Lancers atop OUA West
Eight wins in their last 10 games to close out 2024 have the Windsor Lancers in first place form as they prepare for the 2025 segment of the Ontario University Athletics men’s hockey season. Among others, the Lancers are sparked by scoring leader Keegan McMullen, formerly of the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Soo Greyhounds and Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League.
McMullen, who is in his third season at U of Windsor, has figured in on 36 per cent of the Lancers scoring thus far this season. The big forward has 11 goals, seven assists, 18 points for a U of Windsor team that has tallied 50 times in 17 games and has a record of 10-7-0 and is in top spot among the 10 schools of the OUA’s West Division.
The resurgence of the Lancers — they started out by losing five of their first seven games of the ’24-25 season before going on an 8-2 run to close out 2024 — has been largely the result of “getting a little puck luck” according to time honoured Lancers head coach Kevin Hamlin.
“We weren’t getting the key goals early in the season but then the bounces started going our way and combined with some great goaltending from (fourth year veteran) Nathan Torchia, we have been getting better and better,” Hamlin relayed to Hockey News Windsor.
Hamilin also noted the scoring exploits of McMullen and the leadership group led by fourth year defenseman Matt McNamara as factors in the rising fortunes of the Lancer men of U of Windsor.
“We are youngest team in the country and it’s been a learning opportunity for many of our players,” added the 63-year old Hamlin, a former OHL goalie turned Windsor high school teacher and principal who is in his 17th season with the Lancers.
With 11 games to play in the OUA regular season, the Lancers return to action on January 10.