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Thunderwolves captain leaves for ECHL

Dillon Donnelly has signed with the Wichita Thunder after three years at Lakehead.
Dillon Donnelly
Lakehead captain DIllon Donnelly races after the puck on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 against the York Lions at Fort William Gardens. (Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com).

THUNDER BAY – The Lakehead Thunderwolves are losing their captain.

Defenceman Dillon Donnelly has informed team officials he’s leaving OUA men’s hockey behind for a shot at the professional ranks, signing a deal with the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL.

Donnelly, a stay-at-home blue-liner and the son of former NHLer Gord Donnelly, said he appreciates the three years he spent in Thunder Bay.

“I would like to thank Lakehead University and the Athletics Dept. for the first-class support I received, and also the fans that made it an exciting environment every time we played,” he said in a release issued by the team.

“I’d also like to say thank you to Bill McDonald, Andrew Wilkins, Tom Warden, Blake Barry and the rest of the staff that supported me during my time here. Most importantly, I want to thank my teammates for all the great times we had and for the friendships I made in Thunder Bay.”

Coach Andrew Wilkins, whose team missed the playoffs for just the second time in team history, wished Donnelly well.

He was a great player and captain, and he will be missed,” Wilkins said.

Donnelly was a seventh-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2011 and spent five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before spending one season at St. Thomas University before the school cancelled its hockey program.



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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