Press Releases

Hidalgo, TX- Wichita (28-12-2) used a three-goal outburst in the first 14 minutes of the game to swat away the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (18-19-6) 4-1 Friday night at State Farm Arena. R.G. Flath scored twice and Chris Chappell added his fourth goal in the last two games to pace the Thunder. Wichita outscored the Bees 11-2 in their three meetings this season and remain in first place with 58 points.

The Thunder jumped out to an early lead, scoring three goals in a 3:05 span. The first tally came from Matt Robinson (18) during a goal-mouth scramble where he was able to lift the puck over Bees goalie John Murray. 34 seconds later, R.G. Flath (8) won a foot-race to a loose puck behind the Bees net and wrapped it under Murray's leg to make it 2-0. Flath (9) scored his second of the game during a scramble near the crease and tucked it into an empty net to make it 3-0. It was the fastest three goals scored by the Thunder this season.

In the second period, the Bees scored on a power play to cut the lead to 3-1. Dan Gendur took a loose puck behind Thunder starter Bryan Hogan and found Craig Lineker for the one-timer.

Chris Chappell (7) put the icing on the cake in the third period, scoring on a two-on-one break for his fourth goal in the past two games and Wichita skated away with a 4-1 win. Flath extended his goal scoring streak to three games, notching four in that span. Bryan Hogan earned back-to-back wins and his second in a Thunder uniform.

Wichita takes the season-series over Rio Grande Valley, winning all three meetings between the two teams. The Thunder also extended its winning streak to three games and has won four out of its last five.

Wichita heads to Laredo to take on the Bucks for the first time this season before returning home Friday, February 10th against Tulsa. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

THUNDER TAKE THREE OF FOUR- Wichita took six of a possible eight points last week despite playing with a depleted roster. For the second straight week, Wichita played four games in five days beginning on Wednesday night against Arizona. Behind a hat trick from Kevin Seibel, Wichita exploded for its highest scoring output of the season with an 8-4 win over the Sundogs. Five players had multi-point games including Summers with four assists, Bourret with three points (1g, 2a) and Jarred Mohr with three assists. On Friday night, Wichita went down to Allen, TX in a battle for first place. The Thunder fell behind early and couldn’t recover, losing 5-0. Several key players left the game due to injury and Wichita finished out the contest with just seven forwards. The following night in Wichita, Andrew Martens tallied the game-winner in overtime to give Wichita a 3-2 win against Tulsa. The momentum carried over to Sunday afternoon as Wichita smothered Quad City behind a hat trick from Chris Chappell for a 5-1 victory. Chappell scored a goal even strength, on the power play and shorthanded. It was the first shorthanded goal Quad City had given up all season. Wichita and Allen continue to see-saw back and forth for first place as the Thunder sit one point ahead of the Americans with 56 points.

ANOTHER MILESTONE-  Kevin McClelland moved into 10th all-time in the CHL, coaching his 424th game on Wednesday night (a win versus Arizona).  With the win, McClelland also passed Brent Hughes moving into eighth place on the league’s all-time wins list (246).

HATS A PLENTY-  Kevin Seibel and Chris Chappell each recorded a hat trick this past week. Prior to that, the Thunder have had three hat tricks this season. For both players, it was their first professional hat trick of their careers. In January, Seibel has 11 points (3g, 8a) and Chappell has seven (3g, 4a).

MAIZE AND BLUE-  Bryan Hogan won his first start in Thunder blue on Sunday. The University of Michigan product was picked up in a trade with Dayton earlier in the week and stopped 20 of 21 shots he faced against Quad City. Hogan was four minutes away from earning a shutout before the Mallards scored on a power play. Hogan recently earned his first professional shutout in a Gems uniform against the Rapid City Rush on January 20th. 

HELPING HAND- Alex Bourret and Matt Summers have a knack for finding their teammates. The two have combined for 13 assists over the last five games. Both have eight points over that span as Bourret has two goals and six assists while Summers has one goal and seven assists. Bourret has seven points (1g, 6a) since returning to Wichita on January 22nd.

IRON MEN-  Travis Wight and Jarred Mohr are the only players to have played in every game so far this season. Due to injuries and call-ups, the two have flourished while logging a lot of minutes. In 41 games, Mohr has 21 points (4g, 17a) and is a +12 while Wight is a +7.

OUTSTANDING ATTENDANCE- Wichita Thunder fans came out in droves this last weekend. On Saturday night, the team played in front of 7,205 fans. Sunday topped that with 9,401 people at INTRUST Bank Arena. After 22 homes games, Wichita sits in second place with an average of 5, 958 fans per game.

THUNDERBOLTS… The Thunder is second in winning percentage (.683), leads the league in wins (27) and points (56)… Wichita is first in goals per game (3.61) and sixth in goals against per contest (2.95)… Wichita is second in shots allowed (28.34/game) and has allowed a CHL-low 348 shots in the third period… The Thunder power play away from home is ranked third, going 18-for-84 at a clip of 21.4%... Adam Russo leads the league in shootout wins (5), second in wins (19) and second in minutes played (1692:09)… Andrew Martens leads the CHL in plus/minus (+22)… Matt Summers is first in shooting percentage (.277) while R.G. Flath is second (.233)… Erick Lizon is tied for first in majors (13)… Davis is tied for first in game-winning goals (6)… Wichita leads the league in goals scored (148)… In one-goal games, Wichita is 13-4-2… When leading after one, The Thunder is 12-3-1… When trailing after one, Wichita is 7-6-1… Tied after two periods, Wichita is 10-2-2… When scoring first, Wichita is 16-6-1… When outshooting the opponent, Wichita is 15-5-0… In four-goal games, Wichita is 4-0-0… The Thunder is 11-3-2 against teams from the Turner Conference while going 16-9-0 in division.

UPCOMING WEEK- The Thunder head to South Texas this weekend to take on Rio Grande Valley and Laredo. After a three-game road swing, Wichita is back at home on Friday, February 10th against Tulsa for the final time this season. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com .

-Thunder-

Check out the Highlights from Sunday's pounding of Quad City HERE.

Wichita, KS-  Chris Chappell recorded his first professional hat trick and Matt Summers notched three points as Wichita (27-12-2) smothered Quad City (23-17-1) Sunday night, winning 5-1 in front of 9,401 fans at INTRUST Bank Arena. Wichita improves to 6-0-2 all-time against Quad City and 3-0-0 at home.

Chris Chappell (4) gave Wichita the early lead as he came down the wall, cut across the goal line and followed up his own rebound at 13:06. Four minutes later, Matt Summers (13) stole it from the Mallard defender and sniped a wrist shot just under the cross bar to give Wichita a 2-0 lead.

Wichita kept its foot on the gas pedal in the second as R.G. Flath (7) fired one from the face-off dot, beating Mallard goalie David McKee to make it 3-0. After Kevin Seibel was sent to the penalty box for boarding, Chris Chappell (5) added to the Thunder lead for his second goal of the game late in the period. He stole the puck at the Thunder line and went coast-to-coast beating McKee on a two-on-one. It was the seventh shorthanded goal scored by the Thunder this season and made it 4-0.

The Thunder added another tally in the third period on the power play. Off a face-off, Summers won the draw back to Martens who took a shot that was tipped in by Chappell (6) for his third of the night. Chappell scored on the power play, shorthanded and also a regular strength goal in the contest. The Mallards would stop the shutout bid from Bryan Hogan with a power play goal with four minutes left. Hogan, who was acquired by Wichita earlier in the week in a trade with Dayton, rebounded nicely as he let in nine goals on January 14th against Quad City in a Gems uniform.

Wichita claimed six out of a possible eight points during the week and improved its home record to a CHL-best 18-4-0. Against the Turner Conference, Wichita is an impressive 11-3-2 this season.

Wichita hits the road for the next three games before returning home Friday, February 10th against Tulsa. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS-  After relinquishing a one-goal lead with two minutes left, Andrew Martens scored with 1:17 remaining in OT to push Wichita (26-12-2) past the Tulsa Oilers (19-15-5) 3-2 Saturday night at INTRUST Bank Arena infront of 7,205 fans. Wichita is improves to 6-4 this season against Tulsa despite missing six players from the line-up.

R.G. Flath (6) scored the lone goal of the first period on a beautiful backhand from the left circle that beat Tulsa goalie Ian Keserich eight minutes into the game.

Tulsa had the only power play through the first 40 minutes and they took advantage in the second as Gerome Giudice redirected a loose puck off a shin pad to tie the game at one at 8:03. However, Erick Lizon (1) regained the lead for the Thunder as Steve Christie got caught out of his net trying to poke-check the puck away from Chris Greene. Christie replaced Keserich after the first 20 minutes.

In the third period, Tulsa tied the game at two at 17:57 when Ryan Cramer put home a rebound after Russo flicked out his leg pad on a Sean Erickson blast. It was the first time between the two teams this season that regulation was not enough.

In overtime, Dustin Donaghy was called for charging as he leveled Steve Christie in behind the Oiler goal. Wichita was able to kill off the one minute power play and even had several chances themselves shorthanded. The game-winner came from Martens (9), who rejoined the team before Friday's game in Allen, with just over a minute remaining in OT. After a wild scramble infront of the Oiler net, Martens caught a pass from Alex Bourret in the slot and scored to end the game, 3-2.

Erick Lizon earned the number one star with two points (1g,1a), Trudel had three assists while Bourret had two helpers. With the win, Wichita is now 2-1 in OT while the Oilers remain winless in the extra session. Wichita moves back into first place one point ahead of the Allen Americans.

Wichita plays tomorrow afternoon as the Quad City Mallards fly into town at 5:05 p.m. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS-  The Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League announced Friday the signing of defenseman Francis Trudel. The Drummondville, PQ native is a former teammate of Alex Bourret and will be in the line-up this weekend.

Trudel (5'11'', 195-lbs) began the season with the Sheffield Steelers of the British Elite League. The 29-year old is in his fourth season as a professional, having played two years in Norway and a season in Italy. Prior to turning pro, he spent four seasons of college hockey at the University of Moncton from 2004-08 and recording 64 points in 122 games.

Trudel joins Bourret in Wichita as the two were teammates from 2002-2004 in Sherbrooke and Lewiston of the QMJHL. In four seasons of junior hockey, Trudel registered 164 points in 213 games. His best season came in 2003-04 when he collected 51 points (8g, 43a) and 96 PIM.

Wichita takes on the Allen Americans tonight in a battle for first place before returning home for two games over the weekend, hosting the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday night and Quad City on Sunday afternoon. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

Allen, TX-  Rejean Beauchemin stopped all 20 shots he faced as the Wichita Thunder (25-12-2) fell Friday night 5-0 to the Allen Americans (23-9-7) at the Allen Event Center. Wichita remains winless in Allen and falls back into second place with the loss, one point behind the Americans.

Wichita fell behind 2-0 in the first 20 minutes as Allen scored twice in a four-minute span. Jeff Martens pounded one in on the doorstep at 14:07 and Nick Layton put home a loose puck in the crease at 18:17.

Allen scored two more times in the second period, getting one from Bruce Graham at 8:19 and Mark Nebus with three minutes left. Wichita had the better of the power play attempts, but couldn't solve Beauchemin who stopped all 15 shots he faced through the first 40 minutes.

The Americans added a goal in the third period as Graham scored his second of the night and won 5-0 over Wichita. It was the first time this season Wichita had been shutout as the Thunder still have yet to beat the Americans in regulation. In Allen, Wichita is 0-5-0 all-time at the Allen Event Center. The Thunder is 1-3-0 in its last four games while the Americans extended their win streak to four.

Wichita returns home for a pair of games, hosting the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday night and Quad City on Sunday afternoon. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

Check out the Highlights from Wednesday's Thunder outburst over Arizona HERE.

Wichita, KS-  The Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League announced Thursday they have made several roster moves in preparation for an important weekend. Defenseman Andrew Martens has been returned to Wichita after playing in 12 games for Oklahoma City of the AHL. Wichita has also made a trade with the Dayton Gems, receiving goaltender Bryan Hogan for future considerations. To make room for Hogan, Wichita has released Scott Darling.

Martens was called-up to Oklahoma City of the AHL on December 28th, the same day he was named as a starter to the 2012 CHL All-Star Game. He recorded one assist and 18 shots on goal in 12 games with the Barons. Before being called-up, Martens was leading the CHL in scoring by defenseman with 22 points (8g, 14a). He continues to lead the league in plus/minus (+20) despite missing the last 11 games.

Hogan (6’, 195-lbs) is in his first season as a professional. The Highland, MI native has appeared in 23 games for Dayton this season, going 7-11-5 with a goals against average of 3.50 and a .899 save percentage. Most recently, he made 24 saves in a 3-0 win in Rapid City on January 20th and earned his first professional shutout.

Hogan played four years at the University of Michigan, where he ranks second in career goals against average (2.18), second in career save percentage (.909) and seventh in career wins (52). During his freshman season, he helped the Wolverines win the Great Lakes Invitational, CCHA regular season, CCHA tournament while also helping his club reach the NCAA Frozen Four. Prior to his time in Ann Arbor, Hogan spent two seasons with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL.

In other moves, defenseman Daniel Tetrault has been placed on 30-day IR and forward Thomas Beauregard has been placed on 10-day IR. Finally, forward R.G. Flath will return to the line-up after serving a two-game suspension for an illegal check to the head. Wichita will head to Allen in a battle for first place on Friday night before returning home for two games over the weekend, hosting the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday night and Quad City on Sunday afternoon. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

photo taken by Steven Christy

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS-  Wichita (25-11-2) exploded for its highest scoring output of the season, winning 8-4 over the Arizona Sundogs (12-21-7) Wednesday night at INTRUST Bank Arena. Kevin Seibel recorded his first professional hat trick and Matt Summers added four assists to pace the Thunder. Wichita jumps ahead of Allen by one point for first place as the two teams will meet this Friday in Allen.

The Thunder got off to a quick start, scoring three times in the first period. Kevin Seibel (2) scored first for Wichita at 6:43 on the power play. Alex Bourret (15) added to that lead at 9:50, banking it off the defender from the goal line past Sundogs goalie Mike Spillane. At that point in the contest, the two teams traded the next eight goals as Craig MacDonald scored to make it 2-1 with a shorthanded goal at 12:55. Aaron Davis (16) found the back of the net on a five-on-three power play two minutes later to make it 3-1.

After the Sundogs cut the lead to one, Dustin Donaghy (3) raced down on a short breakaway from the top of the circles and beat Spillane through the five-hole to make it 4-2. Daymen Rycroft scored at 12:06 and got the Sundogs within one, 4-3. However, Matt Robinson (17) answered over a minute later to regain a two-goal advantage, 5-3. Arizona would then receive a power play and Tyler Butler blasted one in as the Sundogs would not go away quietly. Seibel (3) scored his second of the night at 18:09 of the second period and gave the Thunder a 6-4 lead after 40 minutes. The two teams combined for six goals in the second.

Wichita scored the final three as Chris Greene (3) made it 7-4 at 14:02 on a beautiful feed from Bourret. Seibel (4) bookended the game with his hat trick goal 19 seconds later off a face-off as the Thunder pulled away with an 8-4 win. Seibel's hat trick is the third of the season for Wichita and has recorded 15 points in his last 11 games. Five players recorded multiple points including Jarred Mohr with three assists, Summers with four assists and Bourret with a Gordie Howe hat trick as he dropped the gloves just 13 seconds into the game.

The previous season-high for Wichita was seven goals on New Year's Eve at Evansville, where the Thunder won 7-5. With the win, Wichita stops a two-game losing skid while extending the Sundogs streak to four. Wichita leads the season-series two games to none against the Sundogs as the two teams will meet for a pair of games in March.

Wichita will head to Allen Friday night before returning home for a two-game home stand against Tulsa on Saturday and Quad City on Sunday. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

.500 Week- Wichita continued its five-game road swing with a trip to Prescott Valley, TX for the first time since 2007-08. Thomas Beauregard got the Thunder on the board with a power-play goal midway through the second period. The Sundogs battled back and tied the game in the third sending the game into OT and eventually a shootout. Brett Hemingway continued his mastery, beating Scott Reid in round one and Wichita outscored the Sundogs 3-0 in the shootout to earn the 2-1 win. Jumping back on a bus for 17 hours, the Thunder headed to North Richland Hills, TX for two against the Brahmas. On Friday night, Wichita used a strong third period to overtake Texas, 4-3. Aaron Davis scored first for Wichita, but the Brahmas notched the next two to take a 2-1 lead. Chris Greene and R.G. Flath provided the offense for the Thunder and Wichita took the first of three-straight meetings. Flath scored twice in 1:40 for his first two-goal performance of the season. Saturday night was a different story as Texas jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Beauregard scored on a breakaway in the second period and Daniel Tetrault tallied his seventh of the season to cut the lead to one. However, the Brahmas pulled away in the final period, scoring twice including an empty-net goal and won 5-2. In the rubber match on Sunday, the Brahmas again scored two first-period goals and held onto a lead late in the contest to win the game 3-2. Despite a terrific crowd of 8,761 on-hand, the Thunder couldn’t get the game-tying goal and lost for the second-straight game to Texas. Matt Robinson and Alex Bourret scored for Wichita in the third period. 

SHOOTOUT STAR– Brett Hemingway continues to be Wichita’s go-to-guy in the shootout. He got the call to go first on Wednesday night and didn’t disappoint as he scored the game-winning goal. Hemingway now has scored five times in seven chances including four game-winners in the shootout. Two of those game-winning goals have come against Rapid City. Hemingway leads the team in shootout percentage (.714) while Matt Robinson is right behind him (.571).

BACK IN THE SADDLE-  Alex Bourret returned to Wichita and received a loud ovation from the home fans on Sunday afternoon. He scored a goal in his return, giving him 40 points (14g, 26a) on the season. Bourret was called-up to Worcester of the American Hockey League on January 5th. In six games with the Sharks farm-club, he had three assists including a two-point outing against Portland on January 8th.

SILENT ASSASSIN- Kevin Seibel has been a nice addition to the blue-line for the Thunder and with the absence of Andrew Martens, he has produced. In his past 10 games, Seibel has quietly recorded 11 points, which are all assists and is a +4. He had five points this past week including a three-point performance against Texas this past Friday. Seibel made a beautiful feed on Alex Bourret’s goal in the third period on Sunday to get Wichita back into the game. Matt Summers also has 11 points (5g, 6a) in his last 10 games while Beauregard has 10 (6g, 4a) in that time span.

MAKING AN IMPACT-  R.G. Flath had his first two-goal game of the season on Friday night and has recorded eight points (4g, 4a) in his last 10 games. His two goals were almost identical, going over the glove of Brahmas net minder Steve Silverthorn. After the game, Flath was suspended by the Central Hockey League for an apparent hit to the head on Ross Rouleau. He will miss Wednesday’s game against Arizona. 

FORTUNE TELLING- Wichita finished the first half of the season at 22-9-2. If the Thunder can finish the second half of the season with an identical record, it will match the same record in which the Thunder won its second CHL Championship in 1994-95, which was 44-18-4.  

THUNDERBOLTS… The Thunder is second in winning percentage (.676), tied for first in wins (24) and tied for first in points (50)… Wichita is tied for first in goals per game (3.57) and sixth in goals against per contest (2.95)… Wichita is second in shots allowed (28.49/game) and is tied for a CHL-low 337 shots in the third period… The Thunder power play away from home is ranked third, going 18-for-81 at a clip of 22.2%... Adam Russo leads the league in shootout wins (5), second in shutouts (2), second in wins (17), third in minutes played (1528:26) and sixth in goals against (2.55)… Andrew Martens continues to lead in plus/minus (+20) despite missing the past 10 games… Matt Summers is first in shooting percentage (.279)… Erick Lizon is tied for first in majors (11)… Davis is tied for first in game-winning goals (6)… Beauregard is fourth in shots (155) while Davis is in fifth (152)… In one-goal games, Wichita is 12-4-2… When leading after one, The Thunder is 9-3-1… When trailing after one, Wichita is 7-5-1… Tied after two periods, Wichita is 10-2-2… When scoring first, Wichita is 13-6-1… When allowing the first goal, Wichita is 11-5-1… When outshooting the opponent, Wichita is 13-5-0… When outshot by the opponent, Wichita is 8-5-2… In four-goal games, Wichita is 2-0-0… Following a win, Wichita is 16-6-2… Following a loss, Wichita is 6-4-0… Wichita is 8-4-2 on Friday… On Saturday, Wichita is 9-3-0… The Thunder is 10-3-2 against teams from the Turner Conference while going 14-8-0 in division… Through 19 home games, Wichita is second overall in attendance, averaging 5,842.

UPCOMING WEEK- Wichita begins another busy week, playing four games in five nights starting on Wednesday at home against Arizona. The Thunder then travel down to Allen Friday night before two straight games at home Saturday and Sunday. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com .

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS-  Behind two first period goals for the second straight game, Texas (19-14-7) was able to knock off Wichita (24-11-2) 3-2 Sunday afternoon at INTRUST Bank Arena in front of 8,761 fans. Wichita erased a two-goal lead late in the game, but couldn't get one past Brahmas goaltender Steve Silverthorn. The Thunder remain in first place by one point in the Berry Conference.

For the second straight game, Texas scored twice in the first period. T.J. Fox scored to make it 1-0 off a bad bounce that caught Thunder netminder Adam Russo out of the net. With four minutes to go in the period, Jacques Perreault made it 2-0 on the power play. He followed up his own rebound after attempting a wrap-around and put it in. Texas has now outscored Wichita 4-0 in the first period over the last two games.

Wichita outscored the Brahmas in the final period, getting goals from Matt Robinson (16) and Alex Bourret (14). Adam Hogg added a goal that turned out to be the game-winner with five minutes to go. The Thunder outshot the Brahmas 13-2 in the third, but weren't able to solve Silverthorn in the final minute.

Six of the seven games played between the two teams have been decided by one goal. Wichita leads the season series four games to three as the two teams will not see one another until March. Wichita remains at home this upcoming Wednesday night as the Arizona Sundogs come into town. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

North Richland Hills, TX-  Texas (18-14-7) jumped out to a two-goal lead and never trailed, beating Wichita (24-10-2) 5-2 at the NYTEX Sports Centre Saturday night. Wichita cut the lead twice to one, but was unable to get the equalizer and Texas stopped its four-game losing skid to Wichita.

Texas scored twice in the first six minutes of the game, getting the first one at 3:57 from Calin Wild to make it 1-0. Ross Rouleau made it 2-0 with a wrist shot over Thunder goaltender Scott Darling at 6:27. Wichita was limited to just two shots on net.

Beauregard (19) cut into the Brahmas lead as he came down on a break-away, putting it under the arm of Texas goalie Steve Silverthorn. But Rouleau added his second of the game with two minutes left regaining a two goal lead for Texas.

In the third period, Wichita cut the lead to 3-2 as Daniel Tetrault (7) scored a power play goal on a two-man advantage. However, Phil Fox made it 4-2 seven minutes later as he found himself all alone infront of Darling and scored. The Brahmas added an empty-net goal and won the game, 5-2. It was the first game this season between the two teams that wasn't decided by one goal. Wichita leads the season series four games to two.

The rubber match between the two teams on the weekend is tomorrow afternoon at 5:05 p.m. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS-  The Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League announced Sunday that forward Alex Bourret has been assigned back to Wichita by the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey league.

Bourret returns to Wichita after missing the last seven games. Before he left, Bourret was Wichita's leading scorer with 39 points (13g, 26a). The seven-year pro was named to the 2012 CHL All-Star team, but was unable to play in the game due to his call-up to Worcester.

During his time in Worcester, he had three points in six games, including a two-point outing against Portland on January 8th. Bourret had spent time in the AHL with Chicago, Hartford and San Antonio, scoring 97 points in 170 games before this previous stint.

In other news, The Central Hockey League announced the suspension of R. G. Flath for two (2) games as a consequence for an ‘illegal check to the head’ in the Thunder’s game on January 21 in Texas. He will miss tonight's game against Texas and Wednesday's game against Arizona.

The rubber match between Wichita and Texas on the weekend is this afternoon at 5:05 p.m. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

North Richland Hills, TX- RG Flath scored twice in a span of 1:40 as Wichita (24-9-2) knocked off the Texas Brahmas (17-14-7) 4-3 at the NYTEX Sports Centre Friday night. Wichita leads the season series four games to one, having won four-straight against Texas and is the first team to hit the 50-point barrier.

Wichita benefitted from two power plays in the first period, both of which were too many men on the ice penalties, and Aaron Davis (18) delivered to give Wichita a 1-0 lead. Jarred Mohr put a shot on net and Davis, who played two seasons for the Brahmas, was able to bang home a rebound.

Texas tied the game at 9:57 of the second period as Brendon Hodge caught a pass on the right circle and put it low on the ice past Thunder goalie Adam Russo.

