Lakers hockey adds depth to the blueline

The Nipissing Lakers have bolstered their depleted blueline with the addition of Brendan Mitchell.

Mitchell, a 6-foot, 185-pound defenceman from Stonewall, Manitoba, played last season with the Selkirk Steelers in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), collecting 13 points and 52 penalty minutes in 60 games as the team captain.

He played four seasons in the MJHL, a total of 226 games, netting 50 points and 224 penalty minutes.

Mitchell is enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts degree program, with the goal of entering Nipissing’s Criminal Justice program.

“I'm very excited to be coming to Nipissing,” said Mitchell in a Nipissing University press release.

“It’s an excellent school with small classes and the Criminal Justice program really interests me. I’m looking forward to getting on the ice with the Lakers and helping the team reach their goals.”

The blue line and some top end scoring are some of head coach Mike McParland's priorities this off-season.

On the back end, the Lakers lose Jordan Gallea, Jason Gray, Sean Ryan to graduation and former London Knight's defender Brett Cook to suspension.

Lakers men’s coach Mike McParland has just returned from a recruiting trip at the RBC Cup in Summerside, PEI, where he met with a number of players who could help strengthen the team.

Season Ticket Packages coming soon

The Lakers expect to announce the 2013-14 regular season schedule and season tickets packages very soon.

The team is looking forward to building on last season’s success, when they knocked the defending CIS Champion McGill Redmen out of the playoffs in the first round.

“Our fans have been absolutely fabulous and the season ticket packages are going to be a terrific value for the whole family,” said Gary Davison, vice-president of sales and marketing for the Lakers.

“Everyone in the Lakers office is excited to get back on the ice in the renovated Gardens to launch our fifth season and continue to play fast, exciting Lakers hockey.”

Lakers Women's Hockey on the Horizon

This fall will also see the launch of the Lakers women’s hockey team. Head coach Darren Turcotte has been hard at work recruiting players and is building a solid nucleus of talent that North Bay’s hockey fans will appreciate.