The OUA hockey season kicks off this week and the Lancer Hockey program is ready and anxious for the season to begin.
 
The 2015-16 Windsor Lancer men's hockey team is set to make another run for the Queen's Cup title and a third appearance at the CIS University Cup Championship. After claiming their first Queen's Cup Championship in 16 years in 2013-14, the Lancers have continued to make strides towards their first CIS Championship title.
 
The outlook for 2015-16 is a positive one for the Lancers, as they are returning a number of key players from last year's OUA bronze medal squad, including OUA defenseman of the year and CIS all-Canadian Kenny Bradford, and OUA rookie of the year Dylan Denomme.
 
Bradford tied for the OUA lead for points by a defenceman with 28, scoring eight goals and adding 20 assists. Denomme, in his first year of OUA hockey, finished second on the Lancers in points with 31, scoring 13 goals and 18 assists, while appearing in all 27 games. Both Bradford and Denomme played key roles in the Lancers third-ranked powerplay, each scoring six goals on the man advantage.
 
The Lancers will not be without a couple of significant losses this year, as CIS player of the Year Spencer Pommells and OUA goaltender of the Year Parker Van Buskirk graduated following last season. Captain Drew Palmer and forward Matt Beaudoin also completed their education, leaving holes at both the front and back of the line-up.
 
OUA coach of the year Kevin Hamlin hopes to begin filling those voids with his 2015-16 recruiting class, a group with a lot of skill that will be able to contribute right away. The group includes transfer Steve Anthony from the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. After sitting out last season, Anthony is a leader that can offer remarkable leadership and experience to the young Lancer squad. Another standout addition, Tyson Ness, is a tremendous forward who can play in all situations, and joins the Lancers from the Kamloops Blazers.
 
The Lancer men open the season this Wednesday, October 7th when they host the Guelph Gryphons at 7:30pm at South Windsor Arena. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for youth/senior with the doors opening one hour prior to the puck drop.
 
On the women's side, the Lancer women's hockey team is coming off a solid 2014-15 season that saw them earn a sixth straight berth into the OUA post season.
 
The 2015-16 edition of the Blue & Gold are a young squad after losing a number of key veterans to graduation. The loss of fifth year forwards Jenny MacKnight, Candice Chevalier, Bree Polci, Candace Kourounis, and defenseman Kayla Dodson brings the opportunity for others to step up and shine.
 
On offense, fourth year forwards Erinn Noseworthy have been named this year's co-team captains. Noseworthy and Rops will be looked at to provide a scoring punch on the Lancer front line. Both athletes provide an unmatched commitment to winning and a wealth of experience that will help lead the Lancers back into the post season for the seventh straight season.
 
Two sport athlete and OUA all-rookie Krystin Lawrence will also be counted on to lead the Lancer offense. Lawrence led the Lancers in scoring in 2014-15 with 22 points (11G, 11A) in 23 games.

Defensively, head coach Jim Hunter will rely on transfer Sydney Dobbin. A 5'8 defenseman from London, Ontario, Dobbin joins the Lancers after spending the past two seasons with Adrian College in Michigan. She registered 10 points in 29 career games with the Bulldogs.
 
Windsor opens their season this Thursday against the Western Mustangs in London. The women do not play in the confines of South Windsor Arena until Saturday October 24th when they host the Toronto Varsity Blues at 4:00pm.
 
Season tickets for both the men and women are available online at www.goLancers.ca/tickets.