After a Phil Fox goal early in the third period gave Texas its first lead of the game, Wichita scored the next three. Chris Greene (2) scored just over a minute later to make it 2-2 on a tip-in from the point. Flath (4) regained the lead for the Thunder at 13:27 after his shot re-directed off the defenders stick and past Brahmas goalie Steve Silverthorn to make it 3-2. At 15:07, Flath (5) scored in similar fashion, this time on a wrister that went directly over Silverthorn's glove to make it 4-2. The Brahmas would add a goal with three minutes left by Andrew Lackner, but it was not enough and Wichita held on for the 4-3 win.

Each game between the two teams has been decided by one goal. Russo earned his 17th win of the season and is now 9-1-2 in his last 12 games. Wichita is 3-1-0 on its current five-game road trip and leads the league in wins (24), points (50), and winning percentage (.714).

The Thunder finish off its five-game road trip Saturday night against Texas before returning home Sunday afternoon to face the Brahmas at 5:05 p.m. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

Prescott Valley, AZ-  Brett Hemingway continued his clutch scoring in a shootout as he put Wichita (23-9-2) past the Arizona Sundogs (12-17-3) 2-1 on Wednesday night at Tim's Toyota Center. The story of the night, however, were the goaltenders as Wichita's Adam Russo and Arizona's Scott Reid combined for 86 saves. Wichita is now 6-1 in the shootout and moved ahead of Allen by three points in first place in the Berry Conference.

Thomas Beauregard (18) broke a scoreless game halfway through the second period with a power play goal. Arizona would answer in the third period to tie the game at one when Daymen Rycroft found a long rebound and put it past Thunder netminder Adam Russo. For the second time in the last three games, Wichita headed to a shootout.

Wichita went second in the shootout and Russo was up to the task on former Thunder defenseman Steve Kaunisto. Hemingway put Wichita up 1-0 as he went first for the second straight time. After a save by Russo on Rycroft, Beauregard beat Reid over the glove to make it 2-0 Wichita. Matt Robinson iced it in round three as Wichita outscored Arizona 3-0, giving Wichita a 2-1 win in a shootout. Hemingway is now five-for-seven including four game-winning goals in a shootout. With the win, Russo leads the league in shootout wins (5) and is 8-1-2 in his last 11 games. 

The Thunder begin three games in three nights this coming Friday, all of which will be against the Texas Brahmas. Wichita will be in North Richland Hills, TX for two games and then return to the Air Capital Sunday, January 22nd against the Brahmas. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS-  The Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League is excited to announce that WWE Superstar and current color commentator Jerry 'The King' Lawler will be appearing at the Thunder game on Friday, February 17th against the Quad City Mallards.

Known as 'The King' from his in-ring career, Lawler joins Michael Cole every Monday on the WWE's flagship show, Monday Night Raw, on the USA Network.  He has been a part of the announcing team since 2001 and was most recently named WrestleSlam Announcer of the Year (2010). The Memphis, TN native was also inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.

Lawler began his career in 1970 and had held more championships in many different promotions than any other current WWE performer (164). He is well-known for his feuds with Brett 'The Hitman' Hart and comedian Andy Kaufman. Lawler's incident on Late Night with David Letterman where he slapped Kaufman is considered one of the most memorable moments in that show's history. His autobiography, Its Good to be The King...Sometimes, was released in 2002 and continues to be one of the best sellers in the WWE autobiography series.

Lawler will be available on the concourse for pictures and autographs that can be purchased for $5. The last WWE Superstar to appear at a Thunder game was Mick Foley in 2004.

The Thunder will take on the Arizona Sundogs tonight for the first time this season. Wichita will not return to the Air Capital until Sunday, January 22nd against the Texas Brahmas. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS-  The Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League announced Tuesday the call-up of goaltender Scott Darling from the Mississippi RiverKings of the SPHL. The Lemont, IL native will be in the line-up Wednesday night when the Thunder take on the Arizona Sundogs.

Darling (6-6, 230-lbs) was a sixth round draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2007, taken 153rd overall. The second-year pro appeared in 18 games for Mississippi, going 7-10-1 with a 3.25 GAA and a save percentage of .892. Darling has won his last three starts, compiling a 2.60 goals against and a .909 save percentage. This will be his second call-up as he was recently brought up to the ECHL's Florida Everblades.

Prior to turning pro, Darling attended the University of Maine, where he appeared in 54 games. In his two seasons as a Black Bear from 2008-10, he was 25-20-6 with a 2.93 GAA and a save percentage of .893. He turned pro in 2010, signing with the Louisiana IceGators of the SPHL.

The Thunder head west to face the Arizona Sundogs on Wednesday night for the first time this season. Wichita will not return to the Air Capital until Sunday, January 22nd against the Texas Brahmas. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

THUNDER SPLIT WITH RUSH- Wichita headed north to Rapid City, SD for a pair of games against the Rush this past weekend. On Friday night, Adam Russo stole the show, making 40 saves on 41 shots. The game went scoreless through the first 40 minutes. Wichita struck first with a Jarred Mohr goal in the third period before the Rush tied it four minutes later. The two teams needed a shootout for the second time this season as Wichita won its home opener back on October 21st  against the Rush 3-2. Brett Hemingway, Thomas Beauregard and Matt Summers each scored for the Thunder and Russo stopped all three shots he faced as the Thunder won 2-1 in a shootout. On Saturday night, the Thunder got three goals from its third line but was unable to slow down Rapid City, losing 5-3. Dustin Donaghy scored twice including his first of the season and Chris Chappell added his third on the year. Wichita remains in first place by one point in the Berry Conference.  

SHOOTOUT STAR– Brett Hemingway continues to be Wichita’s go-to-guy in the shootout. He got the call to go first on Friday night and didn’t disappoint as he scored the game-winning goal. Hemingway now has scored four times in six chances including three game-winners in the shootout. Two of those game-winning goals have come against Rapid City. Hemingway leads the team in shootout percentage (.667) while Matt Robinson is right behind him (.500).

BIG ROOSS-  Adam Russo was spectacular this past Friday night. He made some huge saves to keep the Thunder in the game including one against Rapid forward Konrad Reeder where he went into the splits and kept the puck out of the net. He also added a big glove save late in the contest. Russo leads the league in shootout wins (4) as he stopped all three shooters he faced. He is second in the CHL in wins (15), fourth in minutes played (1344:46), fifth in goals against (2.59) and second in shutouts (2).

HOME-ICE ADVANTAGE- Through 18 home games, Wichita leads the league with 15 wins on home ice. Traditionally, Wichita has been strong in the Air Capital, going 347-233-58 all-time. Wichita has outscored its opponents 65 to 40 at home this season. 

THIRD LINE SCORING-  Dustin Donaghy and Chris Chappell provided all the offense for Wichita on Saturday night. Donaghy scored his first goal of the season on a tip-in off a Daniel Tetrault shot that got past Rush goalie Danny Battochio. His second goal of the night was a wicked snapshot that pinged off the crossbar from the right wing circle. Donaghy was acquired last season from Allen, contributing 10 goals and eight assists in 33 games. Chappell scored his third of the season in similar fashion as he stole the puck at the Rush line and ringed it off the pipe and in. The third-year pro played last season in Greenville of the ECHL before getting called-up to Hartford/Connecticut of the AHL.

ALL-STAR PERFORMANCE-  Matt Robinson took advantage of his opportunity to play in this year’s All-Star Game. Robinson scored twice and added an assist as the CHL All-Stars beat the Arizona Sundogs 6-4 this past Wednesday night in Prescott Valley, AZ. Playing in his second straight All-Star game, Robinson has scored six points (5 goals and 1 assist) in the CHL’s annual event the past two seasons.

THUNDERBOLTS… The Thunder is in first in winning percentage (.697) tied for first in wins (22) and tied for first in points (46)… Wichita is second in goals per game (3.70) and sixth in goals against per contest (2.94)… Wichita is second in shots allowed (28.00/game) and has given up a CHL-low 272 shots in the third period… The Thunder power play away from home is ranked third, going 15-for-67 at a clip of 22.4%... Wichita has four of the top six players in the plus/minus category with Martens (+20) leading the way, Mohr (+15) tied for third with Davis and Robinson (+14) locked up in a group in fifth… Matt Summers is first in shooting percentage (.316)… Erick Lizon is tied for first in majors (11)… Davis is tied for first in game-winning goals (6) and fourth in shots (138)… In one-goal games, Wichita is 10-3-2… When leading after one, The Thunder is 8-3-1… When trailing after one, Wichita is 7-3-1… Tied after two periods, Wichita is 9-2-2… When scoring first, Wichita is 11-6-1… When outshooting the opponent, Wichita is 13-4-0… In four-goal games, Wichita is 2-0-0… The Thunder is 10-3-2 against teams from the Turner Conference while going 12-6-0 in division… Through 18 home games, Wichita is second overall in attendance, averaging 5,680.

UPCOMING WEEK- The Thunder head west to take on the Arizona Sundogs on Wednesday night. Later in the week, Wichita begins a tough stretch of three games in three nights, all against Texas. The Thunder play in North Richland Hills Friday and Saturday night and will not return to the Air Capital until Sunday, January 22nd against the Brahmas. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com .

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS-  The Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League announced Monday that goaltender Ryan MacDonald has received an offer to play overseas and has been placed on waivers. 

MacDonald received an offer to play in Germany, where he played a year ago with Lausitzer. In 11 games with Wichita, MacDonald was 7-4-0 with a 3.15 goals against and a save percentage of .884. Coach McClelland said he got a call Monday morning and is actively looking for a replacement.

The Thunder head west to face the Arizona Sundogs on Wednesday night for the first time this season. Wichita will not return to the Air Capital until Sunday, January 22nd against the Texas Brahmas. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

Rapid City, SD-  Dustin Donaghy scored twice and Chris Chappell added his third of the season, but Wichita (22-9-2) was unable to overcome Rapid City (19-12-2) as the Rush won 5-3 on Saturday night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Wichita is 3-1-0 against the Rush this season and remains in first place by one point in the Berry Conference.

Dustin Donaghy (1) got things going for Wichita at 5:46 of the first period when he tipped home a Daniel Tetrault feed. Rapid City tied the game at one when they broke in on an odd-man rush and Scott Wray tied it at 10:11. The Rush then scored two minutes later on the power play as Collin Circelli made it 2-1. Donaghy (2) tied the game at two at 19:04 when he outraced the defender to the puck on the right wing and sent a blistering wrist shot off the cross bar past Rush net-minder Danny Battochio.

In the second period, Rapid City scored twice as Shawn Limpright came out of the penalty box, went down on a breakaway and beat Thunder goalie Adam Russo to make it 3-2. Jesse Schultz found the net at 16:33 to make it 4-2 and his first point on the weekend. Wichita cut the lead to one at 18:08 when Chappell (3) stole the puck at the Rush line and buried it past Battochio to make it 4-3 Rush.

Scott Wray added another goal in the third period to cap off a 5-3 win for the Rush as Wichita couldn't solve Battochio. It was the first win for Rapid City against Wichita this season. The two teams will not see each other until the beginning of February when the Rush will visit Wichita.

The Thunder will head west to face the Arizona Sundogs for the first time this season on Wednesday. Wichita will not return to the Air Capital until Sunday, January 22nd against the Texas Brahmas. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

Rapid City, SD-  Thunder netminder Adam Russo was outstanding Friday night, making 40 saves on 41 shots as Wichita (22-8-2) beat Rapid City (18-12-2) in a shootout 2-1 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Brett Hemingway scored the game-winning goal and the Thunder moved three points ahead of the Allen Americans for first place in the Berry Conference.

After 40 minutes of scoreless hockey, Jarred Mohr (4) was able to give Wichita a 1-0 lead in the third period as he caught a Matt Summers pass and sniped it past Rush goalie Danny Battochio. Summers now has a seven-game point scoring streak with the helper on the goal. Rapid City tied the game at one three minutes later as Sean Wiles beat Russo from the high slot. The two teams battled through 60 minutes and for the second time in three games, Wichita was forced to an overtime session.

After a scoreless five-minute OT, a shootout was in order and Wichita took advantage. The Thunder got goals from Hemingway, Thomas Beauregard and Matt Summers while Russo stood tall, stopping all three shots he faced and Wichita outscored the Rush 3-0. Hemingway is now four-for-six in the shootout and has scored three game-winning-goals in the shootout including the game-winner in the season opener against the Rush. Wichita has now beat Rapid City twice in a shootout, which is the Rush's only two losses this season.

The Thunder now have 46 points on the season and are a solid 10-2-2 against the Turner Conference. Wichita also stopped Rapid City's eight-game home winning streak and is now 3-0-0 against the Rush this season.

The Thunder and Rapid City will face-off again Saturday night before the Thunder head on the road for the next four. Wichita will not return to the Air Capital until Sunday, January 22nd against the Texas Brahmas. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

 -Thunder-

Wichita, KS-  The Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League announced Thursday the signing of defenseman T.J. Miller. The second-year pro will be in uniform this weekend as Wichita travels to Rapid City, SD to take on the Rush.  

Miller (6’4”, 220-lbs) was a fourth round draft pick of the New Jersey Devils, selected #107 overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to going pro, the Placentia, CA native spent four seasons at Northern Michigan University of the CCHA, scoring 40 points (8g, 32a) and recorded 117 PIM in 134 games for the Wildcats. Last season, Miller was assigned to the Trenton Devils of the ECHL, where he appeared in 22 games.

At the beginning of the year, Miller was playing overseas in Italy with Meran/Merano before returning state-side. He was picked up by Rapid City at the beginning of December and recently waived on January 5th. The signing of Miller now gives Wichita six defenseman as Andrew Martens continues to play well with the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL.

The Thunder head on the road for the next five and will not return to the Air Capital until Sunday, January 22nd against the Texas Brahmas. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

THUNDER IN FIRST AT BREAK-  Heading into the final two games before the All-Star break, Wichita traveled to Moline, Il to take on the Mallards Friday night. Quad City had an outstanding December, going 11-2-1. The Thunder jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from RG Flath and Matt Robinson. Quad City outscored Wichita in the second period and took its first lead of the game at the seven minute mark of the third when Jeremy Boyer scored off a face-off to make it 4-3. Wichita got a late goal from Travis Wight to tie the game at four and for the second straight game between the two teams at the I Wireless Center, regulation time was not enough. The Mallards scored on a power-play in overtime with 46 seconds remaining and handed Wichita its first loss in OT this season, 5-4. The following night, Wichita returned to INTRUST Bank Arena and blitzed the Tulsa Oilers with five third-period goals en route to a 6-2 win. Thomas Beauregard had two goals, Matt Robinson scored his third in two games and Aaron Davis had a Gordie Howe hat trick as Wichita won for the 15th time on home ice. With Allen’s loss on Sunday, Wichita remains in first place in the Berry Conference with 44 points at the break.

YOUR’E AN ALL-STAR-  Matt Robinson was selected to replace Alex Bourret on the All-Star team this past Friday. He responded with three points (2g, 1a) Friday against Quad City and two points (1g, 1a) against Tulsa on Saturday. Robinson has scored in five of the last seven games, recording eight points in that span (6 g, 2a). Robinson will represent Wichita this upcoming Wednesday in Prescott Valley as the Arizona Sundogs will play a group of CHL All-Stars. This will be Robinson’s second straight trip to the All-Star game as he recorded a natural hat trick and had a team-high eight shots on goal in last year’s event held in Rapid City.

STREAKING-  Several Thunder players continued point streaks this past weekend. Thomas Beauregard and Matt Summers are both riding six-game point streaks while Aaron Davis and RG Flath extended theirs to three. Beauregard has nine points (4g, 5a) in that span after scoring back-to-back goals on Saturday. Summers has 11 points (6g, 5a) including a hat trick on New Year’s Eve against Evansville. Davis has five points (2g, 3a) and Flath has six points (2g, 4a) in the past three games.

HOME ICE ADVANTAGE- Through 18 home games, Wichita leads the league with 15 wins on home ice. Traditionally, Wichita has been strong in the Air Capital, going 347-233-58 all-time. Wichita is second in wins (21) and first in winning percentage (.710). Wichita has outscored its opponents 65 to 40 at home this season. 

PLUS INSTEAD OF MINUS-  The Thunder continue to have guys near the top of the plus/minus leaderboard. Wichita currently has four of the top five, including Andrew Martens who has missed the past four games since being called-up to Oklahoma City  of the AHL. Martens leads the league (+20) while Aaron Davis and Jarred Mohr are in a three-way tie for second with Brett Smith of Fort Wayne (+16). Matt Robinson is in a tie for fifth place (+15).

SCORING-  Beauregard and Robinson each had two-goal outings this past week and have moved up the scoring leaderboard. Beauregard is tied for fourth in goals scored (17) and tied for 10th in points (38). Robinson is now tied for 10th in goals scored (15). Wichita is tied with Fort Wayne for most goals scored (117) and tied with Allen for most points (312).

THUNDERBOLTS… Wichita leads the league in goals per game (3.77) and fifth in goals against per contest (2.94)… Wichita is first in shots allowed (27.58/game) and has given up a CHL-low 253 shots in the third period… The Thunder power play away from home is ranked second, going 15-for-62 at a clip of 24.2%... Adam Russo is fifth in GAA (2.55), tied for second in wins (14), tied for second in shutout wins (2), first in shootout wins (3) and fourth in minutes played (1221:29)… Aaron Davis is tied for first in game-winning goals (6)… Matt Summers is first in shooting percentage (.353)… Erick Lizon leads the league in majors (11)… Davis is fourth in shots (135) and Beauregard is right behind him in fifth place (131)… In one-goal games, Wichita is 9-3-2… When leading after one, The Thunder is 8-3-1… When trailing after one, Wichita is 7-3-1… Tied after two periods, Wichita is 8-2-2… When outshooting the opponent, Wichita is 13-3-0… In four-goal games, Wichita is 2-0-0… The Thunder is 9-2-2 against teams from the Turner Conference while going 12-6-0 in division… Through 18 home games, Wichita is second overall in attendance, averaging 5,680.

UPCOMING WEEK- The Thunder head on the road for the next five and will not return to the Air Capital until Sunday, January 22nd against the Texas Brahmas. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com .

-Thunder-

Check out the highlights from Saturday's wild win over Tulsa HERE.

Wichita, KS-  Wichita exploded for five goals in the third period including two from Thomas Beauregard as the Thunder (21-8-2) blew past the Tulsa Oilers (16-12-3) with a 6-2 win Saturday night in front of 6,410 fans at INTRUST Bank Arena. Wichita is now 5-4-0 against Tulsa this season and still leads the Berry Conference with 44 points.

The Oilers struck first at 3:09 of the first period as former Thunder forward Troy Ofukany came down on the rush and snuck one past Wichita goalie Ryan MacDonald to make it 1-0. Ofukany played in 93 games for Wichita, scoring 63 points before being traded to Odessa in 2009-10.

Aaron Davis (14) got Wichita on the board in the second period at 14:41 to tie the game at one. Matt Robinson carried it into the zone, held onto the puck until Davis came free and he found the back of the net.

In the third period, the flood gates opened as a tight game turned into a run-away. Daniel Tetrault (6) made it 2-1 with a one-time blast past Tulsa goalie Mike Garman at 3:24. Tulsa's Jason Weeks tied the game at two at 5:02, but Wichita answered 27 seconds later when Thomas Beauregard (16) snuck in past the Tulsa defense, caught a long-lead pass from RG Flath and scored on a break-away to make it 3-2. He scored his second of the game at 12:14 when he blasted a one-timer past Garman to make it 4-2. Wichita scored the final four of the game as Matt Robinson (15) and Justin Sawyer (2) each added one to give Wichita a 6-2 win. Several players kept scoring streaks alive as Beauregard and Matt Summers extended their point scoring streaks to six games each. The Thunder continue to lead the league in points (44) and the best record on home ice (15-3-0).

Wichita also scored five goals in one period back on October 28th at the BOK Center against Tulsa as Wichita won that game as well, 6-2. The Thunder and the Oilers still play each other twice more, with the next meeting on January 28th at INTRUST Bank Arena.

The Thunder head on the road for the next five and will not return to the Air Capital until Sunday, January 22nd against the Texas Brahmas. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

Moline, IL-  John Snowden scored a power play goal with :46.7 seconds remaining in overtime to give Quad City (18-11-1) a 5-4 win over Wichita (20-8-2) Friday night at the I Wireless Center. It was Wichita's first loss in the extra period this season. The Thunder remain in first place with 42 points as Allen also lost in overtime to Laredo.

RG Flath (3) opened the scoring in the first period as he tipped in a shot from Thomas Beauregard on the power play and gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead. Beauregard extended his scoring-streak to five games with an assist on the goal while Flath has scored in consecutive games.

In the second period, Matt Robinson (13) gave Wichita a 2-0 lead as he caught a pass from Brett Hemingway and cut across the slot to put in the net. The Mallards answered less than two minutes later to cut the lead to 2-1 as Eric Giosa was able to find the net. Just over a minute later, Robinson (14) scored his second goal of the game as he blasted it past Mallard netminder David Brown. The Mallards closed the second period with two straight tallies to tie the game at three. The first came from Jeremy Boyer on a five-on-three power play at 10:23. Quad City got the equalizer at 14:56 when Obi Aduba scored from the left circle.

In the third, Jeremy Boyer gave Quad City its first lead of the game at 7:54. Wichita answered with three minutes remaining when Travis Wight (3) dipped into the zone, found a loose puck at the bottom of the right circle and tied the game at four. It was the second straight game between the two teams that was forced into overtime. The loss snaps a three-game win streak.

The Thunder return home Saturday to face the Tulsa Oilers at 7:05 p.m. Saturday is Sonic Thunderdog’s Birthday party and the kids run the show. Thunderdog and all his wacky mascot friends will be in attendance and a special retro Thunder jersey will be worn by the team. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

THREE’S A CHARM-    Looking to get back on track, Wichita started out the week with a dominating performance against the Missouri Mavericks this past Tuesday. Adam Russo stopped all 20 shots he faced and earned his second shutout of the season as the Thunder blanked its border rival, 5-0. Five different players found the back of the net including Chris Chappell, who scored his first of the season. On Friday night, Wichita was short a defenseman as Andrew Martens was called up to the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL. Despite only playing with five defenseman and losing forward Alex Bourret in the first period due to an aggressor misconduct, Wichita was able to skate by the Texas Brahmas, 4-3. The next night on New Year’s Eve, the Thunder won a high-scoring affair against the Evansville IceMen, 7-5, as Matt Summers scored three times and had an assist in the come-from-behind victory. Wichita trailed three separate times but managed to score three unanswered in the final period to end 2011 on a high note. Wichita is now on a three-game winning streak and continues to lead the Berry Conference by one point over Allen.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK-  Matt Summers was selected as the Oakley CHL Player of the Week for his performance in Wichita’s three wins. Summers finished the week with eight points and was a +7. He scored in all three games including a hat trick and an assist against Evansville on New Year’s Eve. The Savage, MN native ended up scoring six goals and two assists while earning his second league honor. He was selected as the Player of the Month in October. Overall, Summers has 22 points (12g, 10a) and is riding a three-game goal scoring streak. 

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN-  12-year veteran Daniel Tetrault reached the summit for a Thunder defenseman. Tetrault (170) broke former Thunder defenseman Sean O’Reilly’s record (169) this past Friday against Texas and now is the all-time leading scorer by a defenseman in franchise history. Tetrault assisted on Wichita’s fourth goal scored by Matt Summers at the 6:37 mark of the third period.  O’Reilly put up those numbers in 311 games from 1997-02, while Tetrault performed the feat in less time, playing in 265 games in a Thunder uniform.

HOME ICE ADVANTAGE- Through 17 home games, Wichita leads the league with 14 wins on home ice. Traditionally, Wichita has been strong in the Air Capital, going 346-233-58 all-time. Wichita is tied for the league-lead in wins (20) and is second in winning percentage (.707). Wichita has outscored its opponents 59 to 38 at home this season. 

NEXT LEVEL- Andrew Martens had an adventurous week. He was named as a starter for the 2012 CHL All-Star Game this past Wednesday and an hour later, received a call-up from the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League.  Despite missing the last two games, Martens (8g, 14a)  remains in a first-place tie with Tulsa’s Jeff Terminesi (5g, 17a) and Sean Erickson (7g, 15a) for scoring by a defenseman with 22 points. The Friendswood, TX native leads the league in plus/minus (+20) while teammate Jarred Mohr is in second (+17). 

SECONDARY SCORING- The Thunder got a huge outing from Summers, RG Flath and Chris Chappell this past Saturday. The three combined for four goals and five helpers while going +11. Flath had one goal, two assists and was a +6, a CHL-best for plus/minus in a single game. Chappell added two assists while scoring in consecutive games earlier in the week.  

THUNDERBOLTS… Wichita leads the league in goals scored (107), second in goals per game (3.69) and fourth in goals against per contest (2.90)… Wichita is first in shots allowed (26.90/game) and has given up a CHL-low 229 shots in the third period… Wichita is tied for third with six shorthanded goals… The Thunder power play away from home is ranked second, going 14-for-58 at a clip of 24.1%... Adam Russo is in third in GAA (2.44), tied for second in wins (14), tied for second in shutout wins (2), first in shootout wins (3) and third in minutes played (1157:16)… Aaron Davis is tied for first in game-winning goals (6)… Matt Summers is in first in shooting percentage (.400)… Erick Lizon leads the league in majors (10)… Davis is tied for third place in shots (130) and Beauregard is right behind him in fourth place (120)… In one-goal games, Wichita is 9-3-1… When leading after one, The Thunder is 8-3-0… Tied after two periods, Wichita is 7-2-1… When outshooting the opponent, Wichita is 12-3-0… The Thunder is 9-2-1 against teams from the Turner Conference while going 11-6-0 in division… Through 17 home games, Wichita sits in second overall in attendance, averaging 5,637.

