The Windsor Lancers Men's Hockey team will open their 2011-12 OUA regular season this weekend when they host the Concordia Stingers at Windsor Arena.

Game one of the weekend double header is set for 7:30pm on Friday night followed by game two on Saturday afternoon at 2:00pm.

On the ice, the Lancers have brought in 16 newcomers to the program who'll join nine veterans on this year's roster.

The team is coming off a 12-12-4 campaign in 2010-11 which saw them ultimately knocked out of the first round of the OUA playoffs by the Western Mustangs.

In goal, local standout Parker Van Buskirk takes over for veteran Jim Watt between the pipes this season. The Windsor native enjoyed an impressive major junior career in the OHL and is expected to be a big part of the foundation of the program going forward. He'll be joined in net by fellow newcomer Dan Savelli who came to Windsor after a solid career with the OJHL's Oakville Blades.

The strength of this year's team appears to be their newly acquired depth up front at the forward position. Veterans Mark Thorburn, Brett Vandehogen, Brett Oliphant and Tom Craig are expected to contribute scoring punch to the line-up, but won't be alone as they are  joined by a number of rookies this year.

New additions up front include former Windsor Spitfires Derek Lanoue and Cory McGillis, Alaska native Isak Quakenbush, Alberta native Spencer Pommels, former Saginaw Spirit winger Barry Sanderson and local products Ryan Green, Evan Stibbard, Drew Palmer, D.J. Turner and Gabe Gervais.

On the back end, a veteran core of blueliners returns this year for the Coach Hamlin's squad. Team captain Matt McCready will anchor the power play along with returnees Steve Ferry, Scott Todd and Christian Steingraber. Former Windsor Spitfire Mike MacIntyre joins the group along with fellow local additions Ryan Crevatin and Colin Cloutier.

With so many new faces in the line-up this season, this year's edition of the Lancers will need to come together quickly in order to meet their goal of advancing deep into the OUA playoffs.

Be sure to catch all the action this weekend as the Lancers host the Concordia Stingers to open their 2011-12 season at Windsor Arena.