By Andrew Papadopoulos

The Windsor Lancer men's hockey team will once again have high expectations heading into the 2023-24 season.
 
Fresh off a successful 2022-23 campaign where they hosted and competed for the prestigious Queen's Cup back in March of this year during its 111^th edition of the OUA's championship finals, the team has no plans of going away quietly this season following up their OUA silver medal and U SPORTS nationals appearance earned from last year.
 
"I don't think making high expectations is difficult for our group at all." Lancer men's hockey head coach Kevin Hamlin stated with confidence. 
 
"We begin every year with high expectations and truly feel we can accomplish the goals we set for our group.  We have a tremendous core group and excellent first year Lancers that will complement the talent and character necessary."
 
The team will be on the road to start their 2023-24 schedule when they travel to Toronto to take on the TMU Bold on Friday October 6th with puck drop at 6PM followed by a second game on the back-to-back weekend in the provincial capital of Ontario facing off against the Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday October 7th at 4:30PM. 
 
Reflecting further on last season's recent success which saw the Lancers appear in the Queen's Cup finals for the first time since winning in 2013-14, the team looks to build off the momentum created off this past season's run which saw them appear in the U SPORTS national championships in Prince Edward Island.
 
"It is a tremendous grind to get as far as the Queen's Cup as only those that have played in that environment can truly articulate everything that goes into the experience to make it special."  Coach Hamlin added who is going into his tenth season with the program and who also led the Lancers to their 2013-14 Queen's Cup championship run.
 
"We have 14 players returning who have first-hand experience with it so I'm very hopeful that we continue on this process we started and learn more about each other and our capabilities we go along.  Every team wants to win the Queen's Cup.  This is the pinnacle in our sport within the province.  I know our team is focused on working hard and smart through the necessary adversity that may present that opportunity again to us."
 
The Lancers men's hockey program had a busy off-season which was not idle by bringing in a new wave of talent on the ice and implementing a new but familiar voice to incorporate into the program's coaching staff which are all looking to piggyback off the recent success from last season and build on it this upcoming season. 
 
With 12 new recruits being introduced into the fold this year and 14 returning players as well as a new notable addition behind the bench with new assistant coach and former Lancer player and coach Kyle Makaric welcomed back to the squad, Coach Hamlin emphasizes that the team must rely on every player suiting up for the blue and gold this season if they are to have repeated success once more in the OUA and beyond. 
 
"This is the most difficult thing that you have asked for," coach Hamlin said in response to who he anticipates will be the player that the Lancer Family should watch out for this season.
 
"To identify one or two key people in our room is tough. We rely on every person.  Clearly, former U SPORTS goalie of the year, Nathan Torchia and former OUA player of the year, Mason Kohn needs to lead as I'm sure they are capable of."
 
Our key returning guys will be Grant Spence who is expected to be an offensive leader for our group. Hunter Holmes, Keegan McMullen, Barrett Dachyshyn and other returning forwards will have a lot to say about things before the year is over.  We also have transfers Jake Duran (from St. Mary's) and Ryan Roth (from UNB) that are expected to lead offensively. 
 
Our returning blue line may however be our strength as Will Ennis, Holden Wale, Matt McNamara, Jaydon Fetter, Stef Dobrich give us a tremendous opportunity to win those close games which we all know we will be in.
 
Ty Toews, Jacob Boucher Nathan Kelly, and Dominic Mufarreh are all great first year additions up front and David Jesus, Spencer Lecot, Aaron Chiarot and Dylan Schives will give us the added strength we will need behind the blue line."
 
Loaded. That is a great word to sum up the Lancers line up that they will boast and put on the ice this season to not only compete but also attempt to run it back to the Queen's Cup finals and another potential U SPORTS nationals appearance in 2024.
 
Not only will they be a team with tremendous depth on paper but also one that will draw fans to watch them play in many arenas around the province and at home while playing at the Capri Pizzeria Recreational Complex for another season of Lancer men's hockey.
 
As mentioned, the team will first head up the 401 east this weekend to play a double header in Toronto before returning to play in their home opener on Friday October 13th when they will host the Nipissing Lakers with puck drop at 7:30PM from the CPRC for the first match of a back-to-back two-day homestand.
 
Tickets are available for purchase in advance at goLancers.ca or can be bought at the admission gate at the CPRC on game day.   Also, the Lancer Family can catch Lancer men's hockey action on game days outside the rink all season long streaming on OUA.tv.