UPCOMING WEEK- Wichita heads to Moline, Il for the second time this season to take on the Quad City Mallards Friday before returning home to face the Tulsa Oilers. Saturday is Sonic Thunderdog’s Birthday party and the kids run the show. Thunderdog and all his wacky mascot friends will be in attendance and a special retro Thunder jersey will be worn by the team. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS- The Central Hockey League (CHL) today named Matt Summers as the Oakley CHL Player of the Week.

Summers played a huge part in all three Thunder wins last week, notching six goals and two assists.  Summers started his big week on Tuesday, picking up a goal and an assist in a 5-0 win over Missouri.  On Friday night, Summers notched two goals in a 4-3 home win over Texas.  Summers completed the week with a hat trick and an assist in a 7-5 road victory over the Evansville IceMen.

Summers now has 12 goals and 22 points in 20 games for the first place Thunder, who have won three in a row.  Wichita returns to action on Friday at the Quad City Mallards, before returning home to host the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.   For tickets call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com.

In other news, the Thunder today traded forward Robin Richards to the Dayton Gems.  Richards played just three games for the Thunder this season.  For more information visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Evansville, IN- Matt Summers scored a goal in each period and Thomas Beauregard tallied the game winner with three minutes left to give Wichita (20-8-1) a 7-5 win against the Evansville IceMen (15-9-2) at the Ford Center Saturday night on New Year's Eve.

Nick Schneider scored the first goal at 9:46 to give Evansville a 1-0 lead. Matt Summers (10) answered for the Thunder to tie the game at one just 30 seconds later. The Icemen regained the lead with a pair of power play goals, the first coming from Brian Bicek at 11:26 to make it 2-1. Todd Robinson added another one for Evansville on the man advantage two minutes later to make it 3-1. Thomas Beauregard (14) cut into the IceMen lead with a goal at 19:19 to make it 3-2 on a beautifully executed three-on-two. 

In the second period, Wichita scored two goals just nine seconds apart to take its first lead of the game. The first came from RG Flath at 4:32 when he tipped in a Kevin Seibel shot from the blue line to tie the game at three. At 4:41, Chris Chappell won a face-off, dished it off to Summers (11) and he buried it to give Wichita a 4-3 lead. Four minutes later, Brian Bicek tied the game when he stole the puck at his own blue line, raced down all alone and scored a shorthanded goal to even things up at four.

Evansville's Malcolm Gwilliam scored at 3:41 of the third period to give the IceMen a 5-4 lead. Wichita scored the next three as Summers (12) notched the hat trick at 13:07 to tie the game at five as he came in on the rush, faked a pass and put it in the back of the net. Beauregard (15) gave Wichita the lead for good at 17:29 as he came along the goal line and muscled the puck past IceMen goalie Bryan Gillis. Aaron Davis (13) got pulled down on a break-a-way as he was looking for an empty net and was awarded the goal to give Wichita a 7-5 win. The Thunder have won their last three and improved to 9-2-1 against the Turner Conference. Wichita remains one point ahead of Allen in first place in the Berry Conference.

Wichita will travel to Quad City for its first game of 2012 this upcoming Friday before returning home on Saturday, January 7th against Tulsa. For tickets to that game against the Oilers, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS-  Despite being shorthanded for much of Friday night's affair with the Texas Brahmas (14-10-6), Wichita (19-8-1) got a two-goal outing from Matt Summers and held on for the 4-3 victory at INTRUST Bank Arena in front of 6,217. The win coupled with an Allen overtime loss moves Wichita into first place in the Berry Conference with 39 points. Defenseman Daniel Tetrault reached a milestone with an assist in the third period as he overtook Sean O'Reilly for the franchise lead in scoring by a defenseman.

Texas got on the board first at 4:24 of the first period when Adam Hogg caught a pass on the far side of the net and beat Wichita netminder Adam Russo to give the Brahmas a 1-0 lead. Just over a minute later, Matt Summers (8) answered for Wichita when he won a face-off and snapped it past Brahmas goalie Mark Guggenberger to tie the game at one. Alex Bourret, who was named to the All-Star team this past Wednesday, received 27 minutes in penalties after instigating a fight with Dan Nicholls right before the end of the first period. With Andrew Martens already out of the line-up down in Oklahoma City of the AHL, Bourret was lost for the rest of the game.

Brett Hemingway (11) scored his second in two games as he stayed with a rebound and gave Wichita a 2-1 lead at 3:36 of the second period. The Brahmas answered off a face-off at 9:48 as Erik Spady tied the game at two. Three minutes later, Chris Chappell (2) gave the Thunder a 3-2 lead when he skated in behind the net and wrapped it past Guggenberger for his second in two games.

In the third, Matt Summers (9) added his second of the contest when he collected a fumbled pass at the Brahmas blue line and roofed it under the cross bar to increase the Thunder lead to 4-2. Daniel Tetrault was awarded an assist on the goal, which puts him in first-place for scoring by a defenseman in Wichita Thunder history with 170 points. Chad Woollard added a late goal for Texas, but Wichita held on for a 4-3 win. Wichita is now 14-3 at home and leads the league with 19 wins.

Wichita is on the road the next two games before returning home on Saturday, January 7th against Tulsa.  The Thunder heads to Evansville tomorrow night to face the IceMen on New Year's Eve. For tickets to that game against the Oilers, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

Check out the highlights from Friday night's win against Texas HERE

Check out the Highlights of Wichita's dismantling of the Mavericks HERE.

Wichita, KS-  Adam Russo earned his second-consecutive shutout on home ice and his sixth of his professional career as Wichita (18-8-1) blew past Missouri (12-11-3) 5-0 on Tuesday night in front of 6,114 fans at INTRUST Bank Arena. With the win, Wichita moves into a first-place tie with Allen atop the Berry Conference standings with 37 points.

Matt Robinson (12) broke a scoreless tie at the 9:12 mark of the second period as he stayed with a loose puck in front of the net and flopped it over Maverick netminder Charlie Effinger to give Wichita a 1-0 lead. Just over four minutes later, Brett Hemingway (10) made it 2-0 when Aaron Davis sent a saucer pass towards the back post and Hemingway picked it out of the air and into the net. Wichita now has five players with 10 or more goals.

In the third period, the Mavericks had a goal disallowed when it hit the referee's skate in the neutral zone and Wichita capitalized. Alex Bourret (13) extended a couple of scoring streaks as he caught a Thomas Beauregard pass at the red line, went down on a two-on-one and sniped it past Effinger to make it 3-0. Bourret, who added an assist in the game, now has a nine-game point streak and a four-game goal scoring streak. Matt Summers (7) made it 4-0 at 10:59 as he followed up the play and banged home a rebound. Chris Chappell got into the act when he scored his first of the season to make it 5-0 at 16:14. Russo shut the door in the final four minutes and shutout his opponent for the second straight game on home ice. Russo earned his first shutout of the season against Rio Grande Valley on December 17th, 4-0. Russo has been in net for 11 of the Thunder's 13 wins at home and sits in third place in the CHL with 13 wins.

Wichita improved to 4-1 against Missouri this season and handed the Mavericks their first shutout of the year. The last time Missouri had been kept off the scoreboard dates back to last season when Wichita beat Missouri 4-0 on January 22, 2011.

Wichita will have a couple of days off before returning to action on Friday night when they host the Texas Brahmas and then head to Evansville the following night to face the IceMen on New Year's Eve. For tickets to Friday's game against the Brahmas, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

THUNDER SALVAGE 1 -    Wichita hit the road for the final two games of its three-game road swing this past week. On Friday night, The Thunder made a visit to Adam Russo’s old stomping grounds in Moline, IL. Wichita fell behind three separate times to Quad City, but managed to send the game into overtime as Andrew Martens scored with a little over three minutes remaining in regulation. After five minutes of an overtime session, Wichita put its undefeated record on the line in the shootout (4-0) for the first time since November 5th (@ Missouri). Brandon Marino scored for Quad City in round three, but Matt Summers tied it for the Thunder in round five and the two teams went to extra shooters. Mickey Lang scored in round six for the Mallards while Aaron Davis was denied by Quad City goalie David Brown to give the Mallards a 5-4 win. It was the first loss for the Thunder this season in a shootout, but Wichita did earn a point and moved within two of Allen for first-place in the Berry Conference. On Sunday night, Wichita traveled to Tulsa for the second-consecutive year on Christmas to face the Oilers. Wichita jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Alex Bourret (12) and Matt Robinson (11) scored for the Thunder. However, Wichita gave up four goals in the third period as the Oilers scored three times in a span of three minutes and won 5-2. It was the Thunder’s final trip to Tulsa this season as the final three meetings will be in the Air Capital.

RED HOT- Alex Bourret has been tremendous for Wichita this season. Currently, the Drummondville, PQ native is riding an eight-game point scoring streak (7g, 9a=16) and a three-game goal scoring streak as he added a goal in both games over the weekend. Bourret sits alone in second-place behind Rapid City’s Jesse Schultz for the scoring lead with 36 points (12g, 24a).

HOME ICE ADVANTAGE- Through 15 home games, Wichita leads the league with 12 wins on home ice. Traditionally, Wichita has been strong in the Air Capital, going 344-233-57 all-time. Wichita also leads the league with 17 wins and is in third in winning percentage (.673). Wichita has outscored its opponents 51 to 35 at home this season. 

TAKING THE LEAD- Andrew Martens had a productive weekend for the Thunder. With Daniel Tetrault out of the line-up, Martens logged a lot of ice time and took advantage.  On Friday night, Martens (8g, 14a)  scored twice for the first time this season and moved into a first-place tie with Tulsa’s Jeff Terminesi (5g, 17a) for scoring by a defenseman with 22 points. The Friendswood, TX native also sits in second overall in plus/minus (+17) while teammate Jarred Mohr is in third (+15). 

BACK IN THE LINE-UP-  12-year veteran Daniel Tetrault is close to reaching the top of the mountain for a Thunder defenseman. Tetrault tied former Thunder defenseman Sean O’Reilly for the franchise lead (169) on Tuesday December 13th against Fort Wayne. Tetrault assisted on Wichita’s third goal scored by Matt Robinson at the 13:11 mark of the second period.  O’Reilly played 311 games from 1997-02, while Tetrault has played 263 games in a Thunder uniform. Tetrault returned to the line-up this past Sunday against Tulsa after missing four straight games with an injury.

THUNDERBOLTS… Wichita is averaging 3.50 goals per contest while giving up 2.92 goals per game, both good for fifth in the CHL… Wichita is first overall in shots allowed (27.08/game) and has given up a CHL-low 212 shots in the third period… Wichita is tied for third with six shorthanded goals… The Thunder power play away from home is ranked second overall, going 14-for-55 at a clip of 25.5%... Adam Russo is tied for third in GAA (2.55), third in wins (12), first in shootout wins (3) and third in minutes played (1037:16)… Aaron Davis is first in the CHL in game winning goals (6)… Matt Summers is tied for first in shooting percentage (.261)… Erick Lizon is tied for the league-lead in majors (8)… Davis is in fourth place in shots (116) and Beauregard is right behind him in fifth place (108)… In one-goal games, Wichita is 8-3-1… When leading after one, The Thunder is 8-3-0… Tied after two periods, Wichita is 6-2-1… When outshooting the opponent, Wichita is 11-3-0… The Thunder is 7-2-1 against teams from the Turner Conference while going 10-6-0 in division… Through 15 home games, Wichita sits in second overall in attendance, averaging 5,566.

UPCOMING WEEK- Wichita returns home for two games this upcoming week as the Missouri Mavericks ride into town on Tuesday night. On Friday, Wichita will host the Texas Brahmas before hitting the road on New Year’s Eve the following night to take on the Evansville IceMen. Tuesday night is Sponsors in Wonderland, where everything in the arena from the Zamboni wheels to the pretzels at the concession stand will be sponsored! Friday is Power 93.9 Facebook Friday. Fans who join Power 93.9’s Facebook page will receive discounted tickets to the game.  For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

The Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League is pleased to announce today the launch of an application for fans to use on their IPhones. With the help of Squid Ink Creative, fans can now have all the information about the team in the palm of their hands and with the touch of a button.

The Wichita Thunder app is now live in the Apple iTunes store for free download. The app includes full team schedule, link to Select-A-Seat website, Twitter news feed, full team roster, team info, seating chart and map of INTRUST Bank Arena.

The Thunder remain on the road for the next two games. Tonight, Wichita travels to Moline, Il for the first time this season to face the Quad City Mallards at 7:05pm. On Christmas Day, Wichita heads to Tulsa for the second consecutive year to meet the Oilers at 7:05pm. The Thunder’s next home game is Tuesday, December 27th against rival Missouri.  For tickets to that game against the Mavericks, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at. For ticket information, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

Tulsa, OK-  Wichita (17-8-1) was unable to sustain a 2-0 lead and the Tulsa Oilers (15-9-2) scored four third-period goals en route to a 5-2 win on Sunday night at the BOK Center. Tulsa scored the final five of the contest and won for the second consecutive year on Christmas. Despite the loss, Wichita remains two points back of Allen for first place in the Berry Conference.

Alex Bourret (12) continued on his red-hot pace as he put Wichita up 1-0 at 1:32 of the first period. Kevin Seibel stole the puck in his own end, found Bourret up on a two-on-one and fired a laser from the right circle over the glove of Tulsa netminder Ian Keserich to extend his point scoring streak to eight games.

Matt Robinson (11) extended the Thunder lead to 2-0 in the second period after he caught the puck with his left hand, settled it down on the ice and beat Keserich over the shoulder with a wrist shot from the right circle. Just 25 seconds later, Tulsa got on the board with a Mike Ullrich goal that cut the lead to 2-1.

In the third period, Tulsa scored three in a three minute span, including two tallies from Ryan Raven and won going away 5-2. The Thunder is 2-4 at the BOK Center this season. The final three games of the season series are in Wichita, with the next being on January 7th.

Wichita returns home Tuesday, December 27th to face rival, Missouri at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday is Sponsors in Wonderland Night, where everything from the zamboni wheels to the pretzels from the concession stand will be sponsored. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

Moline, IL-  Mickey Lang ended a six-round shootout to give Quad City (14-10-1) a 5-4 win against Wichita (17-7-1) at the I-Wireless Center Friday Night. The Thunder remain two points back of Allen for the top spot in the Berry Conference and have played one less game than the Americans.

Lang struck first for Quad City as he capitalized on a weird bounce that came in front of the Thunder net to give the Mallards a 1-0 lead. For the first time in three games, Wichita gave up the first goal.

In the second period, Wichita fell behind 2-0 just 27 seconds in when Jeremy Boyer (4) stole the puck in the defensive zone, came down on a two-on-one and scored a shorthanded goal to push the Mallard lead to 2-0. It was the first shorthanded goal allowed by Wichita this season. However, Wichita answered 50 seconds later with a power play goal to cut the lead to 2-1 when Kevin Seibel fired a shot on net and the bouncing puck was knocked over the line by Matt Robinson (10). Andrew Martens (7) tied the game at 3:25 as he went coast-to-coast, took a shot from the high slot that bounced off Mallards goalie David Brown and in the net to make it 2-2. It didn't take long for the Mallards to answer as Brandon Marino (15) made it 3-2 at 7:27 of the second period. At 16:58, Alex Bourret (11) tied the game at three with a power play goal as he caught a pass in the left circle and beat Brown to extend his point scoring streak to seven games.

The Mallards took the lead in the third period at 13:54 when Jared Brown (10) fired a low shot that got through and put the Mallards up 4-3. However, Wichita tied the game just four minutes later off a face-off. Aaron Davis won the draw, gave it back to Jarred Mohr, who then fed it over to Andrew Martens (8) and his one-timer beat Brown for his second of the game. After deciding 17-straight games in regulation, Wichita would be forced into an extra session for the second consecutive game.

After a five-minute scoreless overtime, Wichita headed to its first shootout since November 5th in Missouri. Trailing 1-0 entering the final shooter, Matt Summers scored in round five to send it to extra shooters tied at one.  In round six, Lang scored to give the Mallards the lead and Brown stopped Aaron Davis to give Quad City a 5-4 win. It was Wichita's first loss in a shootout this season and ended the Thunder's winning streak at five.

Wichita closes out a three-game road swing in Tulsa on Christmas Day against the Oilers before returning home Tuesday, December 27th to face rival, Missouri.  For tickets to that game against the Mavericks, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

THUNDER TAKE EIGHT- This past week was by far the most productive of the season for the Thunder. After losing two straight the previous week, the Thunder stormed back with four victories in six days. On Tuesday night, Wichita dug out of an early 2-0 hole with three answered goals in the second period and got the game winner from Thomas Beauregard midway through the third. Alex Bourret added two goals including an empty-netter to seal a 5-3 win. A few nights later, Wichita hosted Rio Grande Valley for a pair of games and completely shut down the short-handed Bees. The Thunder outscored Rio Grande Valley 7-1, winning 4-1 on Friday night and 3-0 on Saturday evening. In Friday night’s win, the Thunder had four different goal scorers including Chris Greene netting his first of the season. On Saturday, Adam Russo stopped all 20 shots he faced en route to his first shutout of the season and fifth overall for his professional career. That performance overshadowed Thomas Beauregard’s two goal effort as Wichita scored a goal in each period and moved into a first place tie with Allen atop the Berry Conference standings. The next day, Wichita hit the road to face the Texas Brahmas, a team the Thunder has yet to beat on the road since coming back into the league in 2007. Before yesterday, Wichita was 0-7-0 at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, TX. Each team traded goals in the first and second period, sending the game into overtime tied at three. It was the first time in 17 games for Wichita that a game wasn’t decided in regulation. After a missed penalty shot in the extra session from Thomas Beauregard, the Thunder was awarded a one minute power play and took advantage of that opportunity. Aaron Davis redirected a Beauregard shot off of his shin pad and scored with nine seconds remaining to give Wichita its first overtime win of the year, 4-3, and first ever win at the NYTEX Sports Centre. The Thunder remain in a first place tie with Allen as both teams won on Sunday and have 34 points each.

STREAK TO FIVE- With four wins this past week, Wichita pushed its winning streak to five games and earned eight points in the process. The previous season long winning streak was four games, dating back to the first two weekends of the season in which Wichita won three of those in a shootout. During that span, Wichita has outscored its opponents 18-8. 

HOME ICE ADVANTAGE- Through 15 home games, Wichita leads the league with 12 wins on home ice. Traditionally, Wichita has been strong in the Air Capital, going 344-233-57 all-time. Wichita also leads the league with 17 wins and is tied in first for winning percentage with Allen (.708). Wichita has outscored its opponents 51 to 35 at home this season. 

RUSS-0- Adam Russo was outstanding this past week. After a tough loss in Texas on December 9th, Russo has won his last four starts including three this past week. During that span, he stopped 91 of 96 shots he faced, good for a .948 SV% and 1.25 GAA. Overall, Russo is now in third place with a 2.47 GAA, fourth in the league in minutes played (972:16) and tied for second in the CHL in wins (12).

FRENCH CONNECTION-  The French Canadian influence has certainly been felt this season. The duo of Alex Bourret and Thomas Beauregard have been on fire as of late, combining for 26 points in their last six games. Bourret has 14 points in that span (5g, 9a), including four multi-point games. Bourret had 11 points (3g, 8a) in four games this past week. During this streak, he has scored three points twice and four points this past Sunday in Texas. Bourret currently sits in second place in scoring with 34 points (10g, 24a), just two back of Rapid City’s Jesse Schultz for the league-lead. Beauregard has been spectacular as well, scoring 12 points (5g, 7a) during that span. Over the last four games, Beauregard had nine points (5g, 4a) and extended his multi-point scoring streak to five. Beauregard is tied for third in the CHL with 13 goals and tied for fifth in scoring with 29 points (13g, 16a).

SUMMIT ON HOLD-  12-year veteran Daniel Tetrault is close to reaching the top of the mountain for a Thunder defenseman. Tetrault tied former Thunder defenseman Sean O’Reilly for the franchise lead in most points scored by a Thunder defenseman (169) this past Tuesday against Fort Wayne. Tetrault assisted on Wichita’s third goal scored by Matt Robinson at the 13:11 mark of the second period.  O’Reilly played 311 games from 1997-02, while Tetrault has played 262 games in a Thunder uniform. Tetrault has missed the past three games due to an injury and there is no timetable for his return to the line-up.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT- Newcomer RG Flath didn’t take long to find the scoresheet. The Park City, UT native signed this past Saturday and added an assist in his debut. In two games, Flath has three points (1, 2) and found a home alongside Bourret and Beauregard this past Sunday in Wichita’s overtime win in Texas. Flath is in his fifth professional season, spending time in Austin, Corpus Christi, Mississippi, Oklahoma City and Rapid City. Flath started the season overseas with Sheffield of the EIHL before returning state-side. For his career. Flath has played in 231 games, accumulating 129 points (60g, 69a).

THUNDERBOLTS… Wichita is averaging 3.54 goals a contest while giving up 2.75 goals a game, both good for fourth in the CHL… Wichita is first overall in shots allowed (26.29/game), has given up a CHL-low 184 shots in the third period and is the only team under 200 shots in the third all year… The Thunder has only allowed 18 goals against in the final period and is the only team in the league under 20… Wichita is tied for second with six shorthanded goals while being one of just two teams to not allow a goal shorthanded… Jarred Mohr and Andrew Martens are tied for the CHL lead in plus/minus (+17)… Aaron Davis is first in the CHL with six game winning goals… Andrew Martens is in second place in scoring for defenseman (6g, 14a)…Matt Summers is tied for first in shooting percentage (.286)… Erick Lizon is tied for the league lead with eight majors… Davis is in fourth place in shots (105) and Beauregard is right behind him in fifth place (104)… In one goal games, Wichita is 8-3-0… When leading after one, The Thunder is 8-2-0… Tied after two periods, Wichita is 6-2-0… When outshooting the opponent, Wichita is 11-3-0… The Thunder is 7-2-0 against teams from the Turner Conference while going 10-5-0 in division… Through 15 home games, Wichita sits in second overall in attendance, averaging 5,566.

UPCOMING WEEK- The Thunder remain on the road for the next two games. On Friday, Wichita will travel to Moline, Il for the first time this season to face the Quad City Mallards at 7:05pm. Quad City is one of the hottest teams in the league, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. On Christmas Day, Wichita heads to Tulsa for the second consecutive year to meet the Oilers at 7:05pm. Historically, Wichita is 3-2-2 on Christmas Day and lost last season in Tulsa 6-5. This will be the third time Wichita and Tulsa meet on Christmas, with the first meeting dating all the way back to 1993-94, with Wichita winning at home 7-5. The Thunder’s next home game is Tuesday, December 27th against rival Missouri.  For tickets to that game against the Mavericks, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

North Richland Hills, TX-  Aaron Davis scored with :09.1 seconds left in overtime to give Wichita (17-7-0) a 4-3 win against the Texas Brahmas (12-8-5) at the NYTEX Sports Centre Sunday afternoon. Davis took the initial shot from Thomas Beauregard off his shin pad and redirected into the net to keep the Thunder in a first place tie with the Allen Americans with 34 points in the Berry Conference.

Alex Bourret (10) scored five minutes into the game to get things started as he took a one-timer and pinged it off the cross bar to give Wichita a 1-0 lead. Bourret now has a six game point streat, scoring 14 points in that span (5g, 9a). Chad Woollard tied the game at 18:21 as he got behind the Wichita defense and beat Wichita starter Ryan MacDonald through the five hole.

In the second period, Beauregard (13) gave Wichita a 2-1 lead as he collected a Bourret pass at the top of the right circle, skated in and beat Brahmas goalie Mark Guggenberger. Beauregard has scored in four of the last six and is currently riding a six game point streak, scoring 12 points (5 g, 7a). Newcomer RG Flath (1) scored a power play goal at the 10:56 mark to give Wichita a 3-1 lead. Bourret skated from the right corner, passed it back to the near side of the net for Flath where he found the back of the net. In his first two games since joining the team, Flath has 3 points (1g, 2a). Just over three minutes later, Texas cut the lead to one when Ross Rouleau put in his own rebound to make it 3-2. TJ Fox tied the game at three at 16:19 with a power play goal, catching a Chad Woollard pass across the ice on the left wing and scored his sixth of the season.

