"Nor'Westers" was the name of the sports teams of Lakehead University, located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, from 1965-66 to 1984-85. After folding their team for 17 seasons, L.U. came back to life in 2001-02 with teams called the "Thunderwolves". They are now members of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and U Sports (formerly known as CIS).

Their websites are www.thunderwolves.ca and www.thunderwolveshockey.com.

Lakehead Nor'Westers

The Lakehead Nor'Westers started in 1965-66 in the International Collegiate Hockey Association (ICHA) where they played American teams from the NAIA. In 1967 they won the conference title. In 1971 and 1973 they lost the final of the NAIA National Championship, both times to the Bemidji State Beavers, now in the NCAA. The ICHA also included future NCAA contenders the Lake Superior Lakers and the St. Cloud State Huskies. The records for that league are sparse. There are many stories floating around, which are linked at the ICHA page.

The Nor'Westers joined the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in 1972-73 where they played until 1984-85. The Nor'Westers were one of the founding GPAC teams, along with the Brandon Bobcats, Winnipeg Wesmen, and Manitoba Bisons. Their only GPAC title was won in 1973. There was no playoff. Lakehead was first with a 9-3 record, 2 points ahead of the Wesmen. In the University Cup quarter-finals they lost 3-1 and 9-3 to the Alberta Golden Bears.

The GPAC teams played a relatively short schedule in those early years, which allowed the Nor'Westers to continue playing in the ICHA for a few more years. Eventually the GPAC teams picked up their schedules, and the addition of the Regina Cougars in 1976-77 made the league more competitive. After Lakehead's one title, the Bisons, Cougars, and Bobcats each won 4 titles and Lakehead never really came close again.

The Nor'Westers returned to the Thunder Bay local ranks in 1980-81 and 1981-82 when they participated in the Thunder Bay Hockey League.

In 1984-85 the once proud team went 0-24 in a four team conference (the Wesmen had folded after the 1983-84 season). A suspension of Brandon for illegal payments to athletes allowed the winless Nor'Westers to make the playoffs. They lost to Regina by scores of 8-2 and 8-1 in a dismal semi-final series.

Season-by-Season Records

Year/Comp.	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts	Placing
1966 ICHA	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
1967 ICHA	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	champions
1968 ICHA	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
1969 ICHA	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
1970 ICHA	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
1971 ICHA	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	1st
1971 NAIA	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	finalist
1972 ICHA	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
1973 GPAC	12	9	3	0	68	52	18	champions
1973 U-Cup	2	0	2	0	4	12	0	regional
1973 ICHA	12	4	8	0	?	?	8	?
1973 NAIA	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	finalist
1974 GPAC	18	6	12	0	87	103	12	4th
1974 ICHA	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
1975 GPAC	17	7	9	1	91	106	15	3rd
1975 ICHA	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
1976 GPAC	18	8	10	0	73	84	16	3rd
1977 GPAC	22	9	12	1	96	93	19	3rd
1978 GPAC	22	16	6	0	?	?	32	2nd
1978 Playoffs	3	1	2	0	13	16	2	finalist
1979 GPAC	22	7	14	1	?	?	15	4th
1980 GPAC	20	5	15	0	93	131	10	4th
1981 GPAC	24	2	22	0	86	208	4	5th
1981 TBHL	24	7	17	0	140	188	14	4th
1981 TB playoffs	3	0	3	0	?	?	0	semi-finals
1982 GPAC	24	7	15	2	118	176	16	4th
1982 TBHL	9	4	5	0	58	61	16	4th
1982 TB playoffs	11	6	5	0	?	?	12	finalist
1983 GPAC	24	10	14	0	106	140	20	4th
1984 GPAC	24	9	14	1	111	168	19	4th
1985 GPAC	24	0	24	0	77	243	0	4th
1985 Playoffs	2	0	2	0	3	16	0	semi-finals

International Games

December 13, 1967 : 1967-68 Romania Tour

Lakehead 7 Romania 3

January 5, 1969 : 1968-69 Sweden B Tour

Sweden B 7 Lakehead 2

Canada West Team Sites

Current Teams

Former Teams

Nor'westers era also see ...

