THUNDER BAY – The Lakehead Thunderwolves men’s hockey team’s lineup is starting to take shape.
The OUA team on Wednesday announced its fifth recruit of the offseason, Brody Beauchemin of Île-des-Chênes, Man., a centre who spent the past four seasons with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Winkler Flyers.
The 21-year-old brings a championship pedigree to Thunder Bay, having won the MJHL title in 2023-24.
Over four seasons with the Flyers, Beauchemin put up 62 goals and 198 regular-season points in 200 games.
His signing comes on the heels of the team announcing last week commitments of a pair of defencemen, Coquitlam, B.C.’s Tait Ross and Mississauga’s Marko Stojkov.
Ross spent four seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League and one in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
In 152 games, most recently with the Sherwood Park Crusaders, he had eight goals and 44 points. Stojkov, who played two seasons of junior in Sweden, brings two seasons of Ontario Hockey League experience to the LU blueline, playing with the Flint Firebirds from 2022 to 20024 before wrapping up his junior career in B.C., finishing last seasons with Sherwood Park.
Over four junior seasons, Stojkov had 10 goals and 55 points in 184 games.
Stojkov and Tait played under Sherwood Park coach Brennan Menard, a former Thunderwolves forward, and GM and president Adam Sergerie, who played five seasons at LU, from 2008 to 2013.
“I loved my time with Marko. These types of people don’t come along often. They impact your team dynamic immediately and have the ability to change the trajectory of the team. A cornerstone piece. He has elite habits on the ice and in the gym and will do whatever it takes to
win. He can be trusted in any situation. This is something I know fans in Thunder Bay will value and respect. This is a very exciting recruit to get and I can’t wait to follow along,” Menard said of Stojkov’s talent.
Sergerie said the Wolves are getting a good one in Ross.
“As a Lakehead alumnus, I can confidently say he’s heading to a great school where he’ll receive a strong education and enjoy an incredible experience on the
ice playing in front of some of the best fans in U Sports. Tait is a high-character individual who played a vital role for us both on and off the ice. We wish him all the best and look forward to his continued success at Lakehead,” Sergerie said.
The team earlier announced the signing of Thunder Bay’s Joshua Lehto, a forward who led the Bismarck Bobcats in scoring, helping lead the team to an NAHL championship.
