LONDON, Ont. - Following a challenging preseason schedule, the Western Mustangs are ready to hit the ice when the OUA regular season begins on Thursday night with a game at Guelph (Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m.). And they are hungry to return as one of Canada’s best university teams.

On a team with 10 freshmen and just three seniors - all fourth-years - the Mustangs will be young, but return 14 players from last year's run deep in the playoffs.

Head coach Clarke Singer described the team as, “a very young team."

"But we are working hard," Singer says. "We had probably the most difficult training camp in my 12-year tenure. We like where we are.”

Looking to qualify for the national championships in New Brunswick next March, the Mustangs are led by a solid returning corps of goalies with sophomores Anthony Grieco and Josh Unice.

The fab freshmen and sensational sophomore line of Keaton Turkiewicz, Kevin Baker and Aaron Snow is now back for the third year - this line of juggernaut juniors is sure to be a difficult trio to mark. With improved defensive zone coverage and maturity, they will be among the best forwards in the nation.

London Nationals graduates and brothers Jason and Shaun Furlong are reunited again, this time with the Mustangs. They are two of nine players on the Mustangs roster from the Junior B system.

The Mustangs also boast 12 former Canadian Hockey League players including nine OHLers, and one former London Knight in Scott Aarssen, a member of the 2009-10 CIS all-rookie team.

Two Western players are from the B.C. Tier-2 Junior A league - Grieco and defenceman Matt Paltridge.

Chris Corbeil, who is also a professional lacrosse player with the National Lacrosse League's Buffalo Bandits, two-way scoring machine and pest Yashar Farmanara, and Kyle Lamb add veteran know-how on offence, while Aarssen, Jason Swit, Adam Nemeth, Geoff Killing and Brock Turner provide experience on the blue-line.

Western lost just four seniors in captain Luc Martin, two-way menace Patrick Ouellet, goalie Keyvan Hunt and defenceman Ryan Martinelli - playing professionally with former Mustangs head coach and his father Barry in Italy. Also gone are Trevor Koverko, Mike Sharp, Patrick Lee, Joe McCann, Kevin Mole and Matt Piva.

Hunt will be missed as a veteran goalie with plenty of OUA experience. In his final season, Hunt played 18 games stopping 432 shots. Singer notes, “Keyvan is an outstanding young man. We are going to miss him in the dressing room and on the ice.”

Singer returns for his 12th season with an overall record of 262-89-10 in OUA play.

The Mustangs are coming into the 2010-11 season hungry, after their 2009-10 campaign ended with a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the Trois Rivieres Patriotes, as Western surrendered three goals in 31 seconds late in the third period. If Western had won, they would have advanced to the national championship tournament in Thunder Bay, Ont.

With a fourth-place finish and 27-12-0 record, Western was among the top teams in the nation last year.

Pre Season at a Glance
Sept. 11        Czech Republic 4 Western 3
Sept. 18        Western 4 Nipissing 3
Sept. 24        Concordia 4 Western 3
Sept. 25        McGill 6 Western 3
Oct. 2        Western 5 Lake Superior State 4
Oct. 3        Michigan 4 Western 2
Oct. 8        Western at Michigan State, 7 p.m.

Regular Season at a Glance
2010
Oct. 7        Western at Guelph, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 15        Western at UOIT, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16        York at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 22        Laurier at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23        Western at Waterloo, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27        Western at Brock, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 29        Waterloo at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4        Western at York, 7 p.m.
Nov. 6         Waterloo at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11        Western at York, 7 p.m.
Nov. 12        Guelph at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 19        Toronto at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 20        Ryerson at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 26        Western at Queen's, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 27        Western at RMC, 7 p.m.
Dec. 2        Brock at Western, 7:30 p.m.
2011
Jan. 7        Western at Brock, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 8        Laurier at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 14        Lakehead at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 15        Lakehead at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 20        Western at Laurier, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 21        Western at Windsor, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 28        Western at UOIT, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 29        Western at Windsor, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 4        Windsor at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 5        UOIT at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 11        Western at Brock, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12        Guelph at Western, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 16        Playoffs Begin
March 24-27    CIS Nationals at University of New Brunswick