User:Pantera tml247/Lakehead Thunderwolves men's ice hockey team

The Lakehead Thunderwolves men's ice hockey team is an ice hockey team that represents Lakehead University in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA). The Wolves are consistently one of the top teams in the OUA by qualifying for the playoffs every year since they joined the league in 2001. They have qualified for the University Cup tournament, that decides the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national champions, including hosting the event in 2009 and 2010, and competing in the final in 2006, ultimately losing to the Alberta Golden Bears 3-2. The Wolves also won the OUA championship, Queen's Cup that same year 4-0 against the McGill Redmen.

2001-02
The Wolves started their hockey program with Pete Beliveau being named head coach and many promising stars such as all-time leading scorer Joel Scherban, who was named captain, Erik Lodge, a defensive standout, and Grant McCune, a perennial all-star goalie. The team finished their inaugural season by being eliminated by the Western Mustangs in a surprisingly close three game series in the second round. This developed a very tense, and at times, brutally violent rivalry with the Mustangs, despite being dominated all season long. Lakehead finished the season with an impressive 13-8-3 record in season play, and 19-17-3 overall.

2002-03
For the 2002-03 season, the Wolves made a huge improvement, with the arrival of Jeff Richards, an amazingly quick and agile scorer, who was put on the first line with Scherban and Bryan Duce. The Wolves beat the Mustangs in a two game series early in the season, but had to forfeit those wins because they had an ineligible player Troy Khaler. The season's success was also in part as Grant McCune taking the role as starting goalie from Cory McEachran. The Wolves defeated their unbeaten rivals, Western (who attained a 24-0-0 record thanks to the wins the Wolves were forced to forfeit). They won in a two game sweep from an overtime goal by Jeff Richards just 16 seconds into overtime. Richards went onto have a fabulous season, winning OUA Athlete of the Year. The team won the Queen's Cup bronze medal and qualified for the University Cup tournament, losing both games they played. The Wolves finished with an 18-6-0 record in league play, and 28-13-2 overall.