The Lakehead Thunderwolves cut seven walk-ons in finalizing the OUA hockey team's roster for the 2015-16 campaign.
The team will carry 26 players consisting of 14 forwards, nine defencemen and three goalies.
The squad will be comprised of two fifth-year seniors, three seniors, four juniors, nine sophomores, and eight freshmen, making the team one of Lakehead’s youngest in recent years.
The 14 forwards are seniors Carson Dubchak and Kelin Ainsworth; juniors Cody Alcock and David Quesnele; sophomores Nathan Cull, Jake Wright, Austin McDonald, Dylan Butler, Trevor Hynnes, Brennen Dubchak and E.J. Faust; and freshmen Billy Jenkins, Garick Gray and Sam Schutt.
The nine defencemen are fifth-year senior Luke Maw; senior Jay Gilbert; junior Cody Kostecki; sophomores Justin Sefton and Tyler Anton; and freshmen Tyler Kunz, Linden Springer, Jake Ringuette and Matt Alexander.
The three goalies are fifth-year senior Jeff Bosch, junior Justin McDonald and freshman Devin Green.
Wolves’ coach Bill McDonald said that paring down the roster is one of the toughest aspects of the job.
“After a very competitive training camp, the coaching staff made our selections and as usual, there were some difficult decisions to make. It’s never fun when you tell someone that they didn’t make the squad. That being said, I like the youth on this team. Now it’s our job as coaches to bring them together as a competitive group that will attempt to reach the team goals we will set for ourselves – and hopefully entertain our fans in the process.”
Lakehead’s third-year bench boss added, “There is still going to be ongoing competition for ice time, because we’ve got 26 men on our roster and we can only dress 20 players a game. So now the guys that made the cut will have to compete for regular season ice time, and that process will begin on Sept. 25 against Manitoba.”
