Thunderwolves hockey lands local OHLer Nathan Cull

Hometown hopeful Nathan Cull will be joining the Lakehead Thunderwolves men’s hockey team in September.

Cull, who spent four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, had five goals and four assists in 54 games playing for the Sudbury Wolves in 2013-14.

He finished his OHL career with 18 goals and 26 assists in 221 contests, split between Sudbury and Kingston, where he played parts of two seasons. The 5-foot-11 forward also collected 288 penalty minutes, an average of 72 a season.

Cull was traded from Kingston to Sudbury in October 2012, a one-for-one deal that saw winger Samuel Schutt sent to the Frontenacs.

“I’m extremely pleased and honoured to be playing for my hometown team,” Cull said in a release issued Thursday by the university team.

“I can’t wait to get the school year and the hockey season started.  I’m eager to play with a great group of guys and win some games in front of the Lakehead fans.”

Wolves second-year coach Bill McDonald said he’s adding another character player to his squad.

“In his four years in the OHL, he showed that he’s a gritty player and he skates well.  That should help him develop into a good CIS hockey player in the years to come,” McDonald said.