For the first time in 17 games, Wichita was not able to decide the game in regulation and forced into overtime. Beauregard skated away from the Brahmas defense and was pulled down at 2:21 of the overtime, giving Wichita its fourth penalty shot of the season. Beauregard tried to go glove side on Guggenberger, but he was up to the task and kept the game tied. At 4:23, Ross Rouleau was called for slashing and Wichita capitalized. Beauregard's one-timer pinballed off Aaron Davis with nine seconds remaining and gave Wichita its first win in overtime this season, 4-3. With the win, Wichita has now won five straight and its first at the NYTEX Sports Centre since the Brahmas came back into the CHL in 2007. Previously, Wichita was 0-7-0 against Texas in their building. Bourret finished with four points while Beauregard had three. The win kept Wichita in a first place tie with Allen at the top of the Berry Conference, closing out a busy week for the Thunder of four games in six days.

The Thunder will play the next two games away from the Air Capital before returning home December 27th against rival Missouri. For tickets to that game against the Mavericks, go to the INTRUST Bank Arena box office, call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com. 

-Thunder-

Check out the highlights from this weekend's pounding of the Killer Bees HERE and HERE.

Wichita, KS-  Adam Russo upstaged fellow teammate Thomas Beauregard's two goal effort on Saturday night as the eight-year pro recorded his first shutout of the season, helping Wichita (16-7-0) beat Rio Grande Valley (10-10-4)  at INTRUST Bank Arena, 3-0. Wichita has now won four straight, all on home ice and leads the league with 16 wins. Coupled with an Allen loss, Wichita moves into a first place tie with the Americans in the Berry Conference with 32 points.

For the second straight night, Wichita got on the board first when Aaron Davis (11) caught a pass at the red line, came in on a two-on-one and snapped a shot past Rio Grande goaltender John Murray to make it 1-0. Davis was held without a point last night, but had a goal and two assists this past Tuesday against Fort Wayne.

Thomas Beauregard (11) added to the Thunder lead in the second period at the 11 minute mark when Alex Bourret, who was denied on a breakaway seconds before, skated in and dished it off before he got caught by the defender. Beauregard quickly moved up into the play and put it by Murray to give Wichita a 2-0 lead. Wichita used the stretch pass a number of times in the second period as Bourret had another break, but his slap shot missed the net.

Beauregard notched his second of the game in the third period at the 3:13 mark as newcomer RG Flath dished it off to Beauregard and beat Murray for his team leading 12th goal of the season. Adam Russo was able to hold the fort down the stretch and earned his fifth professional shutout, stopping 20 shots and his 12th win of the year, 3-0.

Wichita ties its season-long winning streak at four, leads the league with 12 home wins and hands the Killer Bees their eighth straight loss.  The Thunder will travel down to Texas tomorrow afternoon to take on the Brahmas in North Richland Hills at 4pm. The Thunder will play the next three straight away from home before returning back to Wichita December 27th against rival Missouri. For tickets to that game against the Mavericks, go to the INTRUST Bank Arena box office, call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com. 

-Thunder-

by KOLLEN LONG
 The Wichita Eagle

With an unruly mop of curly blonde hair and a clean-shaven face, young Alex Bourret slipped on the Atlanta Thrashers jersey with "05" on the back, a number representing 2005 — the year he was taken in the first round of the National Hockey League draft.

A gritty player who could skate, score and hit with surprising power for such a small, stocky winger, Bourret had been lauded in all the right places prior to the biggest night of his life — July 30, 2005.

Hockey's International Scouting Services proclaimed that "he is built like a tank, and hits like a truck." The Hockey News described him as "a skilled scoring machine."

None other than hockey guru Bob McKenzie said Bourret "plays the game hard and with an edge, often to the point of being mean."

Read More: Click Here

Wichita, KS-  Behind four different goal scorers and a solid effort from all three lines, Wichita (15-7-0) beat the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (10-9-4) 4-1 Friday night at INTRUST Bank Arena. Wichita earned its league leading 11th win on home ice and kept the Killer Bees spiraling as they dropped their seventh straight.

Chris Greene got things started for Wichita in the first period as Alex Bourret batted a loose puck into the slot and Greene banged it home for his first goal of the season. Wichita's third line played a sound game Tuesday night and was rewarded with a goal tonight. Despite playing a man short due to an injury to captain Daniel Tetrault, Wichita got off to a good start and is now 7-4-0 when scoring first.

The Killer Bees answered in the second as David Marshall scored at the 1:47 mark to tie the game at one. Wichita was then presented with the first power play of the night and capitalized. Jarred Mohr (3) gave Wichita a 2-1 lead half way through the second period when he one-timed a Brett Hemingway pass through Rio Grande goalie Dan Dunn. Thomas Beauregard and Bourret, two of the Thunder's top scoring threats, were in the penalty box at the time. Mohr's goal was Wichita's seventh power play goal on home ice. Wichita went two-for-two with the man advantage as they would add another later in the game.

Halfway through the third period, Matt Summers extended the Thunder lead to 3-1 as he hopped on a rebound, squeaked it through Dunn over the goal line before he was able to reach back with his catching mit. Coming into the game, Wichita was ranked dead last on the power play on home ice, but added two tonight and now have 18 power play goals overall for the season. Thomas Beauregard (10) added an empty net goal and Wichita claimed its 15th victory of the season with a 4-1 win. Wichita has won three straight, all on home ice and closes out its four game homestand Saturday evening.

Wichita and Rio Grande Valley will square off again tomorrow night at 7:05pm before the Thunder head on the road to Texas to start a three game road swing. For tickets to Saturday's game against the Killer Bees, go to the INTRUST Bank Arena box office, call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com. 

Note: Kollen Long was honored during the pre-game ceremonies for his dedication to covering the Wichita Thunder for the Wichita Eagle, with Friday night being his last game on the Thunder Beat. Long has covered Wichita for 11 seasons for the Eagle.

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS-  Thomas Beauregard broke a tie game halfway through the third period, giving Wichita a 5-3 victory in a see-saw affair on Tuesday night at INTRUST Bank Arena against the Fort Wayne Komets.  With the win, Wichita (14-7-0) moves within two points of the Allen Americans for first place in the Berry Conference while Fort Wayne (13-7-0) is still one point back of Evansville for first place in the Turner Conference.

Fort Wayne jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Frankie DeAngelis found a rebound after a terrific save was made by Thunder netminder Adam Russo and scored his sixth of the season to make it 1-0. At 11:10, Chris Auger added to that lead when the puck took a weird bounce, found him in the slot and netted his 10th goal. Fort Wayne came into the game 8-1-0 leading after one period while Wichita was 4-3-0 trailing after one.

Alex Bourret kick-started the Thunder in the second at 2:23 when his pass to the crease area ricocheted off a skate and through Komets goalie Nick Boucher, making it 2-1 Fort Wayne. Wichita tied the game at two as Matt Robinson dug a loose puck into the slot and Aaron Davis slammed it home at 8:08. A few minutes later, Robinson took a drop pass from Davis and blasted it past Boucher for Wichita's first lead of the game, 3-2. Robinson has scored seven goals in his last nine games.

The Komets struck first in the third period at 7:59, as Tom Mele broke free from a scrum in the slot and beat Russo with a backhand to tie the game at three. Just over a minute later, Beauregard netted the game winning goal as he side stepped a defenseman in the slot, switched to his forehand and beat Boucher to give Wichita a 4-3 lead. Bourret added an empty net goal, his ninth on the year and the Thunder won 5-3. Bourret and Davis now lead the team with eight multi-point games while Adam Russo earned his 10th win of the season.

Wichita finishes off the four game home stand this coming weekend as the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees fly into town for a pair of games, both at 7:05pm. Beginning Sunday in Texas, Wichita will head on the road for three straight. On Friday and Saturday, Santa Claus will be in attendence to take pictures on the concourse. For tickets to Friday's game against the Killer Bees, go to the INTRUST Bank Arena box office, call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com. 

-Thunder-

Check out the highlights from Tuesday's win over Fort Wayne HERE.

THUNDER SALVAGE 2- Last week, Wichita traveled to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to take on the Allen Americans and the Texas Brahmas. Wichita has struggled on the road at both locations, going 0-13-0 against the two franchises. On Thursday in a battle for first place, Wichita jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Allen on the strength of two first period goals from Matt Robinson. Allen answered back with three straight goals before Justin Sawyer scored his first of the season, tying the game at three. Allen netted two power play goals in the final period to take a 5-3 win and moved three points ahead of the Thunder. On Friday night, Wichita visited the Texas Brahmas for the first time this season and for the second straight game couldn’t hold onto a two goal lead. Alex Bourret scored on a penalty shot just 47 seconds into the first period and Kevin Seibel scored his first of the year to give Wichita a 2-0 advantage. The Brahmas then scored the next three, including the game winner with 48 seconds remaining in the third and held on for the 3-2 win. The two teams met on Saturday night in Wichita and the Thunder was able to salvage two out of a possible six points on the weekend, winning 2-1. Despite a season low seven shots through two periods, Matt Summers scored the game winner halfway through the third period and Wichita improved to 13-7-0 overall.

FRENCH DIP- Alex Bourret has the knack of putting his name on the score-sheet. The Drummondville, PQ native added three more points over the weekend and leads the team with 23 (7g, 16a). Bourret and Aaron Davis are tied for the team lead with seven multi-point games. Bourret has scored three points four times and has been held without a point just six times all season.

CLOSE TO THE SUMMIT-  12-year veteran Daniel Tetrault is close to reaching the top of the mountain for a Thunder defenseman. Tetrault is just one point shy (168) of former Thunder defenseman Sean O’Reilly for the franchise lead in most points scored by a Thunder defenseman.  O’Reilly played 311 games from 1997-02, scoring 169 points during that span while Tetrault has played 261 games in a Thunder uniform.

HOLDING THE FORT-  Wichita netminder Adam Russo rebounded nicely Saturday night against Texas to earn his ninth win of the season. After allowing the game winner Friday night with less than a minute to go, Russo stood tall despite not being tested very often Saturday, making 19 of 20 saves. He made a tremendous glove save in the second period on a two-on-one as he came across the crease to keep the puck out of the net. Russo is in third place with nine wins, tied for sixth with a 2.73 GAA and in fifth place in minutes played, logging 792:16.

MOST EXCITING PLAY IN HOCKEY-  Alex Bourret’s penalty shot goal was Wichita’s first successful one this season. The Thunder has had three total this year, one from Aaron Davis and the other from Dustin Donaghy. The most penalty shots Wichita has had in one season dates back to last year with seven opportunities. Wichita has yet to have a penalty shot against this season. 

RESURGENCE- Matt Robinson has regained his scoring touch. After going nine games without a goal, Robinson (8g, 10a) scored two more on Thursday night. Robinson has scored in four of the last seven games and has registered a point in five of the last seven. Robinson led Wichita a year ago with 39 goals, which was a career high for the Surrey, BC native.

SPECIAL TEAMS- Last week, Wichita’s power play continued to struggle, going zero-for-10 in three games. Overall, Wichita is in 11th place in the CHL, going 16-for-93 and at a rate of 17.2%. The penalty killing unit allowed two goals to Allen, but was able to go a perfect six-for-six against Texas on Friday and Saturday night combined. The Thunder penalty kill is currently in 12th overall, killing off 73-of-94 chances, which is good for 77.7%. On home ice, Wichita has only allowed eight power play goals, killing off 37-of-48 chances and at a clip of 82.2%. 

THUNDERBOLTS… Wichita is averaging 3.45 goals per contest, good for fifth place… Wichita is first overall in shots allowed (26.20/game) and has given up a CHL-low 156 shots in the third period all season…The Thunder has only allowed 17 goals against in the final period…Wichita is tied for second with six shorthanded goals while being one of just two teams to not allow a goal shorthanded…Jarred Mohr leads the CHL in plus/minus (+17)…Aaron Davis is second in the CHL with four game winning goals and fourth in the CHL in shots (87)…Andrew Martens is in second place in scoring for defenseman (6g, 11a)…Erick Lizon is tied for the league lead with seven majors… In one goal games, Wichita is 7-3-0… When leading after one, The Thunder is 6-2-0… Tied after two periods, Wichita is 5-2-0…When outshooting the opponent, Wichita is 9-3-0… The Thunder is 6-2-0 against teams from the Turner Conference while going 7-5-0 in division… Through 12 home games, Wichita sits in second overall in attendance, averaging 5,679...Saturday's Teddy Bear Toss broke the Thunder record for amount of stuffed animals thrown onto the ice during the annual event that helps put a smile on a childs face that might not have otherwise (1,684!)

UPCOMING WEEK- Wichita begins a busy week with four games in six days. On Tuesday night, the Fort Wayne Komets come into town for the first time as the top two teams in attendance face each other at 7:05pm. The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees fly into Wichita for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday, both at 7:05pm before Wichita hits the road to play in North Richland Hills, TX against the Brahmas on Sunday afternoon at 4pm.  For ticket information, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

Check out the Highlights from Saturday's win over Texas HERE.

Wichita, KS-  Matt Summers was Wichita's hottest player in the first month of the season and Saturday night, his goal halfway through the third period broke a 1-1 tie with Texas to give the Thunder a 2-1 victory at INTRUST Bank Arena. The win propelled Wichita (13-7-0) back into second place one point ahead of Texas (11-6-3) in the Berry Conference.

Wichita scored first for the third straight game as Alex Bourret came into the right wing corner, turned into the circle and let a shot go that pinballed off two skates and through Silverthorn to make it 1-0 Thunder. With that goal, the parade of teddy bears came flying down and play was interrupted for approximately 10 minutes. The final count was 1,684 bears, breaking Wichita's record for the annual Teddy Bear Toss.

Chad Wollard tied the game at 4:20 of the third period when he found himself wide open on the left post and scored his ninth of the season. Wichita has yet to record a shutout this season, but Russo made some key saves down the stretch to keep his team in it and earned his ninth win of the season

The game winner came at 10:32 when Andrew Martens was able to hold the blue line, sent it into the corner for Thomas Beauregard who then found Summers set up on the right hashmark and he roofed it to give Wichita a 2-1 lead. Russo made a key save with less than a minute left as a scrum ensued infront of his net and was able to keep it from crossing the line. Texas had pulled its goaltender, but it was too late and Wichita hung on to stop a two game losing skid. The win also snaps the Brahmas' four game winning streak and puts Wichita just four points shy of Allen in second place in the Berry Conference.

Wichita returns to the ice on Tuesday night to host the Fort Wayne Komets at 7:05pm. Tuesday is Speedy Cash Buy-In Night. Head over to any Wichita Speedy Cash location and get a free upper level ticket. For tickets to Tuesday's game against the Komets, go to the INTRUST Bank Arena box office, call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com. 

-Thunder-

North Richland Hills, TX-  For the second night in a row, Wichita was unable to hold onto a two goal lead and lost to the Texas Brahmas, 3-2 at the NYTEX Sports Centre Friday evening. Texas forward Kyle Howarth scored two goals in the final period, including the game winner with 48 seconds left. The loss is the second in a row for Wichita, dropping the Thunder to third place.

Alex Bourret got things started just 47 seconds in when he was pulled down on a breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot. Bourret beat Brahmas netminder Mark Guggenberger through the five hole to give Wichita a 1-0 lead. Wichita had been unsuccessful on two previous penalty shots this season.

Kevn Seibel added to Wichita's lead when he stepped up into the play, caught a pass from Thomas Beauregard and found the back of the net for his first goal of the year to make it 2-0. Texas scored late in the first right after Chris Chappell came out of the penalty box and went in all alone, but was denied that could have made it a three goal game. 

The Brahmas scored the final three goals of the contest and held on for a 3-2 win. With the loss, Wichita drops to 12-7-0 with 24 points and tie for third place with Tulsa. The Thunder have now lost two straight games when taking a lead after one period and scoring the first goal.

Wichita returns home to host the Brahmas for the first time this season at 7:05pm. Saturday is Teddy Bear Toss night. Bring a new stuffed animal and throw it on the ice when the Thunder score its first goal. The stuffed animals are then donated to local charities and delivered by the Thunder players to less fortunate children around the Wichita area.  For tickets to Saturdays game against Texas, go to the INTRUST Bank Arena box office, call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com. 

-Thunder-

Allen, TX- In a battle for first place in the Berry Conference, Wichita fell to the Allen Americans 5-3 Thursday night at the Allen Event Center. The Americans netted two third period goals, breaking a tie game in the third and earned its first win against Wichita this season. The victory puts Wichita three points back of the Americans in the standings while the Thunder does have one game in hand heading into the weekend.

Matt Robinson continues to be red hot, finding the back of the net twice in the first period to open up the scoring for the Thunder. His first goal came at 2:52 as he blasted a one timer fom Aaron Davis and beat Americans goalie Marco Cousineau. The second came at 15:08 as he caught a pass in the neutral zone, angled to the left wing circle and took a wrister that was deflected off an Allen stick, giving Wichita a 2-0 lead. Robinson now has nine points in his last six games (6g, 3a).

The Americans answered with three consecutive goals in the second period before Justin Sawyer scored to tie the game at three. Sawyer's first goal of the year came 18 seconds after the Americans took their first lead of the hockey game when Nick Layton scored at 16:54.

In the third, Wichita had a five-on-three powerplay for one minute, but failed to capitalize on the opportunity. After a Thomas Beauregard penalty evened things up at four skaters aside, Allen broke the tie with a power play goal from Jarret Lukin at 9:54 to make it 4-3. The Americans added a late power play goal and held on for a 5-3 win. With the loss, Wichita is now 12-6-0 overall and lost for the first time this season when leading after the first period.

Wichita heads 41 miles down the road to Fort Worth to take on the Texas Brahmas Friday night at 7:30pm before returning home Saturday against Texas at 7:05pm. Saturday is Teddy Bear Toss night. Bring a new stuffed animal and throw it on the ice when the Thunder score its first goal. The stuffed animals are then donated to local charities and delivered by the Thunder players to less fortunate children around the Wichita area.  For tickets to Saturdays game against Texas, go to the INTRUST Bank Arena box office, call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com. 

 -Thunder-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder is pleased to announce its partnership with the Wichita Dream Center to help raise money to provide gifts for the less fortunate in the Wichita area. Last year, the Believe in Christmas event gave away 500 bicycles and 1,000 gifts to children who would have not had something for the holidays. During the Thunder game on Saturday, December 10th, a portion of the ticket purchase made through the Thunder office will go towards the Believe in Christmas fund.

“There isn’t a better way to give back to the community,” said Sherri Penka, Community Relations Director of the Wichita Thunder. “Considering the current economy that we are in, we are proud to help provide Christmas for many less fortunate children who may not get something this year and I am glad to be partnering with the Wichita Dream Center.”  To help with this great cause, please call Sherri Penka at (316) 264-GOAL.

Wichita heads on the road to play the Allen Americans this Thursday at 7:05pm and will stay in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to visit the Texas Brahmas on Friday night at 7:30pm. Saturday is Teddy Bear Toss night. Bring a new stuffed animal and throw it on the ice when the Thunder score its first goal. The stuffed animals are then donated to local charities and delivered by the Thunder players to less fortunate children around the Wichita area.  For tickets to Saturdays game against Texas, go to the INTRUST Bank Arena box office, call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com. 

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder announced Tuesday that Johnson Enterprises, Inc., the parent company of  93.5 FM KWME, Sports Radio 1130 AM KLEY in Wellington and Sports Radio 1550 KKLE in Winfield, has moved their FM station to a different place on the dial. As of Monday morning, KWME has signed off of 93.5 and is now airing on 92.7 FM.

Gordon Johnson, owner and general manager of KWME, believes the change will mean better service for KWME for those in the Wichita listening area who are looking for the Wichita Thunder hockey games.

“We are pleased to finally see this change happen,” said Joel T. Lomurno, General Manager of the Wichita Thunder. “We are doing our best to serve our fans and having the games on a station in the market that they can listen to is a good step.”

Due to programming conflicts, certain games will not air on 92.7 KWME. All games can be heard on 1550 KKLE, by downloading the Tune In Radio app on your smart phone or listening on www.wichitathunder.com. Wichita will travel to Allen, TX on Thursday and that will be the first game that can be heard on 92.7 FM KWME. Friday night’s game against Texas will be on 1550 KKLE starting at 7:30pm. Pre-game begins 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.

Wichita will return home this coming Saturday to take on the Texas Brahmas at 7:05pm. Saturday is also Teddy Bear Toss Night, brought to you by Bank of the West. Bring a new stuffed animal and throw it onto the ice when the Thunder score their first goal.  The stuffed animals are then delivered by the Thunder players to local homes, donated to charities and given to underprivileged children for Christmas. Last season, the Thunder collected 795 stuffed animals.  For ticket information, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com  .

-Thunder-

BACK ON TOP-   Wichita returned home this past weekend to host the Evansville IceMen and the Tulsa Oilers. Friday night’s meeting with Evansville was the first ever meeting between the two franchises and both teams came into the contest at the top of their respective conferences. Wichita got goals from Matt Summers and Matt Robinson, but the IceMen scored twice in 25 seconds with a minute remaining in the second period and scored the last four to run away with a 5-2 win. The loss snapped a three game winning streak and knocked the Thunder out of first place. On Sunday afternoon, Wichita fell behind to Tulsa before scoring three third period goals to come out with a 4-3 victory. The Oilers had a two goal lead after former Thunder forward Troy Ofukany scored 31 seconds into the third period. Tulsa has scored the first goal in five out of the seven meetings this season while the Thunder has come from behind three times to upend the Oilers. Two of those comebacks occurred in the third period. Wichita and Allen continue to exchange places at the top of the Berry Conference, as Wichita propelled back into first place with 24 points. 

DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK- The Thunder has had its flare for the dramatic this season and Sunday’s win was just the latest installment. Wichita has the best record in the CHL when trailing after two periods. The Thunder is 4-3-0 while every other team in the league is below .500.

CLOSE TO THE SUMMIT-  12-year veteran Daniel Tetrault inched that much closer to reaching the top of the mountain for a Thunder defenseman. With two more points this weekend, Tetrault is just one point shy (168) of former Thunder defenseman Sean O’Reilly for the franchise lead in most points scored by a Thunder defenseman.  O’Reilly played 311 games from 1997-02, scoring 169 points during that span while Tetrault has played 258 games in a Thunder uniform.

THREADING THE NEEDLE-  Alex Bourret had a very productive weekend and has been tremendous in finding his teammates this season. The Drummondville, PQ native leads the team with 15 helpers and is tied in sixth place in the CHL for assists. This past Sunday, Bourret made a key hit on Marty Standish, stole the puck and found Thomas Beauregard who netted the game winner. He has eight points in the last five and multiple assists in five games this season.

DOMINANT D-MEN-  Andrew Martens and Daniel Tetrault continue to be near the top of the leaderboard for scoring by a defenseman. Martens sits in first for goals and second place for points scored by defensemen with 16 (6g, 10a). Tetrault is tied for fifth with 13 points (5g, 8a) while Jarred Mohr (+18) and Martens (+13) are at the top of the plus-minus list.

SPREADING THE WEALTH- Despite being without leading scorer Brett Hemingway, Wichita was still able to find the back of the net. Including Friday night, Wichita had seven different goal scorers. Matt Summers returned to the line-up Friday after sitting out nine games with an injury and didn’t waste any time finding the back of the net. Summers, who was leading the team in scoring before going down, scored five minutes into Friday night’s loss to Evansville and also added an assist on Sunday. Matt Robinson added another tally, giving him four goals in five games and six on the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS- Wichita’s power play and penalty killing units were not very busy this past weekend. Wichita went a combined 0-for-6 on the power play while killing off five of six themselves. The Thunder power play away from home continues to the be strength and Wichita can improve on that this coming week against Allen and Texas. On the road, the Thunder power play is ranked second overall, going 10-for-36 at a clip of 28.6%.

THUNDERBOLTS… Wichita is averaging 3.65 goals a contest, good for second place… The Thunder has given up 2.94 goals against, good for sixth… Wichita is first overall in shots allowed (25.88/game) and has given up just 133 shots in the third period all season…The Thunder has only allowed 12 goals against in the final period…Wichita is tied for first with six shorthanded goals while being one of just two teams to not allow a goal shorthanded… In one goal games, Wichita is 6-2-0… When leading after one, The Thunder is 5-0-0… Tied after two periods, Wichita is 5-1-0…When outshooting the opponent, Wichita is 9-3-0… Justin Sawyer had a 12-game penalty minute streak snapped Friday night, which is still the longest of the season in the CHL… The Thunder is 6-2-0 against teams from the Turner Conference while going 6-3-0 in division… Through nine home games, Wichita sits in second overall in attendance, averaging 5,731.

UPCOMING WEEK- Wichita will travel to Texas this coming week to take on a pair of opponents that are just 41 miles apart. On Thursday night, Wichita will make its first trip of the season to the Allen Event Center to take on the Americans at 7:05pm. Friday Night, Wichita will visit the Texas Brahmas at 7:30pm before returning home Saturday night at 7:05pm to host Texas for the first time this year. Saturday night is Teddy Bear Toss Night, brought to you by Bank of the West. Bring a new stuffed animal and throw it onto the ice when the Thunder score their first goal. The stuffed animals are then delivered by the Thunder players to local homes, donated to charities and given to underprivileged children for Christmas. For ticket information, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

Check out the highlights from Sunday's comeback win over Tulsa HERE.

