THUNDER BAY – Dillon Donnelly has been a leader all his hockey life.
He’ll officially lead the Lakehead Thunderwolves on and off the ice this season, on Wednesday night handed the OUA club’s captaincy, filling a vacancy left by fellow blue-liner and former teammate Justin Sefton, who retired in the offseason to become a firefighter.
Donnelly, whose father Gord spent a dozen years as an enforcer with the Quebec Nordiques, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars, said it was an honour to get the nod from coach Bill McDonald prior to practice.
“It’s not really something I expected, it’s something I kind of heard might happen. But to hear the coach call your name and say that you’re the captain, it’s something to be proud of for sure,” said Donnelly, who arrived in Thunder Bay last fall after spending one season with the now defunct St. Thomas Tommies program in Fredericton, N.B.
McDonald said it was an easy choice.
Donnelly, a native of Dorval, Que., has acted as an intermediary between the fourth-year-coach and the rest of the players since joining the team, a role he’ll continue as captain.
“Dillon does everything right. He’s a well-liked guy in the room,” McDonald said.
“We have events and team builders and he’s always a big part of it. He’s got a lot of respect from the guys.”
A seventh-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2011, the 24-year-old Donnelly spent five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, winning a Memorial Cup with the Shawinigan Cataractes in 2012.
Never a big goal scorer – he’d been held off the score sheet for two full seasons before tallying a whopping two goals in his first year with the Thunderwolves – Donnelly prefers to lead by example, noting he’ll also follow the lead of a couple of his past captains, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Michael Bournival and Raphael Pouliot, now a scout with the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.
“I don’t think my game on the ice is going to change at all,” Donnelly said. “I think I’m just going to keep the same style I’ve always played. There’s no pressure, honestly. There are just 25 guys pushing in the same direction. If everybody’s on the same page, then there’s no reason to be nervous about anything.”
First-year forward Daniel Del Paggio said it didn’t take long to realize the type of leader Donnelly would be.
“I think he’ll be great. He’s had some experience winning a Memorial Cup with Shawinigan. He knows what it takes to win. From Day 1 he’s been a great leader,” Del Paggio said.
Donnelly’s assistant captains will be Dylan Butler, Brennen Dubchak, Billy Jenkins and Jake Ringuette.
Claw marks: Former Thunder Bay North Stars defenceman Aaron-Wesley Chisel has made the team as a walk-on out of training camp and will start the season as the Wolves No. 8 defenceman … Lakehead opens non-conference play next Friday at home against UOIT. McDonald said each goaltender, Devin Green, Nic Renyard and Justin McDonald, will get a turn in net during the pre-season.
