Wilfrid Laurier University
HAWKEY ALUMNI CLUB NEWSLETTER
From the home of Golden Hawk Hockey
Volume 6, Issue 1 Message from Peter Baxter Recruiting top talent both athletically and academically is key to a successful hockey program. Our head coach Kelly Nobes and his coaching staff have done an outstanding job in two short years by attracting championship-quality hockey student-athletes to the Golden Hawk program. Last year the addition of former Kitchener Rangers captain Jean-Michel Rizk, and OHL player (Kitchener, Windsor, Sarnia) Craig Voakes, who won CIS Rookie of the Year Honours, is proof of that. Coach Nobes has the ability to keep track of players who are strong performers in the Canadian Hockey League. He has a strong network inside and outside of hockey that alert him to the best talent. Alumni and friends of Laurier hockey have also assisted in that process through the funds generated from our hockey Hawks Adopt-an-Athlete program as well as donations toward our Hawkey Hawk Athletic Financial Award Program. Our competition in Atlantic Canada and Western Canada has challenged us with respect to recruiting resources and financial aid funds available to student-athletes. Laurier has to keep pace. Your continued support to assist coach Kelly Nobes build a championship hockey program is required. If you are inspired to assist, please contact myself at (519) 884-0710 ext. 2216 or Kent MacLennan, Associate Director of Development for Athletics and Recreation, at (519) 884-0710 ext. 3177.
PRE-SEASON EDITION
Golden Hawks Look to Soar in 2008-09 Season The 2008-09 edition of the Golden Hawks team is heading into the season with high expectations. Along with returning eight of the top ten scorers from last year’s team, head coach Kelly Nobes returns behind the bench with a strong core of young returning players, as well as an exciting group of incoming studentathletes. To fill the leadership roles of last year’s graduating players, several veteran players from the 2007 team will be sought to fill the void left by those gone. Included among these players are fifth year athletes Nick Vergeer (West Lorne, ON) who was fourth on the team in scoring last season with 32 points, and OUA first team all-star Mark Voakes (St. Thomas, ON) who tallied 42 points last year ranking ninth in the nation. Fourth year leaders include starting goaltender Jeff MacDougald formerly of the Sarnia Sting (OHL) who posted a 0.89 save percentage this past season, and Luke Girard, formerly of the Vaughan Vipers (OPJHL), who was tied for sixth on the team in points with 22 points. Other leaders this season include Mississauga Ice Dogs (OHL) originator Jean-Michel Rizk, as well as Chad Kennedy who was formerly a member of the Aurora Tigers (OPJHL). Along with the emerging leaders of the team, the new recruits will be counted on to provide an instant upgrade on the defensive side of the puck. Incoming recruit Garrett Sinfield from the Saginaw Spirit (OHL) has averaged 50 games played the past three seasons. He’s a high-end defenseman with great size, excellent mobility, and outstanding puck skills. Both Ryan Bernardi and Jordan Bonneville arrive at Laurier following seasons with NCAA Division I Wayne State University. Bernardi started every game the past two seasons as a defenseman with Wayne State and was named to the CHA all-academic team in 2007, while Jordan Bonneville most recently received the award for MWJHL’s Top Defenseman in 2006 while with the Cambridge Winter Hawks. The last recruit is defenseman Phil Magistrale from the Surrey Eagles (BCHL)
I look forward to seeing you at games and Hawkey Hawk alumni events this season. Go Hawks! Peter Baxter Director of Athletics & Recreation
#9 Craig Voakes CIS Rookie of the Year Sarnia Sting (OHL) of St. Thomas, Ontario.
who averaged over a point a game last season and has two years of Western Hockey League (WHL) experience. Returning contributors to the team include CIS rookie of the year Craig Voakes who led the nation with 23 goals last season. Other returning forwards include Jeff Burrows out of London, ON and sixfoot-five Mike LeClair (Olds Grizzlys, AJHL). Alongside them will #30 Jeff MacDougald be six-foot-seven Sarnia Sting (OHL), Whitby, ON native of Shallow Lake, Ontario. Matt Maccarone and 2006-07 team rookie of the year Nathan Peacock. Third year forwards Luke Dubbin (Milton Icehawks, OPJHL) and Mike Galbraith (Hamilton Red Wings, OPJHL) also return alongside second year forward Colin Williams (Aurora Tigers, OPJHL). Returning defensemen include Tyler Grover, from Alberta, drafted from the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, Jordan Fair of the Waterloo Siskins (MWJBHL) and second year Tyler Townsend who formerly played for the Stratford Cullitons (MWJBHL). Fourth year veteran Mike Thomson (Collingwood Blues, OPJHL) who led the team in save percentage with a 0.91 over 10 games will also be returning in net. Last year, the Golden Hawks finished the season with a 16-9-3 record, good for fourth in a very competitive division that throughout the year saw four teams in the CIS national rankings. After defeating Waterloo in the opening round of the playoffs, the Golden Hawks lost the quarterfinal matchup against the Lakehead Thunderwolves (2-1). The end of the 2007-08 season marked the graduation of three fifth-year veterans: captain Matt Grennier, Riley Moher, and Rob Dmytruk. These former Golden Hawks have been looking to continue their hockey careers on professional hockey teams. Matt Grennier finished last season with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, and Rob Dmytruk finished with the Phoenix Roadrunners of the ECHL. Heading into this upcoming season, Dymtruk is going to be playing for the Rapid City Rush in CHL, while Matt Grennier and Riley Moher have yet to decide on their future teams. The Golden Hawks host the first game of the season on October 9th, and begin their quest toward the national championship.
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