Wichita, KS-  Trailing by two goals in the third period, Wichita scored three unanswered and came from behind to upend the Tulsa Oilers 4-3 Sunday afternoon at INTRUST Bank Arena. Alex Bourret had a goal and two helpers, Daniel Tetrault added two points, and Thomas Beauregard scored the game winner to help Wichita move back into first place in the Berry Conference with 24 points.

Tulsa scored the first goal just five minutes in when Marty Standish caught the puck the in the high slot and a turn around wrister found its way through traffic and into the back of the net. The Oilers have scored the first goal in five of the seven meetings between the two teams this season.
 
Alex Bourret tied the game at one in the second period when he stole the puck shorthanded, came up on a three-on-two, got a nice pass from Andrew Martens and buried it past Oiler netminder Ian Keserich. Wichita is now tied with Rapid City and Evansville with six shorthanded goals scored, most in the CHL. Ryan Cramer gave the Oilers the lead back at 15:06 as he walked out of the corner, fired a shot that beat Thunder goaltender Ryan MacDonald and made it 2-1. During the second period, Aaron Davis was awarded a penalty shot after getting tripped on a shorthanded break earlier in the second and was denied by Keserich. It was the second penalty shot awarded to Wichita this season.

The Oilers scored on the powerplay just 31 seconds into the third period when former Thunder forward Troy Ofukany got a pass from behind from Michel Beausoleil and made it 3-1.

From that point on, Wichita flipped it into fifth gear and scored the next three. The first one came from Daniel Tetrault at 6:29 as he caught a pass in the high slot and pounded it past Keserich to cut the lead to 3-2. Tetrault had two points on the night and now is just one point shy (168) of Sean O'Reilly (169) for the most points scored by a defenseman in franchise history. Colin Hemingway tied the game at three after he caught the puck at the Oiler line, made a nifty move through a couple of Oiler defenders and scored as he was falling down at 13:06. Just two minutes later at 15:27, Bourret made a nice hit in the Thunder zone, stole the puck and found a streaking Thomas Beauregard who went in all alone and scored on the backhand to give Wichita a 4-3 lead. It was Wichita's first lead of the game and Beauregard's eighth of the season.

Tulsa pulled its goalie with a minute remaining in the game and almost added the equalizer as the puck squirted over the goal line past MacDonald during a scrum infront of his net. However, the referee waived the goal off as he lost sight of the puck. Wichita held on for a 4-3 win and jumped Allen in the standings for first place as the Americans were idle today. Trailing after two periods, Wichita is a remarkable 4-3-0 on the season as every other team in the CHL is below .500.

The Thunder will hit the road for the next two, taking on the Allen Americans on Thursday night at 7:05pm and Friday against Texas at 7:30pm. Wichita will return home Saturday, December 10th at 7:05pm as the Texas Brahmas make their first appearance this season at INTRUST Bank Arena. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena Box office or go to www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

Wichita, KS- Evansville scored two goals in the last minute of the second period and netted the final four to run away with a 5-2 win against Wichita in the first ever meeting between the two teams at INTRUST Bank Arena on Friday night. Matt Robinson and Matt Summers each scored for Wichita despite losing for just the third time on home ice and snapping a three game winning streak.

Wichita broke through first when Summers caught a pass on a two-on-one break and gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead. Summers had been out of the line-up since November 5th after suffering an injury against Missouri and was Wichita's leading score before getting hurt. After Evansville's Mike Scgroi tied the game, Matt Robinson increased that lead to 2-1 after Colin Hemingway hustled to a loose puck behind the Evansville net, dished it off to Robinson in the slot and scored his fourth goal in four games. Sgroi, who came into the game without a goal this season, netted his second to tie the game after outlasting Andrew Martens to a loose puck and beating Thunder goalie Adam Russo, making it 2-2.

Evansville took its first lead in the second period, scoring two goals in the final minute. Matt Pierce gave the IceMen a 3-2 lead at 19:09 and Todd Robinson scored just 25 seconds after and a 4-2 lead. Wichita had a number of chances in the second, but Evansville goalie Bryan Gillis was solid in net as he made three quality saves on 14 shots.

John Ronan added a power play goal in the third period for the IceMen and Evansville closed out the game, winning 5-2. Wichita is now 6-2-0 against teams from the Turner Conference and 5-3-0 against the Berry. Wichita will have a day off tomorrow before returning home Sunday to take on the Tulsa Oilers. After tomorrow, Wichita will not host Tulsa until January 7th. The next meeting will be on Christmas Day in Tulsa at the BOK Center. 

Join us for the first Sunday Funday of the season. There are free tickets available at all Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers locations in the Wichita area as the Thunder hosts the Oilers at 5:05pm. For ticket information, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

Check out the Highlights from Saturday's win over Tulsa HERE.

BACK ON TRACK-   One week removed from a three-game losing skid, Wichita returned to form this past weekend. Behind a two goal effort from Matt Robinson, the Thunder jumped out to a three-goal lead Wednesday night against Missouri, winning 4-1. Robinson, who led the team in goals a season ago with 39, had been held off the score sheet for nine games before equaling his season total. The Thunder outshot Missouri 15-5 in the first period and Adam Russo stopped 25 of 26 shots to earn the win. On Friday night, Robinson added another tally (5) and Wichita won a see-saw affair, 4-2 in Tulsa at the BOK Center. Aaron Davis scored two and the game winner with a tie game at two in the third period to help Wichita plug the leak against the Oilers. The Thunder had dropped the last three meetings to Tulsa prior to this past weekend.  Back in Wichita on Saturday night, the Thunder dominated through two periods, outshooting Tulsa 33-11 en route to a 4-2 win. The Thunder had four different scorers and Adam Russo won his third consecutive game to improve Wichita’s record to 11-4-0 and back into first place in the Berry Conference.  

SHUTTING THE DOOR- Wichita netminder Adam Russo was outstanding this past week, winning three straight games and stopping 72 of 77 shots. His goals against was a mere 1.66 with five goals allowed over that span and now is tied for the league lead with eight wins. Overall, Russo is in eighth place with a 2.64 GAA and a .897 SPCT.  

700 CLUB-  12-year veteran Daniel Tetrault joined an elite group this past Friday night in Tulsa as he played in his 700th game as a pro. Tetrault is also approaching an impressive milestone. With one more point this past week, Tetrault is just three points shy (166) of former Thunder defenseman Sean O’Reilly for the franchise lead in most points scored by a Thunder defenseman.  O’Reilly played 311 games from 1997-02, scoring 169 points during that span while Tetrault has played 256 games in a Thunder uniform.

400 CLUB-  Head Coach Kevin McClelland also joined elite company, as he coached in his 400th game in the Central Hockey League this past Friday night. In six seasons, McClelland has amassed a record of 232-137-32 with Mississippi, Colorado and Wichita. A member of the Edmonton Oilers’ dynasty in the 1980’s, McClelland won four Stanley Cups and played in 588 NHL games where he scored 68 goals, 112 assists and  collected a staggering 1,672 penalty minutes.

D-MEN-  Andrew Martens had another stellar weekend offensively. The Friendswood, TX native added three more points and sits in first for goals and second place for points scored by defensemen with 15 (6g, 9a). Daniel Tetrault is tied for fifth with 11 points (4g, 7a) while Jarred Mohr (+15) and Martens (+14) are at the top of the plus-minus list.

SCORING- The Thunder’s top two lines got rolling this past week. The line of Aaron Davis, Brett and Colin Hemingway combined for 14 points while Thomas Beauregard, Alex Bourret and Matt Robinson combined for 13 points. Brett Hemingway leads the team in scoring and sits in a tie for fifth in the CHL with 19 points (9g, 10a). Aaron Davis is tied with Hemingway with nine goals, four this past week and is in second place in the CHL with four game winning goals. Davis and Hemingway both have three game goal scoring streaks, second best in the CHL.  

SPECIAL TEAMS- Wichita’s power play away from home continues to be their strength on special teams. The Thunder power play unit is second in the league on the road, going 10 for 35 at a clip of 28.6% while going just six for 42 at home at a clip of 14.3%. Overall, Wichita is in seventh place at a rate of 20.8%. The penalty killing unit has been stronger on home ice, killing off 30 of 37 attempts at a rate of 81.1%, which is sixth in the league at home. Overall, the Thunder have killed off 61 of 79 attempts at a rate of 77.2%, which is good for 10th place. 

THUNDERBOLTS… Wichita is averaging 3.73 goals a contest, tied for first with Allen… The Thunder has given up 2.80 goals against a game, tied for fifth… Wichita is first overall in shots allowed (25.73/game) and has given up just 117 shots in the third period all season…The Thunder has only allowed 10 goals against in the final period…Wichita is tied in second with five shorthanded goals while being one of just two teams to not allow a goal shorthanded… In one goal games, Wichita is 5-2-0… When leading after one, The Thunder is 5-0-0… Tied after two periods, Wichita is 5-1-0…When outshooting the opponent, Wichita is 8-2-0… Justin Sawyer has a 12-game penalty minute streak, racking up 49 minutes, with the next closest player being former Thunder forward Ryan Hand, who has a 5-game streak… The Thunder is 6-1-0 against teams from the Turner Conference while going 5-3-0 in division… Through nine home games, Wichita sits in second overall in attendance, averaging 5,876.

UPCOMING WEEK- Wichita will have a rare Saturday night off this week. The Thunder host the Evansville IceMen Friday night at 7:05pm, who sit in first place in the Turner Conference.  Wichita will then take on Tulsa Sunday afternoon at 5:05pm at INTRUST Bank Arena. After Sunday, Wichita will not see the Oilers until Christmas Day in Tulsa. 

Wichita returns home this Friday night to take on the Evansville IceMen at 7:05pm. For ticket information, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

After breaking a three game losing streak this past Wednesday, Wichita built a 3-0 lead and skated away with a 4-2 victory against the Tulsa Oilers Saturday night at INTRUST Bank Arena. The Thunder are on a three game winning streak and now sit in first place due to Allen losing to Bloomington this evening.

For only the second time in six meetings, Wichita scored first when Aaron Davis took a Colin Hemingway feed and added his third goal in two games and ninth of the season. Davis, who had two goals last night, has six points against the Oilers this year. Thomas Beauregard scored at 13:38 to make it 2-0 as Wichita controlled the puck in the offensive zone, Beauregard came free and put home his seventh tally of the year.

At 5:30 of the second period, Wichita increased its lead to 3-0 when Aaron Davis came in on the rush, found Brett Hemingway at the far post and he found the back of the net for his ninth on the season. Wichita was tremendous defensively, only allowing 11 shots through the first two periods. The Thunder controlled the play and arguably played its best two periods of the season, limiting the Oilers who were at the tail end of playing four games in five nights.

Wichita put the game out of reach in the third period when Andrew Martens tipped home a Matt Robinson pass at 6:51 and gave the Thunder a 4-0 lead. Martens had two points in the game and sits in second place behind Tulsa's Jeff Terminesi for most points scored by a defenseman with 16 (6g, 10a). Tulsa scored two goals midway through the third period, but Wichita was too tough down the stretch and won going away for its 11th win of the season. Thunder netminder Adam Russo stopped 20 of 22 shots and moves into a first place tie with Tulsa's Ian Keserich and Fort Wayne goalie Nick Boucher with eight wins.

Wichita will not play till next Friday when the Evansville IceMen come into town for the first time this season. Wichita and Tulsa will see each other a week from Sunday and then will not play again until Christmas in Tulsa. The Thunder return home to take on Evansville at 7:05pm on Friday, Dec. 2nd. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, go to the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, or go online at www.selectaseat.com

-Thunder-

Wichita snapped a three losing skid to the Tulsa Oilers Friday night, scoring two third period goals en route to a 4-2 win at the BOK Center. Aaron Davis had two goals and Adam Russo was spectacular in net helping Wichita to its 10th win of the season.

Tulsa got on the board first with a power play goal as Jay Sprague put a one timer past Russo to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead. Tulsa has scored first in four of the five meetings between the two teams this season. Matt Robinson scored his third goal in two games and fifth of the season to tie the game at one just eight seconds into a Thunder power play. Alex Bourret, who had three assists in Wednesday night's game, made a beautiful pass to the slot and Robinson's one timer beat Oiler goalie Ian Keserich.

In the second period, Gary Steffes gave Tulsa a brief 2-1 lead with a power play goal after he snuck it inside the far post and scored his sixth of the year. Less than two minutes later, Wichita's Jarred Mohr sent a wrister towards the net, the puck squirted through Keserich and Aaron Davis pushed it over the goal line to tie the game at two.

With five minutes left in the third, Davis notched his second of the game as he caught a pass in the right wing corner, moved around the net and roofed a backhand past Keserich to give Wichita its first lead of the game, 3-2. Russo was outstanding, stopping 27 of 29 shots, many of which were in close and earned his seventh victory of the season. Brett Hemingway added an empty net goal to give Wichita a 4-2 win, improving the Thunder's record to 10-4-0 overall and a second place tie with Tulsa with 20 points.

Wichita returns home to face the Oilers on Saturday night at 7:05pm. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Arena Box Office or go online at www.selectaseat.com. 

Notes: Head Coach Kevin McClelland coached in his 400th CHL game while Daniel Tetrault played in his 700th game as a pro.

-Thunder-

Check out the highlights from Wednesday's dismantling of the Mavericks HERE.

The Thunder snapped a three game losing skid Wednesday night, exploding for three goals in the first six minutes of the game and knocked off arch-rival Missouri 4-1 at INTRUST Bank Arena. Matt Robinson equaled his season total with two goals, Alex Bourret added three helpers and Adam Russo stopped 25 of 26 shots to earn his sixth win of the year. Wichita earned its ninth win of the season and climbed back into a second place tie with the Tulsa Oilers with 18 points.

Matt Robinson found the back of the net twice in the opening frame as he got the scoring started at 2:43 to give Wichita a 1-0 lead. Robinson, who lead Wichita last season with 39 goals, had been snake bitten with just two coming into the game. He notched his second of the night on the power play as Alex Bourret patiently waited on the goal line for his stick to open and Robinson made sure to tuck it past Missouri goaltender Charlie Effinger to give Wichtia a 2-0 lead. Just 10 seconds later, Wichita added to its lead when Davis pounded home a rebound off the rush to make it 3-0. Wichita caught Missouri offguard off the face-off and skated in on a three on two and Davis made no mistake to add to his season total (6).

Late in the second period, Mike Wakita got Missouri on the board during a delayed penalty that was going to be called against Bourret. He caught an Ed McGrane pass and put it off the bar past Russo to cut the lead to 3-1. Sebastien Thinel came into the game riding a five game point streak, but the Thunder pairing of Daniel Tetrault and Travis Wight did a terrific job of limiiting time and space on the top scorer in the CHL to keep him off the scoresheet.

Brett Hemingway slammed the door at 13:07 when he took his own rebound off the end boards, turned and banked it in past Effinger to extend the lead to 4-1 and his seventh of the season. The win snaps a three game losing skid and gives Wichita the edge in the season series against Missouri, three games to one. Effinger has now lost two games in regulation to Wichita, his only two losses of the year that weren't forced into a OT or a shootout. The Thunder's record is now 9-4-0 and still has one game in hand on the Oilers.

After the Thanksgiving holiday, Wichita will travel to Tulsa on Black Friday to take on the Oilers and return home Saturday evening, once again against Tulsa at 7:05pm. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, call the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, or go online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

Rough Stretch:   After winning three out of four a week ago, Wichita traveled to Tulsa Friday night to revisit its rivalry with the Oilers. The two teams headed into the game having faced each other 215 times all-time. Tulsa took a two goal lead early in the contest before Thomas Beauregard scored to cut the lead to one. Beauregard has five points (2g, 3a) vs. Tulsa this season in four games. The Oilers extended their lead to 3-1 in the second period before Wichita fought back to tie the game at four. Alex Bourret added two goals and Travis Wight scored a shorthanded goal, his first of the season. The Oilers eventually went on to win the contest, 5-4, after receiving a five on three power play with 14 minutes left. Saturday night, Tulsa visited the INTRUST Bank Arena for the first time this season and took a crowd of 7,088 out of it early. Ryan Cramer scored two minutes into the game and Ian Keserich earned his league leading eighth win. With the loss, Wichita has now dropped three straight, all to Tulsa and now sits in third place with 16 points. 

Bittersweet:  Former Thunder netminder Ian Keserich has had Wichita’s number since being waived last November. Including last season, Keserich is 9-2 against his former club and 6-1 a year ago. This season, Keserich is now 3-1 vs. Wichita after dropping the first game of the season to the Thunder, 6-2. Back in 2009-10, Keserich played in 22 games for Wichita, going 1-19-1 with a GAA of 3.71 and a save pct of .900.

Chasing History:  12-year veteran Daniel Tetrault is approaching an impressive milestone. With three more points this past week, Tetrault is just four points shy (165) of former Thunder defenseman Sean O’Reilly for the franchise lead in most points scored by a Thunder defenseman.  O’Reilly played 311 games from 1997-02, scoring 169 points during that span while Tetrault has played 253 games in a Thunder uniform.

Berry vs Turner:  Through the first 12 games, Wichita has faced an equal number of opponents inside their own division and outside of the Berry Conference. Facing the Turner Conference, Wichita is 5-1-0 overall while going just 3-3-0 against Berry Conference opponents. On home ice, Wichita is 5-2-0 while going 3-2-0 away from INTRUST Bank Arena.   

Stepping up:  The Thunder defensemen continue to have a significant impact offensively for Coach McClelland’s team. Andrew Martens is in second place for defensive scoring with 12 points (5g, 7a), tied for first in goals and power play goals for defensemen. Tetrault is tied for third with 10 points (4g, 6a) while Jarred Mohr continues to lead the league in plus/minus (+11).

Scoring: Brett Hemingway had his seven game point streak snapped, but is still near the top of the league in scoring. Hemingway is currently tied for seventh with 14 points (6g,8a). Three other Thunder players (Beauregard, Bourret and Martens) are right behind Hemingway for the team lead with 12 points and seven players overall have at least 10 points.

Special Teams: Against Tulsa this past week, Wichita scored a power play goal in each of the three losses. The Thunder power play went four for 15 at a clip of 26.7% while killing off 11 of 16 opportunities for the Oilers. For the season against Tulsa, the Thunder power play is six for 23 at a rate of 26.1% while killing off 15 of 22 Tulsa power plays. Overall, the Thunder power play sits in seventh place in the CHL going 13 for 62 at a rate of 21%. On the road, Wichita has been more effective, going nine for 32 at a rate of 28.1%. The Thunder road power play is in third place while going just four for 30 on home ice, sitting in 12th place at a clip of 13.3%.

Thunderbolts… Wichita is second in the league in goals per game, averaging 3.67 a contest…Wichita is first overall in shots allowed (25.75/game) and has given up just 84 shots in the third period all season…The Thunder has only allowed eight goals against in the final period, tied with Evansville for the league lead…With another shorthanded goal over the weekend, Wichita leads the league with five while being one of just three teams to not allow a goal shorthanded…Thunder goaltender Ryan MacDonald currently has a 2.58 GAA, which is 6th overall …In one goal games, Wichita is 5-2-0…Tied after two periods, Wichita is 4-1-0…When outshooting the opponent, Wichita is 6-2-0…Through seven home games, Wichita sits in second overall in attendance, averaging 6,262  per game.

Upcoming Week: Wichita will host the Missouri Mavericks for the second time this season Wednesday night at 7:05pm before resuming their busy schedule against the Tulsa Oilers over the weekend. The Thunder will travel to the BOK Center Friday night at 7:35pm and return home Saturday night to INTRUST Bank Arena to take on Tulsa at 7:05pm.

Wichita returns home this Wednesday night to take on the Missouri Mavericks at 7:05pm. For ticket information, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

The Wichita Thunder returned home after a three game road swing looking for an answer against the Tulsa Oilers, but Bruce Ramsay's club was up to the task as Tulsa handed Wichita its third straight loss Saturday night, 4-1. Dylan Clarke had a goal and assist, Jeff Terminesi added three helpers and Ian Keserich recorded his league leading eighth win of the season. With the loss, Wichita drops into third place as Tulsa won its first game at INTRUST Bank Arena infront of 7,088. 

For the second night in a row, Tulsa scored the first two as Ryan Cramer found the net just 2:32 into the game. Seven minutes later,  David Solway stole a puck and walked in all alone from the face-off dots in and deaked out Thunder goalie Ryan MacDonald and gave Tulsa a 2-0 lead. At 11:55, Wichita cut the lead to one on the powerplay when Andrew Martens drove the net, ran into Oiler netminder Ian Keserich and Thomas Beauregard picked up a loose puck and scored his sixth of the season. Beauregard scored in Friday night's loss in Tulsa and now has 12 points overall.

Dylan Clarke scored the only goal in the second period at 6:24 on the powerplay, deflecting in a shot from Sean Erickson through MacDonald to give Tulsa a 3-1 lead. The Oilers would add an empty net goal and claim the victory, 4-1. With the loss, Wichita has lost three straight, all to Tulsa over the last week and now sits in third place in the Berry Conference with a record of 8-4-0 and 16 points.

The Oilers now lead the season series three games to one with each game being decided in regulation. Thunder defenseman Andrew Martens added an assist to stay near the top of the leaders for defenseman with 12 points, one point behind Terminesi, who has 13.

Wichita returns home Wednesday night to take on rival Missouri at 7:05pm. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena Box office or go online to www.selectaseat.com.

                                                                                    -Thunder-

After falling behind by three goals, Wichita's comeback bid fell short as the Tulsa Oilers beat the Thunder 5-4 at the BOK Center Friday night. Jeff Terminesi's tally at 4:05 of the third period was the decisive goal that gave the Oilers its second consecutive win against the Thunder and just Wichita's third loss of the season.

David Solway got things started with a power play goal just six seconds after Chris Chappell was sent to the penalty box at 4:35 of the first. The two teams would combine for 15 power plays and four goals with the man advantage. Tulsa would add to that lead with a goal from defenseman Luke Lucyk at 13:16. Tulsa led by two goals twice in the game and at one point led by three before Wichita made a furious second period comeback.

Thomas Beauregard notched his fifth on the season three minutes later after he took a nice Alex Bourret feed and beat Tulsa netminder Ian Kesserich just past the blocker and cut the lead to one. However, just two seconds before the end of the first period, Mike Ullrich picked the puck out of the air and beat Wichita goalie Adam Russo to give Tulsa a two goal lead heading into the locker room, 3-1.

The Thunder fell behind 4-1 after Sean Erickson scored a power play goal in the early stages of the second period. Wichita would tie the game, scoring three unanswered goals in a span of just over four minutes. Alex Bourret scored his first of two at 9:28 after getting a pass from Matt Robinson and he fired it home. Just 52 seconds later, Travis Wight stole the puck at the Oiler line, went in all alone on a shorthanded breakaway and he pulled Wichita within one, 4-3. The Thunder now have five shorthanded goals on the season, first in the league.

Wichita would capitalize on a power play as Brett Hemingway fed the puck over to Daniel Tetrault and he let one rip that was tipped in by Bourret for his second on the night at 13:07. Hemingway's assist extends his scoring streak to seven games and Tetrault is now just four points shy (165) of former Thunder defenseman Sean O'Reilly for the most points scored in franchise history by a Thunder defenseman. Tetrault also moves into a first place tie in defensive scoring with Andrew Martens (11).

Tulsa got the game winner on a five on three power play as Terminesi's wrister found the post and banked in past Russo and the Oilers hung on for their seventh win of the season. Wichita now trails the season series 2-1 as the two teams will play tomorrow night in Wichita for the first time this season. Wichita is now 8-3-0 and one point behind Allen in second place with 16 points and a game in hand on both the Americans and Tulsa.

Wichita returns home Saturday night after a three game road swing to take on the Tulsa Oilers at 7:05pm. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena Box office or go to www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder hockey team has gotten themselves into a hairy situation.

The team, along with other men across the globe involved with the Movember movement, is spending the month of November growing mustaches to bring awareness to men’s health issues. The cause specifically spotlights prostate cancer.

Participants grow mustaches and ask for donations to sponsor their efforts.  So far, the team has raised over $400.

Movember has inspired over 1.1 million men to grow mustaches and raise over $80 million for men’s health.

Adam Russo, goaltender for the Wichita Thunder, got the team involved with the movement.

“I’ve had a lot of cancer run in my family,” said Russo. “I think it’s a great cause for my team and I to support. “

Money raised is distributed between The Prostate Cancer Foundation, LIVESTRONG and Movember’s education program on men’s health.

To donate to the Movember movement, you can visit the Thunder’s Movember page at MoBro.co/WichitaThunder.

To see their mustaches in person, you can catch the Thunder team as they take on the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday, November 19 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets start at just $12. For more information or to order season tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL, call (316) 755-SEAT for game tickets, or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Thunder Win Three out of Four:   This past weekend, Wichita finished a busy stretch with wins in three out of four games and now sits atop the Berry Conference with 16 points. The Thunder extended its winning streak to four this past Saturday with a dramatic come-from behind victory over Missouri. Down three goals, the Thunder scored five unanswered and held on to beat the Mavericks 5-4. However, that streak was snapped Sunday afternoon as Tulsa scored two third period goals to upend Wichita, 4-3.  With an 8-2-0 record, Wichita has tied its best start in franchise history through the first 10 games dating back to the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.

