
"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[]
Year/Comp. | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | Placing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1966 ICHA | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | ? | ? | 2 | 3rd |
1967 ICHA | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | ? | ? | 20 | 2nd/champions |
1968 ICHA | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 83 | 85 | 18 | 3rd |
1969 ICHA | 16 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 104 | 68 | 17 | 3rd |
1970 ICHA | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 50 | 80 | 8 | 3rd |
1971 ICHA | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 52 | 49 | 15 | 2nd |
1971 NAIA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 2 | finalist |
1972 ICHA | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 53 | 52 | 11 | T-2nd |
1973 GPAC | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 68 | 52 | 18 | champions |
1973 U-Cup | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 0 | regional |
1973 ICHA | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 46 | 67 | 8 | T-3rd |
1973 NAIA | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 14 | 4 | finalist |
1974 GPAC | 18 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 87 | 103 | 12 | 4th |
1974 ICHA | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | ? | ? | 13 | 3rd |
1975 GPAC | 17 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 91 | 106 | 15 | 3rd |
1975 ICHA | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | ? | ? | 8 | T-2nd# |
1975 NAIA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | quarter-finals |
1976 GPAC | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 73 | 84 | 16 | 3rd |
1976 ICHA | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | - | - | 10 | 3rd |
1977 GPAC | 22 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 96 | 93 | 19 | 3rd |
1977 ICHA | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 15 | 2nd |
1978 GPAC | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | ? | ? | 32 | 2nd |
1978 Playoffs | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 16 | 2 | finalist |
1979 GPAC | 22 | 7 | 14 | 1 | ? | ? | 15 | 4th |
1980 GPAC | 20 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 93 | 131 | 10 | 4th |
1981 GPAC | 24 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 86 | 208 | 4 | 5th |
1981 TBHL | 24 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 140 | 188 | 14 | 4th |
1981 TB playoffs | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | semi-finals |
1982 GPAC | 24 | 7 | 15 | 2 | 118 | 176 | 16 | 4th |
1982 TBHL | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 58 | 61 | 16 | 4th |
1982 TB playoffs | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | ? | ? | 12 | finalist |
1983 GPAC | 24 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 106 | 140 | 20 | 4th |
1984 GPAC | 24 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 111 | 168 | 19 | 4th |
1985 GPAC | 24 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 77 | 243 | 0 | 4th |
1985 Playoffs | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 0 | semi-finals |
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: Lakehead Nor'Westers 7 Romania men's national ice hockey team 3
- January 5, 1969: Sweden B 7 Lakehead Nor'Westers 2
Canada West Team Sites[]
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[]
Year/Comp. | GP | W | L | T | F | A | Pts | Placing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 OUA | 24 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 94 | 85 | 29 | 2nd FW |
2002 Playoffs | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 14 | 6 | FW final |
2003 OUA | 24 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 125 | 64 | 36 | 2nd FW |
2003 Playoffs | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 16 | 10 | bronze |
2003 U-Cup | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 3rd pool |
Year/Comp. | GP | W | L | T | OL | F | A | Pts | Placing |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 OUA | 24 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 124 | 59 | 38 | 2nd FW |
2004 Playoffs | 6 | 4 | 2 | - | - | 19 | 14 | 8 | FW final |
2005 OUA | 24 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 105 | 65 | 31 | 2nd FW |
2005 Playoffs | 7 | 5 | 2 | - | - | ? | ? | 10 | FW finals |
2006 OUA | 24 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 86 | 61 | 28 | 3rd FW |
2006 Playoffs | 9 | 7 | 2 | - | - | 23 | 16 | 14 | champions |
2006 U-Cup | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 10 | 8 | 4 | silver |
2007 OUA | 28 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 114 | 105 | 31 | 3rd FW |
2007 Playoffs | 4 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 11 | 14 | 4 | W semis |
Year/Comp. | GP | W | L | OL | F | A | Pts | Placing | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 OUA | 28 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 129 | 68 | 47 | 1st FW | ||||
2008 Playoffs | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ? | ? | 6 | W final | ||||
2009 OUA | 28 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 103 | 69 | 38 | 4th FW | ||||
2009 Playoffs | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | ? | ? | 6 | W semis | ||||
2009 U-Cup | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3rd pool | ||||
2010 OUA | 28 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 138 | 93 | 40 | 3rd W | ||||
2010 Playoffs | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | ? | ? | 12 | finalist | ||||
2010 U-Cup | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 2nd pool | ||||
2011 OUA | 28 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 118 | 83 | 35 | 3rd W | ||||
2011 Playoffs | 2 | 0 | 2 | - | ? | ? | 0 | W quarters | ||||
2012 OUA | 28 | 19 | 9 | 0 | 110 | 79 | 38 | 3rd W | ||||
2012 Playoffs | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | ? | ? | 6 | W semis | ||||
2013 OUA | 28 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 109 | 98 | 36 | 3rd W | ||||
2013 Playoffs | 2 | 0 | 2 | - | ? | ? | 0 | W quarters | ||||
2014 OUA | 28 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 90 | 81 | 37 | 2nd W | ||||
2014 Playoffs | 7 | 4 | 3 | - | ? | ? | 8 | fourth | ||||
2015 OUA | 27 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 109 | 113 | 23 | 7th W | ||||
2015 Playoffs | 4 | 2 | 2 | - | ? | ? | 4 | W semis | ||||
2016 OUA | 28 | 8 | 16 | 4 | 77 | 111 | 20 | 9th W | ||||
2017 OUA | 28 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 89 | 107 | 28 | W 7th | ||||
2017 Playoffs | 2 | 0 | 2 | - | 3 | 6 | 0 | W quarters | ||||
2018 OUA | 28 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 70 | 86 | 29 | W 7th ø | ||||
2018 playoffs | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | 6 | 11 | 2 | W quarters | ||||
2019 OUA | 28 | 12 | 15 | 1 | 82 | 103 | 25 | W 9th | ||||
2020 OUA | 28 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 85 | 105 | 29 | W 7th | ||||
2020 playoffs | 2 | 0 | 2 | - | 2 | 6 | 0 | W quarters | ||||
2021 OUA | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||||||
2022 OUA | 16 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 54 | 78 | 13 | W 5th | ||||
2023 OUA | 27 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 103 | 79 | 39 | W 1st | ||||
2023 playoffs | 7 | 3 | 4 | - | 17 | 22 | 6 | fourth | ||||
2024 OUA | 28 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 85 | 94 | 30 | W 5th | ||||
2024 playoffs | 2 | 0 | 2 | - | 4 | 10 | 0 | W quarters |
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
- OUA went back to a four division format for 2021-22
- FW means Far West division
- W means West division
OUA Team Links[]
West Division[]
- Brock Badgers
- Guelph Gryphons
- Lakehead Thunderwolves
- Laurier Golden Hawks
- Toronto Metropolitan University
- 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 ...[]
Commemorations[]
University Cups[]
Championships[]
- ICHA: 1967, 1971
- GPAC: 1973
- OUA: 2006
Pictures[]
Alternate Logos[]
External links[]
- LAKEHEAD NORWESTERS HOCKEY LIVES ON...
- Wall of Fame
- Lakehead 2006 Story on Team History
- Lakehead 2005 Story on Hank Akervall
- Lakehead 2009 Story on 1973 Team
- The Good Old Hockey Game: Thunderwolves Deliver Canadian Experience (2013 story)
