The Simon Fraser University Men’s Hockey team has completed their stable of goalies for the 2015/16 season with the commitment of Lyndon Stanwood. The West Vancouver native returns home to BC after playing NCAA hockey with Lake Forrest College in Illinois last season.
Stanwood comes to the team with experience playing junior hockey in the BCHL and KIJHL, as well as his stint in the NCAA. He split his 97 BCHL starts between Salmon Arm, Chilliwack, Langley, and Trail, with the bulk of that time coming over two seasons with the Smoke Eaters. He has spent a large portion of his career as a starting goalie, and will look to use that experience to try and take the starting job with the Clan.
With the departure of long time goaltender Andrew Parent due to graduation, playing time in the crease will be up for grabs, as all three SFU goalies will come into the 2015/16 season with one year of college hockey experience. This will create a competitive environment for players which is something Head Coach Mark Coletta feels will be a positive, “Lyndon will have the opportunity to fight for the number one spot, and having all three goalies competing for it should create a great atmosphere at training camp”
One thing SFU fans will notice is the size of their new goalie. Stanwood is listed at 5’9″, however that may be a stretch as he points out ” I’m only a few inches taller than the crossbar”. However that doesn’t worry coach Coletta, “He’s not the biggest goalie, but makes up for it in every other way”, while former coach Bobby Henderson of the Langley Rivermen described his goaltending as “technically sound, acrobatic and fiercely competitive.”
While he was brought to the program for his play on the ice, it’s what he brings to the team off the ice that will be valuable to a team that will be looking to find a new identity after the loss of a number of key contributors this past season. “He’s a great team mate, I can’t speak highly enough about his character. He’s highly respected by his teammates and would be a great addition to any program” said Bobby Henderson. Off the ice, Lyndon will be working towards his Business Administration degree, and will likely focus on innovation and entrepreneurship.
Lyndon joins Stephen Ryan, Valik Chichkin, Dustin Cave, Jamie Waddington, Robson Cramer, and Darnel St. Pierre as the seventh recruit thus far in what is expected to be a very strong recruiting class for the 2015-16 season for SFU.
SFU Men’s Hockey was re-established in 2004 and competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League. The program focuses on competition, academics, and community service as its core values. For more information about the SFU Hockey program, please visit www.sfuhockey.com.