No Lead is Safe:  This past Saturday wasn’t the first time Wichita has fallen behind early in a game and later found a way to come back and pull out a win. In fact, Wichita has come back from a three goal deficit twice and a two goal hole once. The other time Wichita fell behind 3-0 was on October 22nd against the Allen Americans and pulled out a shootout victory, 4-3. Against Tulsa on October 28th, the Thunder trailed 2-0 before scoring six unanswered goals en route to a 6-2 win.

Chasing History:  12-year veteran Daniel Tetrault is approaching an impressive milestone. With three more points this past week, Tetrault is just five points shy (164) of former Thunder defenseman Sean O’Reilly for the franchise lead in most points scored by a Thunder defenseman.  O’Reilly played 311 games from 1997-02, scoring 169 points during that span while Tetrault has played 251 games in a Thunder uniform.

We’re Going Streaking:  Brett Hemingway and Aaron Davis continue to produce offensively. Hemingway currently has a six game scoring streak, has scored in four out of the last five and has had points in nine of the first 10 games while Davis is in the midst of a five game scoring streak. Hemingway leads the team with 13 points (6g, 7a) while Davis (4g, 7a) is tied for second with Andrew Martens (5g, 6a) and Colin Hemingway (5g, 6a) with 11 points.   

Jumping Into the Play:  Thunder defensemen Andrew Martens and Daniel Tetrault are at the top of the CHL scoring for defensemen. Martens leads the league with 11 points while Tetrault is in second with nine (4g, 5a). The next closest Wichita defender is Jarred Mohr with four points(2g, 2a), who leads the league in plus/minus (+13). 

Minute of Madness: Towards the beginning and end of periods this season, Wichita has had the magic touch. The Thunder has scored in the first minute of a period four times this year with the fastest being on October 28th in Tulsa, a goal from Matt Summers 26 seconds in. In the last minute of a period, Wichita has also scored four times, giving Coach McClelland’s team momentum going into the locker room. 

Special Teams: The Thunder power play continues to improve, jumping up to fifth overall after going five for 19 this past week. Wichita is 11 for 51 with the man advantage, averaging at a clip of 21.6% and is second overall on the road, going 8 for 25 for 32%. The penalty killing unit sits in 10th place, stopping 41 out of 52 chances and a rate of 78.8%. On the road, Wichita is in 11th place, killing off 21 out of 27 chances for a rate of 77.8%

Thunderbolts… Wichita is second in the league in goals per game, averaging 3.90 a contest…Wichita is first overall in shots allowed (25/game) and has given up just 68 shots in the third period all season…The Thunder leads the league with 16 third period goals and has only allowed six against in the final period…With two more shorthanded goals over the weekend, Wichita is tied with Evansville for the league lead with four while being one of just three teams to not allow a goal shorthanded…Brett Hemingway leads the league with 14 points in the three stars category…In one goal games, Wichita is 5-1-0…Tied after two periods, Wichita is 4-0-0…Leading after one, Wichita is 3-0-0…Through six games, Wichita sits in third overall in attendance, averaging 6,124  per game.

Dance Partners: Including this past Sunday, Wichita and Tulsa will see each other five out of the next six games and six of the next eight. The Thunder return to the BOK Center this coming Friday to face the Oilers for the third time this season, starting at 7:35pm. The next day, the two teams will meet at 7:05pm at INTRUST Bank Arena.  

Wichita returns home this Saturday night after a three game road swing to take on the Tulsa Oilers at 7:05pm. For ticket information, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

-Thunder-

The Tulsa Oilers scored two third period goals in a see-saw affair, beating Wichita Sunday afternoon 4-3 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK. Despite the loss, Wichita still leads the league with 16 points.

Wichita took advantage of an early power play as Andrew Martens scored his fifth of the season to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead. Martens found a loose puck in the crease after a Daniel Tetrault shot was redirected to him and he made no mistake about it. Tulsa scored the next two goals to take its first lead of the contest, the first one at 13:05 on the power play. Sean Erickson caught a pass at the right wing face-off dot and wristed it past Thunder netminder Ryan MacDonald to tie the game up at one. Just 47 seconds later, Tulsa scored on a similar play as Mike Ullrich came in on the left wing side, fired it across to Ryan Cramer to the right face-off dot and he scored his third of the season and gave Tulsa a 2-1 lead.

Brett Hemingway continues to light the lamp as he scored at 19:09 of the first to tie the game at two. After a turn over, Aaron Davis found Hemingway at the Oiler line, cut to the high slot and fired it past Oiler goalie Ian Kesserich to give him goals in four out of his last five and points in his last six games.

The only goal in the second period came from Daniel Tetrault at 18:53, his fourth of the season. Martens created some space in the offensive zone and came around the net, fed the puck to Tetrault who blasted a one-timer into the net. With two more points Sunday, Tetrault is just five points shy (164) of former Thunder defenseman Sean O'Reilly (169) for points scored in franchise history by a Thunder defenseman.

Tulsa scored two goals in the final period, giving Wcihita its first road loss of the season and just its second overall. Ryan MacDonald suffered his first loss of the year. Wichita (8-2-0) sits three points ahead of Tulsa for the lead in the Berry Conference as the two teams will meet next Friday back at the BOK Center.

Wichita returns home Saturday, November 19th to take on the Oilers at 7:05pm. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, or go online to www.selectaseat.com.

                                                                                                            -Thunder-

Wichita has had its fair share of dramatic wins this season, but Saturday night's 5-4 victory against the Missouri Mavericks at the Independence Event Center takes the cake. Down 3-0, Wichita scored five unanswered goals from five different players en route to its eighth win of the season. Alex Bourret and Andrew Martens had shorthanded goals and Adam Russo earned his fifth win of the season, tying him for the league lead.

Missouri jumped out to an early lead, scoring three goals in a three minute span. Ed McGrane, who did not play in the first two meetings, scored the first goal at 3:06 on a power play. McGrane cut across the slot and Sebastien Thinel feathered him the puck and he found an open net to make it 1-0. Dale Mahovsky added the next two goals, his first at 4:50 as he found a loose puck in the high slot and whipped a snap shot past Thunder goaltender Adam Russo. He made it 3-0 at 6:35 after Thinel found him cutting to the back door. Mahovsky would end up with a hat trick, the first against Wichita this season.

Brett Hemingway put Wichita on the board at 16:01 after getting a nice feed from Andrew Martens. Martens outworked the Maverick defenseman, got to a loose puck in the corner and found Hemingway to cut the lead to 3-1. Hemingway's goal gives him a point in each of the last five games and goals in three of the last four.

In the second period, Wichita added two goals to even things up at three. Alex Bourret scored on a shorthanded break away at 1:08 after recieving a long lead pass from Jarred Mohr and he beat Mavericks netminder Charlie Effinger to cut the lead to 3-2. Aaron Davis tied the game at three with his tally late in the second period after a scramble infront of the Mavericks net.

Thunder Defensemen Martens and Mohr scored in the third period, giving the Thunder a 5-3 lead and helped bring Wichita all the way back from a three goal deficit despite being shorthanded much of the final frame. The Thunder committed four consecutive penalties including a five minute major for slashing to Mohr, which also included a game misconduct. Missouri added a late goal but it was too little too late, as Wichita held on to win 5-4. The win improved the Thunder's record to a league leading 8-1-1, 3-0-0 on the road as Wichita will close out a grueling stretch of four games on five days in Tulsa tomorrow afternoon at 4:05pm.

Wichita returns home Saturday, November 19th to take on the Tulsa Oilers. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena Box office or go to www.selectaseat.com.

                                                                                                                                    -Thunder-

Assistant Coach Jason Duda mentioned before the game that he was looking for more of a complete effort from his hockey club and Friday night, he got it as Wichita shot down the Quad City Mallards, 4-1, at INTRUST Bank Arena. Thomas Beauregard had two goals, Brett Hemingway added two points (1g,1a) and Ryan MacDonald improved his record to 3-0-0 on the season.

Late in the first period, Beauregard scored at 19:25 when he buried a nice Matt Robinson pass infront of the net and gave Wichita a 1-0 lead. Beauregard added another later in the hockey game, giving him four goals on the season.

Entering the second period, Aaron Davis put his name on the scoresheet just 40 seconds in, slipping one past Mallards goalie David McKee to give Wichita a 2-0 lead. Initially, the referee did not stop play even though the goal judge had turned on the goal light. Once the next whistle came, the referee went over to the goal judge and after a short conference, the official determined that the puck in fact crossed the goal line and gave Davis his fourth of the season. Davis' goal is the second fastest Thunder goal scored this year with the first being a Matt Summers tally in just 26 seconds vs. Tulsa on October 28th.

Later in the second, Brett Hemingway found the back of the net at 14:21, giving the Thunder a 3-0 lead. Hemingway now has the team scoring lead with 11 points (4g, 7a). Quad City broke the goose egg 1:12 after, as Jared Brown walked behind the Thunder net and put it past MacDonald to make it 3-1. Although he wasnt overly tested, MacDonald played a solid game, making 22 saves on 23 shots for his first win on home ice.

Wichita would add another quick goal in the third period as Beauregard notched his second of the night when Alex Bourret made a nice play at the Quad City line, got past a defender and rifled the puck over to his linemate who put it in for a 4-1 lead. Beauregard's second of the night was 47 seconds into the third, giving Wichita goals in the first minute of the second and third period and also a goal with just 35 seconds remaining in the first.

With the win, Wichita improved to 7-1-0 overall and 5-1-0 on home ice. Wichita will hit the road for the next two days, taking on the Missouri Mavericks tomorrow at 7:05pm and then traveling to Tulsa Sunday afternoon to finish a grueling stretch of four games in five days with the Oilers at 4:00pm. Wichita finishes its three-game road swing next Friday in Tulsa before coming back on Saturday, November 19th against the Oilers.

Don't miss your chance to meet SpongeBob SquarePants on the November 19th as he will be in attendence against the Tulsa Oilers at 7:05pm. For tickets call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Arena Box Office or go online at www.selectaseat.com.

                                                                                                                     -Thunder-

Check out the highlights from last night's home win over Rapid City HERE.

Thunder Split with Mavericks: Wichita and Missouri came into their games this past weekend as the only two unbeaten teams left in the CHL. On Friday night, Wichita fell to the Mavericks 4-2 after climbing back into the game twice from a two-goal deficit. Thomas Beauregard scored on a beautiful wrist shot that beat Mavericks netminder Gerry Festa over the glove just under the crossbar, cutting the Mavericks lead to 2-1. Missouri increased the lead to 3-1 before a Tetrault blast got Wichita within one goal. Missouri added an empty net tally to hold on for its sixth consecutive road win of the season. Festa was terrific for Missouri, making 37 saves on 39 shots. Wichita returned the favor Saturday night, ruining the Mavericks home opener with a 4-3 shootout win at the Independence Event Center. Brett Hemingway and Matt Robinson scored in the shootout, helping improve the Thunder’s record to 4-0 in shootouts this season and its first shootout win away from INTRUST Bank Arena.

Seizing the Moment: Brett Hemingway has been clutch this season in shootouts. The Surrey, BC native has scored three out of four times with two of those being game winners. Hemingway is second on the team with seven points while Matt Robinson has also been solid in the shootout, going three for four as well. Overall, Wichita leads the league in shootout attempts (26) and goals scored in the shootout (10). Wichita is scoring at a clip of 38.5%, third in the CHL in shootout percentage.

Chasing History: 12-year veteran Daniel Tetrault is approaching an impressive milestone. With two more points over the weekend, Tetrault is just eight points shy (161) of former Thunder defenseman Sean O’Reilly for the franchise lead in most points scored by a Thunder defenseman.  O’Reilly played 311 games from 1997-02, scoring 169 points during that span while Tetrault has played 247 games in a Thunder uniform.

Stopgates: Both Adam Russo and Ryan MacDonald continue to perform well in between the pipes for the Thunder. Russo is 3-1-0 with a 2.36 GAA (6th in CHL) and a .894 SPCT while Ryan MacDonald is 2-0-0 with a 2.40 GAA (7th in CHL) and a .891 SPCT. Russo leads the league with three shootout wins and in fifth overall with 254:14 minutes played. 

Shooting Gallery: Wichita has been tremendous getting the puck to the net this season while also limiting its opponents chances. The Thunder is averaging 37.3 shots on net, third in the CHL while allowing just 23.5 shots against, which is number one in the league. Lastly, Wichita has only allowed 39 shots against in the third period through the first six games.

Scoring: Daniel Tetrault is tied for the league lead in points scored by defenseman with six (2g, 4a) while Andrew Martens is not too far behind in a tie for second with 5 points (2g, 3a).   Wichita leads the league with 11 third period goals. The Thunder is averaging 3.67 goals per game while allowing just 2.67 goals against.

Special Teams: The Thunder power play got a huge boost on Saturday night, helping Wichita get back into the game. Aaron Davis and Alex Bourret scored power play goals just 46 seconds apart in a wild third period. On the road, Wichita is four for 14 with the man advantage, sitting at a rate of 28.6%. Overall, Wichita is tied for ninth in the CHL on the power play, going six for 32 and at a clip of 18.8%. With a man down, the Thunder sits in eighth overall,  killing off 22 of 26 chances for the opponent, sitting at 78.6%.

Busy Week Ahead: Beginning Wednesday, Wichita will play four games in five days and its first three games in three days of the season. Wichita and Tulsa will see each other a lot in the month of the November, as the two teams will play one another five times in six games. Wichita will host Rapid City on Wednesday, Quad City on Friday before heading to Missouri on Saturday night, all at 7:05pm. Sunday’s game against Tulsa is at the BOK Center starting at 4:05pm.

Wichita takes the ice Wednesday night at 7:05pm against the Rapid City Rush. For ticket information, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

                                                                            -Thunder-

For the fourth time this season, Wichita earned a victory in a shooutout, winning 4-3 against the Missouri Mavericks in Independence, MO Saturday night. Brett Hemingway and Matt Robinson each scored in the shooutout, helping the Thunder improve its record to 5-1-0.

Missouri opened up the scoring at 3:54 when Andrew Courtney cut across the slot and beat Thunder goalie Ryan MacDonald to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead. Wichita would answer almost 10 minutes later as Andrew Martens fired a slap shot from the high slot, tying the game at one and tallying his second of the year.

Both teams combined for 57 minutes in penalties in the first period. Matt Summers was assessed a match penalty for an apparent illegal check to the head and was sent to the dressing room. Wichita ended up with 45 minutes in penalties while Missouri finished with 40.

Courtney added his second goal of the night at 2:31 of period two when he stole a bouncing puck and broke a 1-1 tie. Wichita was shorthanded for almost eight minutes in the second period including two five on three power plays. Ryan MacDonald was solid during that time as he saw 14 shots on net in the second frame. Wichita outshot the Mavericks 38-30 in the game and is averaging just over 37 shots a night, which is third in the CHL.

Wichita capitalized on a two man advantage at the 2:09 mark of the third period as Aaron Davis and Alex Bourret scored 46 seconds apart to take a 3-2 lead. Thomas Beauregard made a nice pass across the slot to find Davis behind the Mavericks defense and he tucked it home for his third of the season. Bourret netted his first when he found a loose puck during a scramble infront of the net and gave Wcihita its first lead of the game at 2:55 of the final period. Missouri's Sebastien Thinel tied the game at three on the power play at 12:25, as he snuck it past MacDonald on the blocker side along the ice.

After a five minute overtime session, Brett Hemingway netted his third shootout goal of the season in round three while Ryan MacDonald denied the final two shooters to give Wichita the win. Hemingway is now three for four in shootouts, with two of those goals resulting in game winners. Wichita is 4-0 in shootouts, with tonights being the only one away from home.

Wichita will return home Wednesday night to take on the Rapid City Rush at 7:05pm before playing three games in three days next weekend. To order tickets, visit INTRUST Bank Arena, call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com.

                                                                                           -Thunder-

For Immediate Release:

Wichita fell from the ranks of the unbeaten Friday night at the hands of the Missouri Mavericks 4-2 at INTRUST Bank Arena despite outshooting Missouri 39-18. Mavericks netminder Gerry Festa stopped 37 of 39 shots, earning his second win of the season and dropped Wichita's record to 4-1-0 on the season. Despite the loss, Wichita saw another tremendous crowd of 6,510 at IBA cheer on the Thunder. A strong walk up crowd forced INTRUST Bank Arena officials to open up curtains in the upper level.

Vern Cooper got the Mavericks on the board at 10:38 when he poked in a loose puck during a scramble infront of the Thunder net. David Pszenyczny stretched the lead to 2-0 less than 30 seconds later, scoring his first goal of the season.

Wichita struck back at the beginning of the second period as Thomas Beauregard snapped a laser over the glove of Mavericks netminder Gerry Festa and cut the lead to 2-1. Beauregard's goal was his 101st of his professional career and second of the season. Daniel Tetrault had the other Wichita goal that cut the Missouri lead to 3-2 before a Sebastien Thinel empty net tally gave Missouri the win, 4-2. With his second goal of the season, Tetrault now has 156 points, trailing Sean O'Reilly by just 13 for the all time lead for points scored by a Thunder defenseman.

Friday nights game was just the first of four meetings between the two teams in the month of November. Wichita travels to Missouri tomorrow night to take on the Mavericks before returning home to face the Rapid City Rush on Wednesday, November 9th starting at 7:05pm. To order tickets, visit INTRUST Bank Arena, call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com.

Live Auction begins immediately following the game!

Thunder Fans will have the chance to 'adopt' their favorite Thunder player and receive special recognition throughout the entire 2011-12 season. The adopting families will have their name embroidered on a patch that will be donned on the adopted player's home jersey for the remainder of the season, and that family will also receive that player's autographed white jersey at the end of the season!

Directly after the game tonight, the Thunder players will be auctioned off in a live auction for 18 Adopt-A-Player spots.  Please visit the Thunder Fan Relations behind section 120 to register.  You must pre-register in order to participate in the Auction.  Immediately following the game please report to section 116.

For the remainder of the season, the 18 Thunder players who are adopted will wear a patch on the back of their home jersey with the name of the adopting family on it (this does not include themed jerseys). The family will also be recognized next to their players name on the Thunder roster page at www.wichitathunder.com.

The adopting families will also have a chance to meet their player in the locker room after a select future home game, and will be recognized at another future home game at center ice with their player during the pre-game ceremonies.

At the conclusion of the season, adopting families will receive their player's autographed white game jersey!

Details:  
1) There will be no more than 18 adopting families for the entire 2011-2012 season.

2) Should a player be injured but remain on the team, the adopting family will remain with the same player.

3) Should a player be traded or released, the adopting family will automatically receive the incoming player as their new adopted player.

4) All 18 of the adopting families will remain throughout the season regardless of the player that family ends the season with, and those families will be eligible to attend all events throughout the year regardless of who their player is.

Check out the highlights from yet another Thunder home shootout win HERE.

Thunder Weekly – October 24^th

Thunder win twice in consecutive shoot-outs on Opening Weekend

The Wichita Thunder opened its 20^th anniversary season in dramatic fashion this past weekend, winning both games in a shootout against two of the league’s top teams from a year ago. On Friday night, The Thunder took a 2-0 lead in the first period, led by goals from Brett Hemingway and Matt Robinson. Rapid City flipped the coin and scored two in the second, with tallies from Shawn Limpright and Les Reaney. After a scoreless third period and a five minute overtime session, the two teams went into a six round shootout. Matt Robinson scored in round three and Brett Hemingway ended it in round six, giving Wichita the 3-2 shootout win.

Saturday night, Wichita spotted Allen a three goal lead before rallying in the third period to tie the game and eventually win 4-3 in a shootout. Matt Summers got Wichita on the board before two goals scored in 59 seconds by Colin Hemingway and Daniel Tetrault tied the game at three goals apiece. Brett Hemingway scored in round nine of the shootout, giving the Thunder back to back shootout wins to open the season.

Brett Hemingway earns Oakley CHL Player of the Week Honors

Brett Hemingway collected the first CHL Player of the Week honor of the season after having a tremendous impact in both games. Hemingway scored the first goal of the season for Wichita and then capped the night with the game-winning shootout goal in the sixth round of a 3-2 victory over the Rapid City Rush. The following night, Hemingway was instrumental in the comeback. Trailing 3-0 in the third period, the Thunder scored three goals in just over four minutes, with Hemingway assisting on the final two goals (one of which was a goal by his brother Colin).  With the Thunder needing a goal to keep the game alive, Hemingway scored a sixth round shootout goal to prolong the affair.  The Thunder eventually defeated the Allen Americans 4-3 in the ninth round of the shootout. 

Russo solid in debut

Thunder netminder Adam Russo earned two shootout wins and was solid between the pipes in his debut this past weekend. Russo logged 130 minutes, posting a 2.31 GAA and a save percentage of 89.6.

Nice crowds for first two games

Through, two games, Wichita is averaging 8,754 fans per game, which currently sits second in the league behind Fort Wayne.  

Bourret suspended, will sit Friday Night

Alex Bourret was suspended by the Central Hockey League for his hit on Rapid City defenseman Joe Grimaldi. Bourret will be out of the line-up for the second straight night this coming Friday and will return to the line-up this Saturday as Wichita will host Allen.

Thunder partner with KWME, KKLE for second straight year

The Wichita Thunder are proud to announce the renewal of their partnership with Johnson Enterprises, home of KWME and KKLE. All games can be heard on 1550 KKLE while a number of games will be simulcast on 93.5 KWME. Each broadcast opens with a 20-minute pre-game show featuring interviews with Thunder players and Head Coach Kevin McClelland.  Out-of-town Thunder fans can catch the action streamed live on the internet at www.kleyam.com  or they can listen by downloading the Tune In Radio app on their Smart Phone.

Up Next

The 2-0-0, first place Thunder will travel to Tulsa on Friday night for a 7:35 p.m. face-off with the Oilers.  Wichita returns home on Saturday to host Allen once again.  Tickets can be purchased at the INTRUST Bank Arena box office, by calling 755-SEAT or online at www.selectaseat.com.  For more information or to purchase season tickets visit the Thunder website at www.wichitathunder.com.

                                                                                                   -Thunder-                          

Check out the highlights from another thrilling Thunder victory on Saturday night HERE.

Wichita, KS- Tim Kraus finished a nine-round shootout beating Allen netminder Rajean Beauchemin, giving Wichita a 4-3 win for the second consecutive night Saturday at Intrust Bank Arena.

Allen struck first at the 2:12 mark of the first period when Bruce Graham beat Adam Russo to give Allen an early 1-0 lead.  The Americans added to the lead when Jason Deitch found some open ice off a face off right after a penalty was assessed to Tim Kraus and scored just eight seconds into the power play.  Wichita went through the first period shorthanded three times.

The only tally of the second came fron Allen's Joshua Hepditch to extend the lead to 3-0.  Russo had made a terrific save on a breakaway seconds before.  Wichita outshot Allen in the second period, 14-11

Wichita got on the board at the 3:40 mark of the 3rd as Matt Summers netted his first in a Thunder uniform, assisted by Robinson and Beauregard.  Wichita then went on a 5-on-3 powerplay and Colin Hemingway cut the lead to one with a nice goal at 6:50.  Right after the second penalty ended, Daniel Tetrault tied the game 3-3 at 7:49 with a blast from the point and what looked like a tough hill to climb gave Wichita second life.

The win improves the Thunder record to 2-0-0 - both in exciting fashion - to open the season. The Thunder returns to home action on Saturday at 7:05 PM when they again host the Allen Americans.  To order tickets visit INTRUST Bank Arena, call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com.

-THUNDER-

Check out the Highlights from Friday Night's thrilling home opening Thunder shootout victory over Rapid City HERE!!

Wichita, KS- Brett Hemingway’s goal in the sixth round of the shootout gave the Thunder a 3-2 win over the Rapid City Rush on Friday night at INTRUST Bank Arena.

The Thunder jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, thanks to goals by Brett Hemingway and a beautiful shorthanded tally by Matt Robinson.  Rapid City tied things up in the second on power play goals by Shawn Limpright and Les Reaney.  The teams played scoreless hockey thru the third period and overtime, setting up the shootout.

In the shootout the Thunder led 1-0 on a goal by Robinson, before Collin Circelli tied it up again on Rapid City’s last attempt.  After Joe Grimaldi was denied by Thunder goaltender Adam Russo in the sixth round, Hemingway won it for the Thunder in front of a crowd of 8,734.

The Thunder returns to action on Saturday at 7:05 PM when they host the Allen Americans.  To order tickets visit INTRUST Bank Arena, call 755-SEAT or go to www.selectaseat.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder made a flurry of roster moves today in preparation for opening weekend.

The Thunder traded defenseman Craig Cescon and forward Matt Whitehead to the Bloomington Blaze in exchange for future considerations and waived defenseman Adam Bartholomay.  The Thunder also placed forwards Dustin Donaghy, Chris Greene and Robin Richards on injured reserve.

