WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder announced the signing of eight players today and welcomed back former Thunder forward Scott Rozendal.
Other signings include forwards Chris Shudo, Chris Tarkir, Don Melnyk and Mike Carmody, defenseman Connor MacDonald and goaltenders Ervins Mustukovs and Ryan Dutton.
Rozendal (pronounced ROH-zin-DALE) returns to the Thunder after spending last season in France. Two years ago with the Thunder he chipped in 20 goals and 132 penalty minutes and was known has one of the biggest pests in the CHL.
Shudo (pronounced SHOO-doh) joins the Thunder from the SJHL’s Melville Millionaires where he notched 14 points in 16 games. Over his junior career he has compiled 103 points in five seasons. Tarkir (pronounced TAR-ker) joins the Thunder from the University of Alaska-Anchorage where he compiled 37 points over his college career. Prior to attending UAA, Tarker played for the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs compiling 52 points in 49 games.
Melnyk comes to Wichita from the SPHL’s Richmond Renegades where he notched 26 goals and 53 points in 49 games. Prior to turning pro he played four seasons with the MJHL’s OCN Blizzard, where he compiled 211 points and 653 penalty minutes in 190 games. Melnyk also suited up for the CHL’s Laredo Bucks in 2006-07 picking up two assists in four games.
Carmody joins the Thunder from New England College where he picked up 54 games and 123 points in 103 games. His best season came in 2004-05, as a freshman, where he compiled 20 goals and 45 points in just 27 games. Carmody served as Team Captain during his senior season.
MacDonald is a hard-hitting defenseman out of Prince Edward Island, who notched 13 points and 176 penalty minutes in 52 games with the SPHL’s Jacksonville Barracudas last season. In his final season of juniors, MacDonald compiled career-highs with 16 goals, 35 points and 231 penalty minutes with the MJAHL’s Restigouche Tigers.
The Thunder is also going with young goaltending this season, led by Mustukovs who had impressive numbers in the ECHL last season, going 7-3-2 with a 2.66 goals against average and a .913 save percentage for the Elmira Jackals. In two pro seasons, the 6-2, 175-pounder has gone 32-19-5 with a .910 save percentage and three ECHL shutouts.
Dutton joins the Thunder from Mount Royal College, where he starred for four seasons. Dutton recorded a career-best 13-6-2 record his junior season and this past season led all Alberta Athletic Conference goaltenders with two shutouts and a .912 save percentage. He also finished second with a 2.93 goals against average and was called on by the Calgary Flames for one day, beating Flames starter Miikka Kiprusoff 1-0 in an intra-squad scrimmage.
The Thunder now has 12 players signed for the upcoming season and with the expected signing of Jason Duda still has three veteran spots to fill. Wichita will host the Tulsa Oilers on Wednesday, October 8th at 7:05 p.m. at the Wichita Ice Center. All seats for the game will be general admission and will cost $10 each. Tickets for the game will go on sale on Monday, September 22nd. The Thunder will also play a pair of exhibition games at the defending CHL Champion Arizona Sundogs on Friday and Saturday, October 10th and 11th. CHL training camp will open on Monday, October 6th.
The Thunder will open their 17th CHL season on Friday, October 17th at the Mississippi RiverKings and then host the Oklahoma City Blazers on Saturday, October 18th at the Kansas Coliseum. For more information or to order season tickets, please call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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