High-scoring forward Dias inks professional deal

Matt Dias’s time with the Lakehead Thunderwolves lasted half a season.

The Sault Ste. Marie native, who joined the Wolves after the Christmas break alongside Matt Caria and Ryan McDonald, has signed a pro deal with Milano Rossoblu of the Italian 2 league.

Dias, 22, had 16 points in 12 games with the Wolves, leading them to the Queen’s Cup championship game against McGill and a spot at the University Cup, with Lakehead hosted for the second straight year.

Dias, who spent four seasons with the Sudbury Wolves, wasn’t the only former Wolves star to ink a professional deal this offseason. On Friday the team announced that assistant captain Scott Dobben will return to the pro ranks with Kaufbeuren of the German 2 league, where he will play alongside former Lakehead forward Mike Wehrstedt.

Dobben, who spent time in the American Hockey League and ECHL before joining the Wolves as a red-shirt player in 2007-08, scored 14 goals and 17 assists for the Thunderwolves last season and was named the school’s male athlete of the year.

Five-year veteran Shandor Alphonso, meanwhile, will join former teammates Chris Whitley and Tobias Whelan with the Central Hockey League’s Allen Americans.

The Orangeville, Ont. native had eight goals and 10 assists for the Wolves.
LU coach Joel Scherban wished his former players well.

“We are excited that these young men are continuing on with their hockey careers at the professional level and we wish them all the best of luck,” Scherban said.