Lakehead Thunderwolves



"Nor'Westers" was the name of the sports teams of Lakehead University, located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, from 1965-66 to 1984-85. After folding their team for 17 seasons, L.U. came back to life in 2001-02 with teams called the "Thunderwolves". They are now members of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and U Sports (formerly known as CIS).

Their websites are www.thunderwolves.ca and www.thunderwolveshockey.com.

=Lakehead Nor'Westers= The Lakehead Nor'Westers started in 1965-66 in the International Collegiate Hockey Association (ICHA) where they played American teams from the NAIA. In 1967 they won the conference title. In 1971 and 1973 they lost the final of the NAIA National Championship, both times to the Bemidji State Beavers, now in the NCAA. The ICHA also included future NCAA contenders the Lake Superior Lakers and the St. Cloud State Huskies. The records for that league are sparse. There are many stories floating around, which are linked at the ICHA page.

The Nor'Westers joined the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in 1972-73 where they played until 1984-85. The Nor'Westers were one of the founding GPAC teams, along with the Brandon Bobcats, Winnipeg Wesmen, and Manitoba Bisons. Their only GPAC title was won in 1973. There was no playoff. Lakehead was first with a 9-3 record, 2 points ahead of the Wesmen. In the University Cup quarter-finals they lost 3-1 and 9-3 to the Alberta Golden Bears.

The GPAC teams played a relatively short schedule in those early years, which allowed the Nor'Westers to continue playing in the ICHA for a few more years. Eventually the GPAC teams picked up their schedules, and the addition of the Regina Cougars in 1976-77 made the league more competitive. After Lakehead's one title, the Bisons, Cougars, and Bobcats each won 4 titles and Lakehead never really came close again.

The Nor'Westers returned to the Thunder Bay local ranks in 1980-81 and 1981-82 when they participated in the Thunder Bay Hockey League.

In 1984-85 the once proud team went 0-24 in a four team conference (the Wesmen had folded after the 1983-84 season). A suspension of Brandon for illegal payments to athletes allowed the winless Nor'Westers to make the playoffs. They lost to Regina by scores of 8-2 and 8-1 in a dismal semi-final series.

Season-by-Season Records
''Note: 1974-75 ICHA season record is incomplete. The team was 4-4-0 against  Bemidji and St. Scholastica. The WI-Superior results are missing on that team's website and the Lakehead website only goes back to results as the Thunderwolves.''

International Games

 * December 13, 1967 : 1967-68 Romania Tour


 * Lakehead 7 Romania 3
 * January 5, 1969 : 1968-69 Sweden B Tour


 * Sweden B 7 Lakehead 2

Current Teams

 * Alberta Golden Bears ¶ Official Site
 * Calgary Dinosaurs ¶ Official Site
 * MacEwan Griffins ¶ Official Site
 * Manitoba Bisons ¶ Official Site
 * Mount Royal Cougars ¶ Official Site
 * Regina Cougars ¶ Official Site
 * Saskatchewan Huskies ¶ Official Site
 * Trinity Western Spartans ¶ Official Site
 * UBC Thunderbirds ¶ Official Site

Former Teams

 * Brandon Bobcats ¶ Official Site
 * Lakehead Norwesters (in OUA) ¶ Official Site
 * Lethbridge Pronghorns ¶ Official Site
 * Victoria Vikings (in BCIHL) ¶ Official Site
 * Winnipeg Wesmen ¶ Official Site

Nor'westers era also see ...

 * Great Plains Athletic Conference
 * List of GPAC Seasons
 * International Collegiate Hockey Association
 * NAIA national ice hockey championship
 * Thunder Bay Hockey League
 * List of TBHL Seasons

=Lakehead Thunderwolves= When hockey (and other sports) returned to Thunder Bay in 2001-02, there was a new name, look, and logo. The Lakehead Thunderwolves were also in the OUA. They won the conference title in 2006. They qualified for the University Cup in 2003 (as national wild-card), 2006 (as OUA champion), and 2009 and 2010 (as tournament host). In 2006 Lakehead won their pool and advanced to the U-Cup final where they lost 3-2 to the Alberta Golden Bears. The new team has been privately run and always leads the OUA in attendance. (Much like Laval in football.)

Season-by-Season Records
Notes:
 * ø UQTR forfeited 8 wins and 3 OT losses (19 pts) for using an ineligible player. The teams that benefited are: Lakehead (4 pts), Laurentian (4), Nipissing (3), Carleton (2), Queen's (2).
 * OUA had been operating in a four division format when Lakehead entered.'
 * OUA went to a two division format in 2009-10
 * FW means Far West division
 * W means West division

West Division

 * Brock Badgers
 * Guelph Gryphons
 * Lakehead Thunderwolves
 * Laurier Golden Hawks
 * Ryerson Rams
 * Toronto Varsity Blues
 * Waterloo Warriors
 * Western Ontario Mustangs
 * Windsor Lancers
 * York Lions

East Division

 * Carleton Ravens
 * Concordia Stingers
 * Laurentian Voyageurs
 * McGill Redmen
 * Nipissing Lakers
 * Ottawa Gee-Gees
 * Queen's Golden Gaels
 * RMC Paladins
 * UOIT Ridgebacks
 * UQTR Patriotes

Thunderwolves era also see ...

 * Ontario University Athletics
 * List of OUA Seasons
 * List of University Cup Playoffs

University Cups

 * 1973 CIAU Regionals
 * 2003 University Cup
 * 2006 University Cup
 * 2009 University Cup
 * 2010 University Cup

Championships

 * ICHA: 1967, 1971
 * GPAC: 1973
 * OUA: 2006

Alternate Logos