After claiming their first Queen's Cup Championship in 16 years, the 2014-15 Windsor Lancers men's hockey team is set to make another run for the Queen's Cup title and a second consecutive appearance in the CIS University Cup championship.
Â
The Lancers will kick-off the season this Wednesday when they take on the Guelph Gryphons in their season opener at 7:30pm at South Windsor Arena.
Â
The Lancers first OUA banner since the 1997-98 season didn't come easy, as their opponents from McGill put together a substantial late third period run after going down by three goals, and nearly sent the game into overtime with under a minute remaining in regulation.
Â
However, an incredible 50-save performance by Queen's Cup player of the game
Parker Van Buskirk and a two-goal outburst in the second period of play proved to be enough for the Lancers to win their second OUA banner in their last three trips to the Queen's Cup Final.
Â
Few had predicted Windsor's run at the outset of the post-season, as the Lancers came into the playoffs ranked fourth in the OUA West division with a 17-11-0 record but had played .500 hockey throughout the second-half of the season. However, after earning a victory over the bitter rival and top-seeded Western Mustangs in the division semi-finals where Windsor came back from one-game down to win the best-of-three, it was full-steam ahead for the Lancer men. They dominated the division finals against Lakehead, another higher seed in the West, winning the series by a combined score of 13-3 in two-straight games.
Â
The outlook for 2014-15 is a positive one for the Lancers, as they are returning their top two point producers from last year
Spencer Pommells and captain
Drew Palmer. Pommells tallied over 30 points for the second straight year notching 32 points to lead the Lancers while Palmer notched 17 assists and recording 25 points.
Â
Kenny Bradford led all Lancer blue-liners with 15 points, including 10 goals. Goaltender
Parker Van Buskirk, entering his final year of eligibility, will look to build from his success from last season where he garnered a 2.66 goals-against average and .920 save percentage to go along with 16 wins in the regular season.
Â
The Lancers will not be without a couple of significant losses this year, as former OUA all-star
Evan Stibbard and prominent forward
Derek Lanoue graduated following last season. Fifth year defenseman
Christian Steingraber also completed his education, leaving holes at both the front and back of the line-up.
Â
Head coach
Kevin Hamlin hopes to begin filling those voids with his 2014-15 recruiting class, which includes LaSalle Vipers captain
Dylan Denomme. This past season, the Windsor, ON native was named a western conference all-star, was a nominee for league MVP, and putt up career best 37 goals to go along with 72 points in 39 games. He also became the franchise's all-time leading goal scorer, ending his career with 113 goals.
Â
The Lancers and Gryphons will open the season at South Windsor Arena this Wednesday night, with puck-drop set for 7:30 p.m. Fans will receive a commemorative 2014 Queen's Cup Championship team poster and also have the chance to take their photo with the second oldest trophy in history, the Queen's Cup. Season tickets will also be available at the gate for only $50.Â
The game will also be broadcast live at www.oua.tv.Â