Lakehead Thunderwolves

When hockey (and other sports) returned to Thunder Bay in 2001-02, there was a new name, look, and logo. The Lakehead Thunderwolves were also in the OUA. They won the conference title in 2006. They qualified for the University Cup in 2003 (as national wild-card), 2006 (as OUA champion), and 2009 and 2010 (as tournament host). In 2006 Lakehead won their pool and advanced to the U-Cup final where they lost 3-2 to the Alberta Golden Bears. The new team has been privately run and always leads the OUA in attendance. (Much like Laval in football.)

Season-by-Season Records

Year/Comp.	GP	W	L	T	F	A	Pts	Placing
2002 OUA	24	13	8	3	94	85	29	2nd FW
2002 Playoffs	5	3	2	0	17	14	6	FW final
2003 OUA	24	18	6	0	125	64	36	2nd FW
2003 Playoffs	6	5	1	0	31	16	10	bronze
2003 U-Cup	2	0	2	0	4	6	0	3rd pool

Year/Comp.	GP	W	L	T	OL	F	A	Pts	Placing
2004 OUA	24	18	4	2	0	124	59	38	2nd FW
2004 Playoffs	6	4	2	-	-	19	14	8	FW final
2005 OUA	24	15	8	1	0	105	65	31	2nd FW
2005 Playoffs	7	5	2	-	-	?	?	10	FW finals
2006 OUA	24	13	9	2	0	86	61	28	3rd FW
2006 Playoffs	9	7	2	-	-	23	16	14	champions
2006 U-Cup	3	2	1	-	-	10	8	4	silver
2007 OUA	28	13	10	3	2	114	105	31	3rd FW
2007 Playoffs	4	2	2	-	-	11	14	4	W semis

Year/Comp.	GP	W	L	OL	F	A	Pts	Placing
2008 OUA	28	23	4	1	129	68	47	1st FW
2008 Playoffs	6	3	3	0	?	?	6	W final
2009 OUA	28	18	8	2	103	69	38	4th FW
2009 Playoffs	5	3	2	0	?	?	6	W semis
2009 U-Cup	2	0	2	0	2	5	0	3rd pool
2010 OUA	28	19	7	2	138	93	40	3rd W
2010 Playoffs	8	6	2	0	?	?	12	finalist
2010 U-Cup	2	1	1	0	10	7	2	2nd pool
2011 OUA	28	16	9	3	118	83	35	3rd W
2011 Playoffs	2	0	2	-	?	?	0	W quarters
2012 OUA	28	19	9	0	110	79	38	3rd W
2012 Playoffs	6	3	3	-	?	?	6	W semis
2013 OUA	28	17	9	2	109	98	36	3rd W
2013 Playoffs	2	0	2	-	?	?	0	W quarters
2014 OUA	28	17	8	3	90	81	37	2nd W
2014 Playoffs	7	4	3	-	?	?	8	fourth
2015 OUA	27	10	14	3	109	113	23	7th W
2015 Playoffs	4	2	2	-	?	?	4	W semis
2016 OUA	28	8	16	4	77	111	20	9th W
2017 OUA	28	13	13	2	89	107	28	W 7th
2017 Playoffs	2	0	2	-	3	6	0	W quarters
2018 OUA	28	12	11	5	70	86	29	W 7th ø
2018 playoffs	3	1	2	-	6	11	2	W quarters
2019 OUA	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Notes:

ø UQTR forfeited 8 wins and 3 OT losses (19 pts) for using an ineligible player. The teams that benefited are: Lakehead (4 pts), Laurentian (4), Nipissing (3), Carleton (2), Queen's (2).
OUA had been operating in a four division format when Lakehead entered.'
OUA went to a two division format in 2009-10
FW means Far West division
W means West division