Wichita Thunder Hockey News

Shudo's Trick Saves Thunder in OT

RIO RANCHO, NM- The Wichita Thunder escaped with a 7-6 overtime win over the New Mexico Scorpions on Saturday night.Chris Shudo netted the game winner just 40 seconds into the extra frame, which also gave Shudo a hat trick.  The Surrey, British Columbia native scored goals at 1:46 in the first period and 9:40 into the second.The Thunder had… Read More

Thunder Power Rage for Bilodeau's First Win

BROOMFIELD, CO- The Wichita Thunder earned their first victory of the season with a 6-3 win over the Rocky Mountain Rage on Friday night.Rookie Mike Carmody earned first star honors with a goal and an assist.  Scott Rozendal scored the game winner at the 8:27 mark in the second period.  Greg Cassista chiped in two assists in the… Read More

Batovanja to undergo surgery

WICHITA, KS- Thunder team captain Mike Batovanja will undergo surgery today to fix a torn ACL and will be placed on the 30-day Injured Reserve.  Batovanja, the heart and soul of the Thunder, was injured in the final minutes of Wichita's home opener on Saturday.  The Thunder filled his roster spot today adding experienced defenseman Bryan… Read More

Thunder Downed in Home Opener

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder dropped their 2008-2009 home opener 5-1 to the Oklahoma City Blazers on Saturday night.The Thunder grabbed an early lead behind Scott Rozendal's first goal of the year at the 1:24 mark in the first period.  However, the Blazers went on to score five unanswered goals, including two from D.J. Jelitto. … Read More

Thunder Drop Opener

SOUTHAVEN, MS- The Wichita Thunder dropped their 2008-2009 season opener to the Mississippi Riverkings on Friday night by a final score of 3-2.Rookie Chris Tarkir netted both Thunder goals, including a game-tying shot on the power play at 7:31 into the third period.  Mississippi's Darrell Stoddard scored the game winner, also on the power… Read More

Thunder Open Season Tonight

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder open their 17th season tonight against the Mississippi Riverkings at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, MS at 7:05 p.m.Tonight's game can be heard online at www.allinbroadcasting.com  A link to the audio feed can also be found at the Thunder's official website, www.wichitathunder.com  Coverage begins at… Read More

Shorthanded Thunder drops opener

Eagle staff-  The Wichita Thunder, playing without six regular players because of visa problems, dropped its opening game to the Mississippi Riverkings 3-2 on Friday night in Southaven, Miss.  Chris Tarkir had both Thunder goals. Wichita plays its home opener tonight.  The Thunder was without six of its players, including captain… Read More

Thunder sets opening weekend roster

WICHITA, KS- The Thunder finalized their roster for opening weekend making a handful of moves.  Most notably, Wichita released goaltender Ryan Dutton and signed goaltender Dan McWhinney.  McWhinney, a third-year pro, played last season for the Amarillo Gorillas, going 16-24-6.  The previous season, he was 9-3-1 with the uHL's Fort… Read More

Thunder doing things differently

By Bob Lutz, The Wichita Eagle-  Don't get too cozy with any Thunder hockey players. Not yet, anyway.  This team is a work in progress and will continue to be so days and perhaps even weeks after Friday's Central Hockey League season opener at Mississippi.  The Thunder has a new coach (Brent Bilodeau), a new general manager (Joel… Read More

Think Green Program Among Thunder's Newest Promotions

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder, in conjunction with QuikService Steel Co., are rewarding fans this season with the "Think Green" program.Fans can receive $5.00 off prime and upper corner Thunder tickets for the 2008-2009 regular season (excluding Saturday games) by returning a Think Green collection bag filled with used recyclable… Read More

Thunder Announces 2008-2009 Broadcast Schedule

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder, proud members of the CHL, announced their 2008-2009 broadcast schedule today.For the third consecutive year, the Thunder will partner with Sports Radio 1410AM KGSO, Wichita's only all sports radio station.  26 broadcasts will be featured on KGSO (schedule below), including 17 road games.  KGSO can also be… Read More

Thunder comeback falls short

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. – The Arizona Sundogs and Wichita Thunder faced off in the final exhibition contest of each teams’ preseason schedule Saturday night at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Cory Stillman registered two goals and two assists while linemate Joel Irving tallied two goals, including his second shorthanded… Read More

Sundogs edge Thunder

PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ – The Arizona Sundogs, in their first action of the preseason, squared off against the Wichita Thunder Friday night at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Wichita opened a two-goal lead early on but the Sundogs used two shorthanded tallies from Joel Irving and Jon Landry to top the Thunder 5-4 in the first of two… Read More

Thunder Comeback Dashed in Shootout

WICHITA, KS - The Wichita Thunder dropped a 6-5 exhibition decision to the Tulsa Oilers on Wednesday night at the Wichita Ice Center.  Newcomer Alex Hager scored the game-tying goal on the power play with just 31 seconds left in regulation, before Tulsa's Chris Kovalcik netted the game winner in the shootout.The Thunder trailed 3-0 more than… Read More

Thunder adds offense, Exhibition game Wednesday

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder today added forward Tyler Dittmer to their roster.  Dittmer joins the Thunder from the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings, where he notched 60 goals and 141 points in 217 games and was a member of the 2007 WHL Champions.  Dittmer had his best season in 2007-08, picking up 58 points and led… Read More

Thunder open training camp Monday

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder will open training camp on Monday with a pair of practices at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  28 players will take the ice for Wichita, including defenseman Pascal Bedard, who has notched 113 points in 280 career games.  The Thunder expect another key forward to join the team on Tuesday and continue negotiations… Read More

Thunder Training Camp Roster

Mike Batovanja  RW R 5-7 175 3/21/82  Hinton, Alberta  bat-uh-VAN-juhMatt Byrnes  C R 5-9 180 10/31/82  Lincoln, Rhone IslandMike Carmody  C R 5-11 175 11/9/83  Falmouth, Maine  car-MAH-deeSteve… Read More

CHL and PHPA set to meet this week in Denver; PHPA Lifts Strike

The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today that an agreement to meet with the Professional Hockey Player Association (PHPA) has been reached with the two sides meeting on Wednesday, October 8th and Thursday, October 9th in Denver, Colorado.  Subsequently, the PHPA announced that the strike against CHL teams by the Union has been lifted,… Read More

CHL Statement regarding PHPA Strike Notice

The Central Hockey League (CHL) was notified on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 that the Professional Hockey Player Association (PHPA) has declared a strike against the CHL and its Member Clubs effective immediately. “We are disappointed that the PHPA has taken this step at this point in the negotiations,” said Duane Lewis, CHL… Read More