THUNDER BAY – Aaron Wesley-Chisel and Brett Wolframe were walk-ons with no expectations when the Lakehead Thunderwolves opened training camp last month.
This weekend they’ll make their debuts with the OUA club, coach Bill McDonald having seen enough from the pair over a month of practices and intra-squad scrimmages to hand them spots on the hockey squad’s season-opening roster.
The duo – two of six former Thunder Bay North Stars to crack the team’s lineup this season – will likely have to fight for playing time, but both are OK with whatever role McDonald puts them in.
Wolframe, who scored eight times and added 17 assists in 39 games with the North Stars last season, said he’d all but given up hope of continuing to play hockey at an elite level.
But he was heading to Lakehead to continue his education and decided to give it one more shot, even though he knows it’s a rarity for walk-ons to survive tryouts.
“I’m proud to say that we both made it as walk-ons,” Wolframe said. “Obviously some of the guys they brought in, they’re really talented, so it’s nice to know that we’re part of that too.”
The 20-year-old was one of the leaders on last season’s North Stars team, but this year he’s coming in as rookie with a lot to learn.
He plans to soak everything in.
“This year I plan to take notes from the older guys and see what they do every day. I’m just happy to be here and I’m going to work very hard to get into the lineup.”
Wesley-Chisel, a defensive defenceman, will enter play this weekend as the Wolves No. 8 blue-liner, and like Wolframe, will have to earn his playing time when the pre-season comes to a conclusion next weekend.
It was his effort that he believes won him a spot on the team, and he plans to continue with that philosophy as the season progresses.
“I think we just competed hard all the time and tried to do everything right,” he said. “We battled hard to win the battles, create chances and bring pucks to the net.”
Originally signed with Fort Frances, Wesley-Chisel spent a season-and-a-half with the SIJHL’s Lakers before arriving in Thunder Bay in 2014-15. After a brief stint last season with the Soo Thunderbirds, he returned to the North Stars, putting up four goals and eight assists in 40 appearances.
He’s glad he can keep his hockey dream alive with the Thunderwolves.
“It’s huge for me, because that’s what I want to do,” Wesley-Chisel said on Monday, after taking part in an intra-squad scrimmage at Fort William Gardens, a rink he’s plenty familiar with these days. “This is what I wanted to do since last year.
“I’m grateful to be here. I think it’s a foot in the door and I’m just looking forward to the year.”
McDonald said he plans to give both players a shot this weekend when the UOIT Ridgebacks land in Thunder Bay for games Friday and Saturday night.
From there he’ll take a wait-and-see approach.
“We’ll evaluate them and how they play the game,” McDonald said. “It’ll be interesting to see how they fit in. I like what I saw today and they’re good kids and good guys to have around.”
Other former North Stars on the team include defenceman Jonathan Masters and forwards Trevor Hynnes, Daniel Del Paggio and Brennen Dubchak.
Game time Friday and Saturday night is 7:00 p.m.
