehead defeated Laurier 4-3 to close out the regular season on a winning note. The Wolves missed the OUA playoffs for the first time in the team’s history last year and will be looking to rebound this season.
Lethbridge also missed out on post-season play last winter after posting a record of 11-15-2 in the Canada West Conference.
Series History
Lakehead and Lethbridge have not played each other since October of 2002, when the Pronghorns visited the Gardens for the first time. The two squads tied the Friday game 3-3, with Lethbridge taking the Saturday rematch 6-4.
Maturing Wolfpack
With most of the team returning from last year, the Wolves will be a much more experienced squad this season, but the team is still mainly comprised of sophomores and juniors. There are only three seniors and two fifth-year seniors currently on the roster.
About the Pronghorns
Lethbridge finished last season in seventh place in the eight-team CanWest Conference, but just two points shy of a playoff spot.
The ‘Horns are led by third-year Head Coach Spiros Anastas, and return their top four scorers from last year’s line-up in forwards Mitch Maxwell, Brandon Clowes and Justin Valentino, as well as defenceman Tim Campbell.
Fifth-year senior netminder Damien Ketlo split time in the Lethbridge goal last season, but will look to take on a bigger role this year.
With a combined 17 freshmen and sophomores on the roster, the Pronghorns are still a relatively young team.
