The Windsor Lancers Men's Hockey team will open their 2012-13 OUA regular season this weekend when they host the UOIT Ridgebacks at Windsor Arena.
 
Game one of the weekend double header is set for 7:30pm on Saturday night followed by game two on Sunday afternoon at 2:00pm.
 
The team is coming off a 15-12-1 campaign in 2011-12 which saw them advance to the OUA Western Conference Finals and a chance at the national championships in an OUA third place game.
 
On the ice, the Lancers have brought in 10 newcomers to the program who'll join 16 veterans on this year's roster.
 
With so many new faces in the line-up this season, this year's edition of the Lancers seem to be coming together quickly as they went 3-2 in pre-season action, with a 3-0 record against OUA competition.
 
The Blue & Gold swept the Laurier Golden Hawks in a pair of game, and dominated the Ridgebacks 6-1 in Oshawa.
 
In goal, local standout Parker Van Buskirk returns between the pipes this season. Van Buskirk finished the 2011-12 season with a 15-9 record and a 2.99 GAA. In the pre-season, the Windsor native went 2-2, with wins against the Golden Hawks and Ridgebacks. He'll be joined in net by rookie Matt Murphy who came to Windsor from the Woodstock Slammers of the MJHL.
 
Up front, the Lancers return a core group of veterans who will contribute to the team's scoring punch, including second year forward Evan Stibbard. Stibbard was named to the 2011-12 all-rookie team and finished the regular season campaign with 29 points in 28 games.
 
Veterans D.J. Turner, team captain Brett Vandehogen, Brett Oliphant and Drew Palmer are also expected to add some zest to the line-up, but won't be alone as they are joined by a number of rookies, including local product Myles Doan who joins the Lancers from the OHL's Niagara IceDogs.
 
Other new additions up front include former OHLers Paul Bezzo from the Windsor Spitfires, Jadran Beljo from the London's Knights, Myles McCauley of the Plymouth Whalers, former Oshawa General Josh Graves and local product Matt Beaudoin from the LaSalle Vipers.
 
On defense, a veteran core of blueliners returns this year for the Coach Hamlin's squad. The duo of Steve Ferry and Isak Quakenbush will anchor the power play along with returnees Ryan Crevatin, Kyle Makaric, and Christian Steingraber. Former Windsor Spitfire Mitch Dunning joins the group along with fellow addition Clinton MacKenzie.
 
Be sure to catch all the action this weekend as the Lancers host the UOIT Ridgebacks to open their 2012-13 season at Windsor Arena.