Wichita now has 18 active players on the roster for this weekend’s opening games.  Newcomers include forwards Alex Bourret, Thomas Beauregard and goaltender Adam Russo.  They join key returning stars Matt Robinson, Aaron Davis, Daniel Tetrault, Travis Wight and Andrew Martens.

The Thunder will open the regular season at home this Friday versus the Rapid City Rush and this Saturday versus the Allen Americans.  Tickets are still available at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.  Season tickets are still available and can be ordered by calling the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.  For more information visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder today acquired defenseman Jarred Mohr from the Rapid City Rush in exchange for future considerations.

A sixth-year pro out of Regina, Saskatchewan, Mohr began his pro career in 2006 with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones.  He has spent the last three seasons in the CHL - the last two with the Laredo Bucks - where he notched 57 points in 125 games.  Over his pro career he has amassed 100 points in 297 games.  The Thunder will unveil their final roster on Thursday afternoon.

The Thunder will open the regular season at home this Friday versus the Rapid City Rush and this Saturday versus the Allen Americans.  Tickets are still available at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.  Season tickets are still available and can be ordered by calling the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.  For more information visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- Alex Bourret scored a natural hat trick in the third period, leading the Thunder to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the Tulsa Oilers in front of a packed Wichita Ice Center on Saturday night.

Dustin Donaghy and Matt Whitehead scored first period goals to put the Thunder up 2-1, before Tulsa took a 3-2 lead after two periods on goals by Dustin Cloutier and Gerome Giudice.  Bourret turned it on in the third period, scoring three goals in exactly eight minutes.  Tulsa made it close with an extra attacker goal by Michel Beausoleil in the final minute.

Goaltender Ryan MacDonald made 21 saves in the victory as the Thunder outshot Tulsa 47-25.  Whitehead and Justin Sawyer each had two points for the Thunder while Beausoleil had two points for Tulsa.

The Wichita Thunder will open the regular season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are on sale now at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.  Season tickets are still available and can be ordered by calling the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.  For more information visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder edged the Tulsa Oilers 2-1 in a shootout on Friday night in a CHL exhibition game played at the Wichita Ice Center.

After a scoreless first period, the Thunder got on the board late in the second on a goal by Dustin Donaghy.  The score stayed that way until the latter part of the third period when Matt Robertson tied things up at 1-1.  Thunder goaltender Adam Russo (35) and Tulsa goaltender Ian Keserich (40) shut the door the rest of the third period, combining to stop 75 shots in the game.

The two teams went straight to the shootout with Robin Richards giving Wichita the early lead with a first round goal.  Tulsa tied the shootout in the second round on a goal by Jay Sprague before Justin Sawyer scored the game-winner with a pretty fourth round goal.

Wichita will host Tulsa again on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at the Wichita Ice Center.  Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Thunder office.

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder announced today that forward Chris Chappell has been assigned to the Thunder by the New York Rangers.

A third-year pro out of Pickering, Ontario, Chappell has spent part of the last two seasons with the Rangers’ AHL affiliates the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Connecticut Whale.  Chappell, a 6-4, 215-pound power forward spent the majority of last season with the ECHL’s Greenville Road Warriors, notching nine goals and 21 points in 53 games.

Prior to turning pro, Chappell played four seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Saginaw Spirit.  He put up huge numbers in 2008/09 - his final junior season - piling up 38 goals and 76 points in 68 games.

The newest Thunder team will see their first action tonight and tomorrow when they host the Tulsa Oilers at the Wichita Ice Center.  Both games will face-off at 7:05 p.m.  Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple.  Former Thunder greats Bryan Wells and Sean O’Reilly will coach the Thunder for their exhibition games.

The Wichita Thunder will open the regular season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are on sale now at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.  Season tickets are still available and can be ordered by calling the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.  For more information visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder announced today that alumni Bryan Wells and Sean O’Reilly will coach the Thunder during their two exhibition games this weekend.

A member of both the 1994 and 1995 Thunder CHL Championship Teams, Wells played three seasons for the Thunder, racking up 50 goals, 85 points and 663 penalty minutes in just 73 games.  Following his third and final season with the Thunder in 1996, Wells was named head coach and led the Thunder to the 1998 CHL Finals.  In five seasons behind the Thunder bench, Wells had a record of 161-146-39.  He is currently the General Manager of the Wichita Ice Center.

O’Reilly was recruited to Wichita by Wells in 1997 and spent his entire five-year career with the Thunder.  He is currently the all-time leader in Thunder history among defensemen with 142 assists and 169 points.  O’Reilly also served as interim coach of the Thunder for one game in 2003, a 5-2 victory over Fort Worth.

The Thunder will resume training camp on Wednesday and Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the Wichita Ice Center.  The newest Thunder team will see their first action this weekend when they host the Tulsa Oilers on Friday and Saturday, October 14 and 15, also at the Wichita Ice Center.  Both games will face-off at 7:05 p.m.  Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple.

Season ticketholders can pick up their season tickets at the Ice Center/Thunder office tonight during a meet and greet with the Thunder players.  Fans will also be able to purchase extra tickets for opening night as well as the exhibition games.  There will also be a public skate with some of the Thunder players beginning at 7:15 p.m.

The Wichita Thunder will open the regular season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are on sale now at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.  Season tickets are still available and can be ordered by calling the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.  For more information visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder will not practice on Tuesday due to numerous off-ice team activities.

The Thunder will resume training camp on Wednesday and Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the Wichita Ice Center.  The newest Thunder team will see their first action this weekend when they host the Tulsa Oilers on Friday and Saturday, October 14 and 15, also at the Wichita Ice Center.  Both games will face-off at 7:05 p.m.  Tickets are on still available and can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple.

Season ticketholders can pick up their tickets at the Ice Center/Thunder office on Tuesday night from 5:00-8:00 p.m. during a meet and greet with the Thunder players.  Fans will also be able to purchase additional tickets for opening night as well as for the exhibition games.  There will also be a public skate with some of the Thunder players beginning at 7:15 p.m.

The Wichita Thunder will open the regular season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are on sale now at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.  Season tickets are still available and can be ordered by calling the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.  For more information visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

WICHITA, KS- The Thunder is continuing to increase community involvement and will be making several appearances around Wichita and the surrounding area this weekend.
 
The Wichita Thunder and Lampton Lightning Girls dance team will be at the Native Lights Casino First Annual Bike Show this Saturday, October 8, in Newkirk, Oklahoma from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Thunder team will be hanging out with the bikers, handing out information and cheering on the winning bikes. 

The Thunder will also be at the Seventh annual Kruz’n for Kids Charity Cruise on Sunday, October 9 from 1:45 – 2:30 p.m. Kruz’n for Kids, which benefits the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots, will run from Wichita State to the Mid-America Car Auction. T-Dog and the Thunder staff will be handing out info and supporting the charity event.

The Thunder will also be hosting a booth at the Fit for LifExpo following the Prairie Fire Marathon on Sunday, October 9 at Century II Exhibition Hall from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  The expo is geared at encouraging healthier habits and healthier lifestyles.

The Wichita Thunder will open their 20th CHL season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are expected to go on sale September 14.  Tickets for Wichita’s exhibition games on October 14 and 15 versus the Tulsa Oilers are on sale now and can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple at the Wichita Ice Center.  For more information or to order season tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder today announced the signings of defensemen Adam Bartholomay and Justin Hofstetter, as well as forwards Travis Dunstall and Matt Whitehead.

Bartholomay joins the Thunder from the SPHL’s Mississippi Surge where he notched 20 points in just 26 games last season.  Over his four-year pro career, Bartholomay has also played in the IHL, ECHL and CHL.  He registered 20 points in 55 games for the Tulsa Oilers in 2009-10.

A second-year pro, Hofstetter played four seasons of college hockey at R.I.T. amassing 14 goals and 42 points over four seasons.  He played overseas last season for Herentals HYC in Holland, scoring 23 points in just 28 games.

Dunstall joins the Thunder from Ryerson University in Canada, where he scored 15 points in 18 games last season.  Prior to turning pro, Dunstall played six years of junior hockey and enjoyed a phenomenal final season, racking up 42 goals, 82 points and 185 penalty minutes in 53 games for the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm in 2009-10.

Whitehead played in the SPHL the last two seasons, piling up 39 goals and 98 points in 92 games with the Pensacola Ice Flyers.  Prior to turning pro he played four seasons of college hockey at SUNY-Oswego, tallying 63 points over four seasons.

The Wichita Thunder will open their 20th CHL season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are on sale now at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.  Tickets for Wichita’s exhibition games on October 14 and 15 versus the Tulsa Oilers are on sale now and can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple in the Wichita Ice Center.  For more information or to order season tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

WICHITA, KS- Wichita Thunder Hockey team mascot Thunderdog is set to be out at the Kansas Humane Society’s Woofstock Saturday, October 1 from 10 a.m. – noon.

Thunderdog will be judging the Best Dressed Dog competition and be mingling with the other furry creatures of Wichita and encouraging the adoption of homeless pets.

Thunderdog himself was once a lonely, afraid pup on the streets, looking for his forever home. Twenty years ago on October 21, after wandering dejectedly around Old Town, he was picked up by a kindly group of hockey players and named Thunderdog, after the brand new hockey team they had just joined called the Wichita Thunder.

Since then, Thunderdog spends his days living in the Wichita Thunder office,  being a mischievous pup by stealing the Zamboni machine for joy rides through Old Town, chasing pucks across the ice and rooting for his favorite Wichita team: the Wichita Thunder.
 
The Wichita Thunder will open their 20th CHL season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are on sale now at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.  Tickets for Wichita’s exhibition games on October 14 and 15 versus the Tulsa Oilers are on sale now and can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple in the Wichita Ice Center.  For more information or to order season tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

WICHITA, KS- From October 1 thru October 20, Wichita Thunder fans on Facebook and Twitter will get a chance to win some neat prizes through a trivia contest.

Every day, the Thunder will be posting trivia questions on their Facebook and Twitter pages and fans can email 20yearsofthunder@gmail.com to submit answers and gain points to win prizes.
  
The first person to submit a right answer gets three points, any right answer gets two points, and any answer gets one point. The top scorer gets 10 Game Flex pack autographed “I Vow” posters and a 2010-2011 Fight DVD. The second top scorer gets 4 Game Flex Pack autographed “I Vow” posters, and the third top scorer gets two Game Flex Pack autographed “I Vow” posters and miscellaneous Thunder novelty items.
  
The Wichita Thunder will open their 20th CHL season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are on sale now at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.  Tickets for Wichita’s exhibition games on October 14 and 15 versus the Tulsa Oilers are on sale now and can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple in the Wichita Ice Center.  For more information or to order season tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder today traded forward Jesse Bennefield to the Fort Wayne Komets for defenseman Craig Cescon (plus future considerations) and signed high-scoring forward Alex Bourret.

A sixth-year pro out of Mississauga, Ontario, Cescon (pronounced SESS-con) spent last season with the Fort Wayne Komets, notching six points and 174 penalty minutes in 60 games.  The 6-2, 195-pound stay-at-home defenseman previously spent two seasons with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads, where he was a teammate of Thunder defenseman Travis Wight and played under former Thunder head coach Derek Laxdal.

Cescon is currently attending AHL camp with the Chicago Wolves.  In 199 pro games, he has notched 20 points and 564 penalty minutes.  Prior to turning pro, Cescon played four seasons of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

A first round draft pick (16th overall) of the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Bourret (pronounced BUHR-ray) will also be entering his sixth pro season.  Bourret was drafted by Atlanta out of the QMJHL where he enjoyed a stellar four-year junior career.  In 2005-06, his final junior season, Bourret piled up 44 goals and 114 points in just 67 games.

He began his pro career the following season in the AHL, splitting time between Chicago and the Hartford Wolf Pack, and scoring impressive rookie totals of 16 goals and 50 points in 68 games.  Following two more AHL seasons, Bourret has spent the last two years in the ECHL, notching 30 goals and 83 points in 78 games.  Over his North American pro career Bourret has compiled 180 points in 248 games.

Bourret will be a key piece of the Thunder offensive puzzle, filling in a space left by Bennefield’s departure.  Bennefield led the Thunder last season with 75 points in 66 games.

The Wichita Thunder will open their 20th CHL season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are on sale now at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.  Tickets for Wichita’s exhibition games on October 14 and 15 versus the Tulsa Oilers are on sale now and can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple in the Wichita Ice Center.  For more information or to order season tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder is cooking up another exciting recipe, this time off of the ice. The Thunder will be downtown tomorrow, Sept. 24, at the Wichita Wagonmasters Chili Cookoff to whip up a batch of Thunder chili.

Joel Lomurno, general manager of the Wichita Thunder, as well as the Lampton Lightning girls will be competing in the Anything Goes category. The Anything Goes category throws contestants into a no-holds-barred take on cooking chili. Thunder chili is sure to fire up the masses.

The Wagonmasters Chili Cookoff takes place on the 600 block of East Douglas between St. Francis and the railroad tracks. Public tastings open up at noon on Saturday, September 24. This event is free to the public.

The Wichita Thunder will open their 20th CHL season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are on sale now at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.  Tickets for Wichita’s exhibition games on October 14 and 15 versus the Tulsa Oilers are on sale now and can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple in the Wichita Ice Center.  For more information or to order season tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

WICHITA, KS– Today the Wichita Thunder announced the re-signing of forwards Chris Greene, Robin Richards and Dustin Donaghy, as well as the additions of Justin Sawyer and Brady Leavold.

A hard-hitting forward out of Massena, New York, Greene returns to the Thunder for a fourth season. After playing with the Thunder for two seasons in 2007-08 and 2008-09, Greene spent the 2009-10 season with the SPHL’s Mississippi Surge, where he notched 51 points in 56 games. Greene returned to the Thunder last season, picking up 24 points and appearing in all 66 games.      

A seventh-year pro out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Robin Richards returns to the Thunder for a second season. Richards turned pro in 2005, and has also spent time with the CHL’s Odessa Jackalopes, Tulsa Oilers and Laredo Bucks. Last season Richards notched 11 points and ranked fifth in the CHL with 199 penalty minutes.          

A second-year pro, Dustin Donaghy also returns to the Thunder for a second season, after being acquired from the Allen Americans in January. Donaghy made a huge impact for the Thunder as a rookie, notching 10 goals and 18 points in 33 games, including his first career hat trick on January 23 versus Laredo.                  

A 6-6, 240-pound defenseman, Justin Sawyer is also entering his seventh pro season.  An imposing presence on the ice, Sawyer has recorded over 200 penalty minutes four times in his pro career.  In 2007-08 while with the Oklahoma City Blazers, Sawyer finished second in the CHL with 303 minutes. Sawyer played for the CHL’s Odessa Jackalopes last season.                                                                                       

A newcomer to the CHL, Brady Leavold is entering his fourth pro season. Prior to turning pro, Leavold played five seasons in the WHL, including a 69-point season with the Kelowna Rockets in 2007-08.  Leavold then played parts of three pro seasons with the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings, as well as four games with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals.  

The Wichita Thunder will open their 20th CHL season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are on sale now at the INTRUST Bank Arena Box Office, www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT. Tickets for Wichita’s exhibition games on October 14 and 15 versus the Tulsa Oilers are on sale now and can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple in the Wichita Ice Center. For more information or to order season tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

WICHITA, KS- Two members of the Wichita Thunder’s Lampton Lightning Dance and Promotional Team will be participating in Care to Dance’s Dancing with the Local Stars. 

For the next five weeks, from September 16 through October 14, Michelle Caban and Cat Wurtz will participate each Friday at Heroes in Old Town at 8 p.m. to compete for the chance to win $1,000 for the charity of their choice. 

The competition is a fun way to get local faces to raise money for charity while supporting local businesses. Dancing with the Local Stars was started by Steven Bowling, owner of Care to Dance, who approached Caban to participate. This is their sixth season.

“With our hectic schedule it was difficult to incorporate the practices for this competition and for the upcoming Thunder season. But, we had many girls who were open to the idea of learning ballroom,” Michelle Caban says. “Luckily, two of us could fit it into our schedules.”

Caban says the charity she has chosen is Backpack for Kids, which generates funds to provide underprivileged kids the backpacks and other school supplies.

“I thought this was a great way to draw attention to a positive way that high school students are impacting the community,” says Caban.

For more information on the Thunder or the Lampton Lightning, visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.  The Thunder opens the regular season, their 20th in the CHL, on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush.  Tickets are on sale now by calling (316) 755-SEAT and at www.selectaseat.com.

-THUNDER-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder today announced the re-signing of defenseman Travis Wight, as well as the additions of forwards Thomas Beauregard, Tim Kraus, Matt Summers and goaltender Ryan MacDonald.

A sixth-year pro out of Fannystelle, Manitoba, Wight returns to the Thunder for a second season.  A durable, stay-at-home defenseman, Wight notched 13 points last season, while appearing in all 66 games.

Prior to joining the Thunder, Wight played three seasons for the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads, where he was a member of the 2007 ECHL Champions.  Before turning pro, Wight played four years of college hockey at NCAA powerhouse the University of Maine.
           
Perhaps Wichita’s biggest off-season acquisition, Beauregard brings his high-scoring exploits to Wichita after spending his entire pro career in the ECHL and the AHL.  Following a 71-goal, 124-point season with the QMJHL’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Beauregard turned pro in 2007 with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones and promptly tallied 31 goals and 65 points in his rookie season.
           
This past season, Beauregard notched 39 goals and 67 points, splitting time between the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers and Elmira Jackals.  He also appeared in two games for the AHL’s Springfield Falcons.  In 165 career games, Beauregard has amassed 87 goals and 164 points.  His older brother David was named the 1998 CHL Rookie of the Year while playing for the Thunder.

Another ECHL alumni, Kraus is entering his fourth pro season.  Following an impressive junior career in the Western Hockey League, Kraus turned pro in 2008 with the ECHL’s Ontario Reign, notching 15 goals and 48 points as a rookie.  He followed that performance up with a 16-goal, 53-point season the following year in Ontario.  Kraus split this past season between Ontario, the Victoria Salmon Kings and the Las Vegas Wranglers.
           
Summers joins the Thunder from the Mississippi RiverKings where he has spent the last three seasons.  He recorded career-highs a year ago with 28 goals and 52 points.  Summers has spent his entire four-year pro career in the CHL, scoring 69 goals and 178 points in 233 games.

A sixth-year pro, MacDonald joins the Thunder from the Lausitzer Foxes in Germany, where he has notched six shutouts and a 3.05 goals against average over the last three seasons.
           
Prior to turning pro, MacDonald enjoyed a stellar junior career playing in the Ontario Hockey League.  In 2005 – his final junior season - he picked up 35 wins for the Guelph Storm, including four shutouts and a 2.57 goals against average.  He turned pro in 2006 with the ECHL’s Fresno Falcons, recording 16 wins, four shutouts and a stellar .925 save percentage.

The Wichita Thunder will open their 20th CHL season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are expected to go on sale September 14.  Tickets for Wichita’s exhibition games on October 14 and 15 versus the Tulsa Oilers are on sale now and can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple at the Wichita Ice Center.  For more information or to order season tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder will hold a press conference on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Twin Peaks, located at 8310 E. 21st St. North.

Returning Head Coach Kevin McClelland will announce several key additions to the 2011-12 Wichita Thunder roster, including a high-scoring forward and a new goaltender.  The Thunder will also announce the return of a key defensive player.  Fans and media are invited to attend.

Under new and local ownership for the first time, this season will see a surge of energy and excitement in the Wichita Thunder.  The 2011-12 season builds on last season’s playoff appearance led by returning Coach Kevin McClelland and his extensive NHL and Stanley Cup experience.  With games played at Wichita’s new INTRUST Bank Arena, fans will see fresh entertainment and sponsorships that inject a high level of energy and ideas into this season’s home games.  Led by Rodney, Brandon and Johnny Steven through Steven Brothers Sports Management, LLC, Wichita Thunder goals for leading the Central Hockey League in both attendance and victories are closer than ever.

The Wichita Thunder will open their 20th CHL season on Friday, October 21 versus the Rapid City Rush and tickets are expected to go on sale September 14 through www.selectaseat.com or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.  Tickets for Wichita’s exhibition games on October 14 and 15 versus the Tulsa Oilers are on sale now and can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple at the Wichita Ice Center.  For more information or to order season tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder announced today that tickets for their two home exhibition games are on sale now.

The Thunder and the Oilers, both entering their 20th CHL season, will do battle on Friday and Saturday, October 14 and 15 at the Wichita Ice Center.  Both games will face-off at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are $10 each for general admission seating.

The Thunder will start the regular season a week later by hosting a pair of games at INTRUST Bank Arena.  The Rapid City Rush will be in town on Friday, October 21 for the season opener, followed by the Allen Americans on Saturday, October 22.  Both games will face-off at 7:05 p.m.

Exhibition tickets can be purchased at the Thunder office, located at 505 W. Maple at the Wichita Ice Center or by calling the Thunder office at (316) 264-4625.  For more information visit the Thunder website at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita KS- The Wichita Thunder will hold their annual golf tournament on Monday, October 17 at 1:00 p.m. at Willowbend Golf Course.

The cost for the four-man scramble is $400 per team or $100 per individual.  Great prizes will be given away including Thunder season tickets, Wichita Wingnuts season tickets, airfare to Las Vegas and much more!

For more information please call the Thunder office at (316) 264-4625.  Signup forms can be found HERE.

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder today announced the signings of goaltender Adam Russo, as well as forwards Colin and Brett Hemingway.

Russo went 15-13-0 with the Quad City Mallards last season, including one shutout, a 2.88 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.  He had even more impressive numbers two seasons ago, going 23-14-3 with a 2.81 goals against average, playing for the IHL’s Port Huron Icehawks, where he was a teammate of Thunder team captain Daniel Tetrault.

Russo began his pro career in 2004 and has played the majority of the time in Italy, prior to returning to North America in 2009.  The Thunder acquired Russo last month from Quad City in exchange for future considerations.  He will attend training camp with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs prior to joining the Thunder.

Brothers Colin and Brett Hemingway join the Thunder after spending last season overseas in the EIHL, playing for the Belfast Giants.  Colin turned pro in 2003 with the AHL’s Worcester IceCats following an impressive four-year career at the University of New Hampshire where he amassed 67 goals and 147 points in just 67 games.  His best season came during his junior year, when he notched 33 goals and 66 points in just 40 games.

Colin was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 8th round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft (221 overall) and played three games for the Blues during the 2005-06 season.  With Belfast last year he compiled 15 goals and 36 points in 35 games.  Over his seven-year pro career he has notched 156 goals and 352 points in 382 games.

Brett was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 7th round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft (225 overall), also following a stellar career at the University of New Hampshire.  He turned pro in 2006 with the AHL’s Albany River Rats and has spent most of his career playing in the ECHL.

Last season with Belfast Brett notched 55 points in 56 games and led the team with 30 goals.  Over his five-year pro career he has compiled 69 goals and 169 points in 220 games. 

The signings of Russo and the Hemingways now bring the Thunder roster to eight players for the upcoming season.  The Thunder will begin play in their 20th season in the CHL starting this October.  For season ticket information call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

WICHITA, KS– Nineteen years after its formation within the Central Hockey League owned by Chicago-based Horn Chen, Wichita Thunder Hockey has been purchased by three brothers in one of Wichita’s well-known entrepreneurial families. Rodney, Brandon and Johnny Steven closed Monday afternoon on the purchase of the minor league professional hockey team by its newly formed Steven Brothers Sports Management, LLC. The announcement was made at a news conference today by Rodney Steven II, joined by his brothers and Wichita Thunder representatives.

The announcement was made from INTRUST Bank Arena inside the Cox Lounge, overlooking the facility’s expansive 15,000 seat venue where the team has been playing since January 2010. “We’re now playing at one of the nicest arenas, with Kevin McClelland who is a first class coach,” said Rodney Steven II. “My brothers and I are ready to put all of our business experience to work, to give this team all the tools it needs to be the best they can be and to keep this team here in Wichita.”

Steven noted that through the new partnership and the support Wichita gives this team getting back to eventually winning championships will be the goal.  In its heyday, the Wichita Thunder played to sell-out crowds at the Kansas Coliseum.       

Steven Brothers Sports Management LLC is a new venture for the brothers, but not necessarily a new industry. Kansans know the Steven brothers as the owner/operators of Genesis Health Clubs, just adding their 9th and 10th facilities which supports their belief in physical activity and fitness. The partners also own/operate multiple car dealerships throughout the Wichita Area including Brandon Steven Motors, Subaru of Wichita, Suzuki of Wichita, Ford of Augusta and a partnership in Eddy’s Toyota.  Brandon Steven says, “we have never owned a Sports Team but we are confident that with the Thunder’s fan support and our support we will get this team back to the championship!”

Thunder Coach Kevin McClelland said support for the new ownership is echoed throughout the team and staff. “I am very excited to have good local owners who are committed to winning!  We made great strides as an organization last season and I know the Steven Brothers will be instrumental in ensuring the longtime success of the Thunder.  My family and I have enjoyed our first year in Wichita and look forward to calling Wichita home for many more!”

