Home experience on the road: Lakehead Thunderwolves excited for Guelph's Frosty Mug crowd

When the Lakehead University Thunderwolves men's hockey team skates out for the Frosty Mug against the Guelph Gryphons, the thousands of fans might make it feel more like a home game than an away showcase. 

The Thunderwolves, who play at the 4,680-capacity Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ont., regularly draw some of the largest crowds in Canadian university hockey, packing their arena throughout the regular season and often selling out in the playoffs, something many programs seldom dream of. 

On Thursday, Lakehead visits Guelph in the Frosty Mug game, streaming live at 7:00 pm ET on cbcsports.ca, a winter homecoming for the University of Guelph as students flock to the city's 5,100-person Ontario Hockey League arena, packing the stands for the annual January tradition. 

"We're so fortunate to be playing at the Fort William Gardens with such a great crowd," Lakehead head coach and former Thunderwolves student-athlete Andrew Wilkins said. "Anytime you're able to play in front of a crowd, it's good for the league, and we're lucky to be a part of it."

While many schools have showcase games, such as Brock University's Steel Blade Classic, the University of British Columbia's Winter Classic, or the Carr-Harris Cup between Queen's University and the Royal Military College, Lakehead's regular attendance rivals each of those weekly. 

With no Canadian Hockey League team and few other options for sporting entertainment in Thunder Bay, the Thunderwolves have been able to drive revenue with the men's hockey program, drawing on corporate sponsors partnered with community interest. 

As nearly every other school operates men's hockey like any other athletic program, based on funding from the athletic department, Thunderwolves