THUNDER BAY -- The Lakehead Thunderwolves will return from the holiday break with key reinforcement on the blueline.
The program this week announced that defenceman Chase Stewart will join the Thunderwolves beginning with this weekend's non-conference series against the Laurentian Voyageurs after the 21-year-old Marathon, Ont. product began the season playing professional hockey.
The six-foot-two rearguard, who had appeared in 20 games with the ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets, had conditionally committed to Lakehead during the summer before joining the Ottawa Senators organization after a fall tryout.
“I’m happy to be back in Thunder Bay and looking forward to playing at home and helping Lakehead in any way that I can,” Stewart said in a team-issued statement.
"I’ll be proud to be represent the Thunderwolves."
Stewart played four seasons of major junior hockey, splitting time between the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Stewart played in the Memorial Cup with the Saint John Sea Dogs in 2017 before finishing his junior career with the Rimouski Oceanic.
“Chase is definitely a welcome addition to our lineup as he was playing at a high level in a very good league,” Thunderwolves bench boss Andrew Wilkins said. “He’ll add a lot to our defensive unit and will fit in nicely with our style of game.”
Lakehead takes to the ice against Laurentian on Friday and Saturday nights at the Fort William Gardens with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m.