In an unrelated move, the Wichita City Council approved Genesis Health Club as the management company for the Wichita Ice Center in April.  Among its first priorities was hiring a new general manager for the facility and in April, Steven brought in Bryan Wells from Lafayette, LA as new GM. Coincidentally, Wells had played and coached for the Wichita Thunder, as a player winning back to back championships in 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. It was Wells and the current GM Joel Lomurno who opened discussions with Rodney about the Wichita Thunder opportunity in the past few months.

“It was no secret, the owners had been trying to sell the team for a while,” said Steven. “It would have either been sold to another outside owner or moved to another city. We’re excited to keep the team here and provide the community with more opportunities for entertainment and competitive sports.”

Steven Brothers Sports Management, LLC, is a limited liability corporation formed in 2011 to own and operate Wichita Thunder Hockey.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder announced today the return of defenseman Andrew Martens, as well as the addition of rugged forward Erick Lizon for the 2011-12 season.

Martens, the recipient of the 2011 CHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman Award, returns for a second season with the Thunder after compiling career-bests last season for goals (15), assists (39) and points (54).  He finished second among all CHL defensemen in scoring last season and was called-up to the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters following the CHL playoffs, where he played in one game.

In six pro seasons, Martens has amassed 42 goals and 203 points in 360 career games.  Prior to turning pro, Martens played college hockey at Bemidji State University in Minnesota.

A sixth-year pro out of Kitchener, Ontario, Lizon spent last season with the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors, notching seven points and 208 penalty minutes.  The 6-4, 235-pound Lizon also appeared in eight games for the AHL’s Worcester Sharks, picking up 24 penalty minutes.

This will be Lizon’s third stint in the CHL, having played for the Oklahoma City Blazers in 2007-08 and the Laredo Bucks in 2008-09.  Prior to joining the Thunder, Lizon will attend training camp with the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps – the new affiliate of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. 

The Thunder will begin play in their 20th season in the CHL starting this October.  For season ticket information call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder acquired goaltender Adam Russo from the Quad City Mallards today in exchange for future considerations.

Russo went 15-13-0 with Quad City last season, including one shutout, a 2.88 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.  He had even more impressive numbers two seasons ago, going 23-14-3 with a 2.81 goals against average, playing for the IHL’s Port Huron Icehawks, where he was a teammate of Thunder team captain Daniel Tetrault.

Russo began his pro career in 2004 and has played the majority of the time since in Italy, prior to returning to North America in 2009.

The Thunder will begin play in their 20th season in the CHL starting this October.  For season ticket information call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder announced today that they have re-signed forwards Matt Robinson and Aaron Davis, as well as defenseman Daniel Tetrault.

Robinson, a 2011 CHL All-Star, joined the Thunder in a November trade with the Laredo Bucks last season and quickly became Wichita’s best all-around player.  Robinson compiled 66 points in 57 games with the Thunder, including a team-high 39 goals.  Robinson notched a four-goal game on December 14 vs. Tulsa and had a hat trick in the 2011 CHL All-Star Game in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Davis also returns for a second season, following a career-best 2010-11 campaign with the Thunder.  Davis played in all 66 games last season, compiling career-highs for goals (26) and points (72).  Davis also led the Thunder with four shorthanded goals and seven game-winners.

Team Captain Tetrault returns for a second consecutive season and his fifth overall in a Thunder uniform.  In 59 games Tetrault scored eight goals and 27 points, and led all Thunder scorers with three playoff goals.  Tetrault currently ranks second all-time among Thunder defensemen with 155 points, 14 shy of Sean O’Reilly’s team record.

The Thunder will begin play in their 20th season in the CHL starting this October and today unveiled their 20th Anniversary logo to the public.  The logo was designed by Thunder partner Squid Ink Creative.  For season ticket information call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder acquired goaltender Chris Whitley from the Allen Americans today in exchange for defensemen Kory Scoran and Steve Kaunisto, as well as forward Troy Schwab.

Whitley spent the last two seasons with Allen, compiling impressive numbers and leading the Americans to the CHL finals in his rookie season.  In 79 games with Allen, Whitley had a record of 55-18-2 with a 2.72 goals against average, a .909 save percentage and two shutouts.  Whitley also played and won a game with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters.

The Thunder will begin play in their 20th season in the CHL starting this October.  For season ticket information call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder received plenty of recognition at the 2011 CHL Awards Banquet in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday night, coming away with four nominations and one award.

Thanks in part to the tremendous technology afforded at INTRUST Bank Arena, The Thunder beat out three other finalists to win the Game Operations Franchise of the Year Award.  The Thunder recently completed their first full season at INTRUST Bank Arena.

Thunder Director of Ticket Sales Amy Wilds was also one of four finalists for the Ralph Backstrom Soul of Service Award for Customer Service while General Manager Joel T. Lomurno was a finalist for the CHL Executive of the Year Award.

The franchise was also recognized as one of four finalists for the prestigious CHL Franchise of the Year Award, won by the Missouri Mavericks.  The Thunder went from nine wins in 2009-10 to 34 victories last season, making their first playoff appearance since the 2006-07 season, while finishing third in the CHL for attendance.

The Thunder will begin play in their 20th season in the CHL starting this October and expects to announce their first player signings next week.  For season ticket information call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com.

-THUNDER-

Season Comes to a Close
The Wichita Thunder had their season come to an end last week, falling to the Missouri Mavericks in the Opening Round of the playoffs.  The Thunder led the best-of-five series 2-1, but Missouri held on for a 2-1 victory in Game Four on Tuesday night at the INTRUST Bank Arena to even the series.  Mavericks' goaltender Rob Nolan stopped 38 of 39 shots to earn the win.  Jesse Bennefield scored the Thunder's lone goal, while Marc-Antoine Gelinas was 22 of 24 in the loss.  It marked just the second time all season the Thunder lost in regulation to a Turner Conference opponent.  The other loss was also at the hands of the Mavericks when Nolan posted a 31-save shutout on December 27th.

Wichita fell in Game Five by a final score of 5-4 on Wednesday in Missouri.  Nathan O'Nabigon scored what proved to be the series-winning goal with 4:24 left in regulation, spoiling a tremendous comeback by Wichita.  Led by three power play goals in the third period, the Thunder rallied from a 4-1 deficit to tie the game.  After O'Nabigon put Missouri back in front, the Thunder had both a power play and an extra attacker in the final minute, but could not re-tie the game.  Daniel Tetrault scored twice for the Thunder, while Jesse Bennefield, A.J. Gale, and Brent Cullaton each had two assists.  Marty Magers, who took over in the second period following a game misconduct charged to Marc-Antoine Gelinas, was 12 for 14 in the loss.  Gelinas saved 12 of 15.

Martens' Stellar Season Continues
Thunder defenseman Andrew Martens was signed by the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters over the weekend, making his debut on Sunday in a 5-4 shootout win at Rochester.  Martens was +1 with two PIM.  It is the second stint in the AHL for Martens, who split time with Toronto and Manitoba in 2008-09.

During the final week of the regular season, Martens was named to the 2011 All-CHL Team and was also named the league's Most Outstanding Defenseman.  It marked the first time since 2005 that a Thunder player earned either distinction.  Martens finished the regular season second among CHL blue liners with 54 points and tied for fourth with 15 goals.

Playoff Leaders
Jesse Bennefield, A.J. Gale, Brent Cullaton, and Aaron Davis each had five points to lead the Thunder during the Opening Round series versus Missouri.  Tetrault and Matt Robinson tied for the team lead with three goals.  Travis Wight ranked first on the Thunder with a +3 plus/minus rating.  Andrew Martens collected a team-high 23 PIM, including a fighting major during Game Two.

Year One of New Era is Complete
The Thunder nearly quadrupled their total number of wins from one year ago, posting a 34-26-6 (.561) record in their first season under Head Coach Kevin McClelland.  It was the Thunder's first winning season since 2005-06, and their first playoff appearance since 2007.

Thunder Finishes Third in Attendance Race
The Wichita Thunder finished the 2010-11 regular season third in the CHL attendance standings, averaging 5,342 fans per game.  It is the sixth consecutive year in which the Thunder has finished third or better.

Team Awards
Prior to the their regular season finale on March 27th, the Thunder handed out their 2011 team awards.  Travis Wight was presented with the Thunder's Community Service Award.  A.J. Gale earned Most Improved Player honors.  Chris Greene took home Lewis Street Glass Rattler of the Year.  Aaron Davis was named the Thunder's Unsung Hero.  Andrew Martens was awarded Thunder Defenseman of the Year.  Matt Robinson was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

Thunder Ironmen
Four players skated in all 66 of the Thunder's regular season games.  They were Chris Greene, Jesse Bennefield, Travis Wight, and Aaron Davis.  The quartet also appeared in all five of the Thunder's playoff games.

Top-25
The Thunder ended the regular season with four players that ranked in the CHL's top-25 in points.  Right wing Jesse Bennefield led the Thunder with 75 points, and tied for 12th overall in the league.  Linemates Matt Robinson and Aaron Davis tied for 15th overall with 72 points apiece.  Right wing A.J. Gale finished 22nd in the league with 64 points.

Other League Leaders
Left wing Matt Robinson finished the season second in the CHL with 40 goals, while right wing Jesse Bennefield tied for seventh with 35.  Kory Scoran's 12 goals were ninth-most among defensemen.  Forward Dustin Donaghy finished fourth among CHL rookies with 16 goals.  Defenseman Steven Kaunisto tied for fourth among rookies in plus/minus at +10.  Rookie goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas tied for third overall in the league with 26 wins and tied for second with four shutouts.  The four shutouts were also a new Thunder single-season record.  Right wing Robin Richards finished seventh overall with 189 PIM.

Key Breakthroughs
The Thunder experienced several breakthroughs during the 2010-11 season.  Wichita won six consecutive games from late-October into early-November, marking their first winning streak of more than three games since the end of the 2005-06 season.  The six-game winning streak also followed an 0-4-0 start which gave the Thunder more wins than total losses in-season for the first time since November of 2006.  After losing their first 11 head-to-head meetings against the Missouri Mavericks, Wichita finally captured a win over the Mavs on November 6th.  Wichita would finish the regular season 7-4-0 against Missouri.  In mid-January, the Thunder also upped their record to three games over .500 for the first time since November of 2006.

Roster Notes
Defenseman Mike Looby and center Bobby Hughes finished the season on the 10-Day IR.  Center Matt Hubbauer finished on the 30-Day IR.  Left wing Matt Robinson was scratched from Game Five on Wednesday due to injury.

Up Next
The Thunder opens the 2011-12 season in mid-October.  For information on season tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL, or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- Thunder defenseman Andrew Martens has been signed by the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League.

Martens finished second among CHL defensemen this season with 54 points, while tying for fourth with 15 goals.  The sixth-year pro earned a spot on the 2011 All-CHL Team and was also named the league's Most Outstanding Defenseman.

This will be Martens' second opportunity at the AHL level.  The Calgary, Alberta native split time with Manitoba and Toronto during the 2008-09 season, totaling 11 points in 27 games played.

The Monsters are the AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.

The Thunder opens the 2011-12 season in mid-October.  For information on season tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL, or vist the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Photo Credit: Scott Thomas 

INDEPENDENCE, MO- The Wichita Thunder lost 5-4 to the Missouri Mavericks in Game Five of the Opening Round at the Independence Events Center on Wednesday night.

The Mavericks win the series 3-2 and advance to the Turner Conference semifinals versus the Colorado Eagles.

The Thunder, who rebounded from a 9-50-5 season in 2009-10, has a remarkable turnaround come to an end in a year that saw them improve to 36 wins and qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

Nathan O'Nabigon's tie-breaking goal at 15:36 spoiled a huge Thunder comeback during the third period.  O'Nabigon found a loose puck following a scramble in front of the crease and tipped it past the left of Marty Magers.

Wichita had a power play plus an extra attacker in the final minute, but could not tie the game and send it to overtime.

Wichita trailed 4-1 heading into the third, but used three power play goals to tie the game.  A.J. Gale shot a rebound past the left of Mavericks' goaltender Rob Nolan during a five-on-three at 1:09.  On the ensuing five-on-four, Daniel Tetrault connected from the top of the left circle just 56 seconds later to trim the lead to 4-3.  At 12:42, and during another Thunder power play, Andrew Martens drove the puck past Nolan from the top of the right circle to tie it.

Missouri used two power play goals from Nick Sirota in the first to build a 2-0 lead.  Sirota re-directed Shawn Fensel's shot from the point past the left of Marc-Antoine Gelinas at 9:37 for the game's opening goal.  Sirota connected again, after Gelinas was charged with a delay of game penalty, at 17:50 at the tail end of the man advantage, shooting from the slot.  The Thunder cut the lead in half with less than a minute left in the frame when Daniel Tetrault deflected Jesse Bennefield's backhander from the left corner past the left of Nolan.

The Mavericks scored twice more in the second to open a 4-1 advantage.  After several great saves by Gelinas, Ray DiLauro managed to punch in a loose puck from the left side of the crease at 12:58 to re-extend Missouri's lead.

At 15:12 during a stoppage in play, and with referee Ryan Hersey's back to the play, a linesman interjected a spearing major and game misconduct on Gelinas that resulted in a five-minute Missouri power play and Gelinas' ejection.

Derek Pallardy upped the Mavericks' lead to 4-1 at 16:35.  Magers, who took over for Gelinas, made two acrobatic saves in front of the crease before Pallardy jammed the puck underneath Magers' left skate for the goal.

Magers took the loss, saving 12 of 14.  Gelinas was 12 of 15 in the no-decision.  Nolan earned the win, stopping 20 of 24.  The Thunder was 3 for 5 on the power play.  The Mavericks were 2 for 7.

The Thunder would like to thank all of their fans for making 2010-11 a tremendous season and look forward to continuing in the right direction this fall.  Stay tuned to www.wichitathunder.com for information about season tickets for 2011-12.

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder lost 2-1 to the Missouri Mavericks in Game Four of the Opening Round at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Tuesday night.

The series is now tied 2-2 heading back to Missouri for a decisive Game Five on Wednesday night.

Mavericks' goaltender Rob Nolan stopped 38 of 39, while the Mavericks weathered three Thunder power plays in the third to help Missouri even the series.

The teams battled to a scoreless tie after the first period.  Rob Nolan made two key saves to keep Wichita off the board, stopping Daniel Tetrault on a centering pass from Brent Cullaton, and later denying Cullaton from point blank range on a pass from Jesse Bennefield.

With the game still scoreless midway through the second, the teams combined for three goals separated by 1:04 that ultimately led to the Mavericks taking a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.  At 8:43, Toby Lafrance scored to the short side of the net from the right half boards, giving the Mavericks a 1-0 lead.  Nick Sirota followed at 9:38, tapping in a shot just around the left skate of Marc-Antoine Gelinas to make it 2-0.  Just nine seconds after Sirota's goal, Jesse Bennefield took Cullaton's pass from behind the net and shot past Nolan from the bottom of the right circle to cut Missouri's lead in half.

Nolan's final key save came in the third when he stopped a close range shot by A.J. Gale during a Thunder power play.

Gelinas took the loss, saving 28 of 30.  Wichita was 0 for 7 on the power play, including two extended five-on-three chances.  Missouri was 0 for 6.

Game Five is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday night.  All the action can be heard live on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and Oldies 93.5 KWME as well as worldwide at www.kleyam.com  Call the Thunder office for more information about the 2011 playoffs at (316) 264-GOAL or by visiting the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Thunder Leads Opening Round 2-1
The Wichita Thunder opened their first postseason in four years last Tuesday, beating the Missouri Mavericks 2-1 in Game One of the Opening Round at home.  After the teams traded goals in the first, Matt Robinson scored on the power play 54 seconds into the middle frame to provide the final margin.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas was 23 of 24 to earn a win in his postseason debut.  Troy Schwab had the Thunder's other goal.

The Mavericks evened the series on Friday night in Independence.  With Missouri already leading 2-0, Brandon Coccimiglio scored a natural hat trick in the third period to break open the game.  Rob Nolan stopped 30 shots en route to his second shutout versus the Thunder this season.  Andrew Martens, Kory Scoran, and Dustin Donaghy all had fighting majors for the Thunder.

Wichita re-gained the lead in the series with a dramatic 5-4 overtime win in Game Three on Saturday night.  After Missouri broke a 3-3 tie with a power play goal late in the third, Jesse Bennefield scored with 58.6 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime.  Bennefield's goal came during a power play and with an extra attacker.  Daniel Tetrault scored the game-winning goal at 5:47 in overtime.  Matt Robinson had two goals earlier in the game for the Thunder.  Aaron Davis had three assists.

Playoff Leaders
Left wing Matt Robinson is tied for third in the playoffs with three goals.  Robinson finished the regular season with 40 goals, which was second most in the league.  Aaron Davis is second among playoff performers with four assists.  Davis tied for 15th in the league in total points with 72 during the regular season.

Overtime Notes
Saturday was the Thunder's first playoff overtime game since April 7th, 2007 versus Bossier-Shreveport, and their first playoff overtime victory since April 1st, 2006, also versus the Mudbugs.  The Thunder is now 8-5 all-time in sudden death overtime during the playoffs.

Deja Vu for Bennefield, Thunder
Right wing Jesse Bennefield scored the game-tying goal on Saturday night with 58.6 seconds left in regulation, setting up Daniel Tetrault's eventual game-winner in overtime.  Back on November 6th at Missouri, Bennefield scored in similar fashion on Rob Nolan with 16 seconds left in the third period to tie the game.  Andrew Martens went on to win the game for the Thunder in overtime, giving them their first ever win against the Mavericks in 12 tries.

The Quest for Three
The Wichita Thunder is in the postseason for the first time since 2007 and aims to win their first playoff series since 2005.  The Thunder is also looking to become the first CHL franchise to win three championships (1994, 1995).  The Oklahoma City Blazers, Memphis RiverKings, Laredo Bucks, and Colorado Eagles have also won two President's Cups during the league's 19-year history.

INTRUST Bank Arena Advantage
At 20-9-4 (.667), the Thunder has the best home record in the Turner Conference and second-best overall in the league.  Wichita has played exceptionally well at the INTRUST Bank Arena when hosting Turner Conference opponents.  The Thunder finished the regular season 12-1-2 (.867) at home against the Turner, losing in regulation just once.

‘Turnering’ it Around
A big reason for Wichita's success this season has been its record versus the top three returning teams in the conference.  Wichita went a combined 13-7-2 (.636) against Colorado, Rapid City, and Missouri, with winning records against all three.  The Thunder was 0-24-3 against those three clubs last year.  Overall this year, the Thunder had a .686 winning percentage (22-9-4) against the Turner, best in the conference.

Around the Playoffs
In the Turner Conference, Rapid City City leads Dayton 2-0 in their Opening Round series.  Colorado and Quad City are tied 1-1.  Fort Wayne has a 2-0 lead over Bloomington.

In the Berry Conference, Allen finished a three-game sweep of Rio Grande Valley on Sunday and is the first team to advance to the conference semifinals.  Bossier-Shreveport and Arizona are tied 1-1.  Tulsa staved off elimination with a win at Mississippi Sunday, and trails the RiverKings 2-1.  Texas and Odessa split the first two games of their matchup.

Roster Notes
Forward Robin Richards has been suspended by the league for one game.  Center Bobby Hughes and defenseman Mike Looby are on the IR through the remainder of the playoffs.

Follow the Thunder Through the Playoffs
All Thunder playoff games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the playoffs.

Up Next
Game Four of the Opening Round is Tuesday night at the INTRUST Bank Arena.  Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.  A potential Game Five would be Wednesday at the Independence Events Center at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets to Tuesday's game, call the INTRUST Bank Arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Photo Credit: Scott Thomas 

INDEPENDENCE, MO- The Wichita Thunder beat the Missouri Mavericks 5-4 in overtime in Game Three of the Opening Round at the Independence Events Center on Saturday night.

The Thunder now leads the best-of-five series 2-1 heading back to Wichita for Game Four on Tuesday night.

Daniel Tetrault scored the game-winning goal during a power play at 5:47 in overtime, connecting on a low shot from the point past the right side of Mavericks' goaltender Rob Nolan.

Trailing 4-3 in the final minute, Jesse Bennefield tied the game on a scrum in front of the net with 58.6 seconds left in regulation.  Wichita was on the power play and also utilized an extra attacker in the process of tying the game. 

Missouri broke a 3-3 tie with 3:01 left in regulation when Shawn Fensel scored from the point on a Mavericks' power play.  It was Missouri's sixth power play of the game on 15 penalty minutes.  At the time, the Thunder had just two power plays on four minutes, and none since the middle of the first period.  It was Missouri's first lead of the night.

Ryan Jardine scored at 3:03 in the third to tie the game at 3-3, beating Marc-Antoine Gelinas on a deke to his right.  Shortly after Jardine's goal, Bennefield appeared to have put the Thunder in front, sneaking a backdoor pass from Brent Cullaton underneath Nolan's left pad.  Refree Marc-Andre Lavoie definitively pointed at the net twice to signal for a goal, but reversed his decision after a discussion with the Independence Events Center's goal judge.

In the first, Wichita killed off a five-minute Mavericks power play after Robin Richards was called for charging at 2:24.  The period remained scoreless until the 18:20 mark when Matt Robinson scored on a backhand shot from the low slot.  Robinson took control of the puck after Aaron Davis placed a slapshot from the right side of the blue line on Nolan.  Missouri tied the game with 13.9 seconds left in the period when Ray DiLauro deflected Simon Watson's shot from the point past Gelinas during the Mavericks' third power play of the opening frame.

Robinson helped Wichita re-gain the lead at 3:29 in the second.  Robinson scored on a backhander above the crease, beating Nolan to his right.  At 13:17 in the period, Troy Schwab gave the Thunder their first multi-goal lead of the series.  Cullaton rushed the puck behind the net, skated back to the right circle, and took a backhand shot that Nolan stopped.  Bennefield was also denied on the ensuing rebound, but Schwab shot inside the right post for the score with Nolan still sprawled on the crease.  Nick Sirota trimmed the lead to 3-2 at 16:49, scoring on a backhander from the slot that knuckled past Gelinas' right.

Gelinas was 18 of 22 in the win.  Nolan was 36 for 41 in the loss.  The Thunder was 2 for 4 on the power play while Missouri was 2 for 6.

It was the Thunder's first playoff overtime game since April 7th, 2007 versus Bossier-Shreveport, and their first playoff overtime victory since April 1st, 2006, also versus the Mudbugs.

Game Four is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6th at the INTRUST Bank Arena with a 7:05 p.m. opening faceoff.  For tickets, call the INTRUST Bank Arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Photo Credit: Scott Thomas

INDEPENDENCE, MO- The Wichita Thunder lost 5-0 to the Missouri Mavericks in Game Two of the Opening Round at the Independence Events Center on Friday night.

The best-of-five series is now tied 1-1 heading into Game Three on Saturday night.

Brandon Coccimiglio scored a natural hat trick in the third, with all three goals coming on the power play, while Rob Nolan pitched his second shutout of the season against the Thunder, going 30 of 30.

Leading 2-0 in the third, Coccimiglio scored at 5:57 on a close-range shot past Marc-Antoine Gelinas.  The Mavericks went up 4-0 at 12:35 when Coccimiglio re-directed Blake Forsyth's shot from the left point past Gelinas' right.  Coccimiglio completed the hat trick with 13.5 seconds left in the game, sneaking a loose puck under Gelinas' left pad.

Missouri took their first lead of the series when Ryan Jardine scored on a breakaway at 6:04 in the first.  Jardine sped past the Thunder defense and used a forehand-backhand-forehand move to beat Gelinas to his right.

The Mavericks struck again at 0:36 in the second to take a 2-0 lead.  Jardine circled the puck around the net and made a backdoor pass to Toby Lafrance who tapped the puck in past the left of Gelinas.

Late in the third, three consecutive fights broke out with Kory Scoran, Andrew Martens, and Dustin Donaghy all picking up majors at the 15:36 mark.

Gelinas was 22 of 27 in the loss.  Wichita went 0 for 6 on the power play.  Missouri was 3 for 7.

Game Three is Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. in Independence.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  Game Four, which is not guaranteed, is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th at the INTRUST Bank Arena.  For tickets, call the INTRUST Bank Arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

(courtesy of Jeff Brucculeri, The Tulsa Beacon)

full article here: http://www.tulsabeacon.com/?p=5058

Celebrating its 18th season since its rebirth, the Central Hockey League has come a long way and players that were around that first year remember that season fondly.

On Saturday, the Tulsa Oilers hosted an alumni game pitting former Tulsa Oilers against former members of the Wichita Thunder.

“Our fans enjoy seeing the old players come back and play,” said Oilers general manager and former player Taylor Hall. “We host our own alumni game every year, but this season we talked with Wichita’s general manager and decided to play a couple of games between our alums. We played the first one in Wichita before an Oiler-Thunder game, and now this one here.”

Hall said he would like to see this become an annual event.

“We would really like to continue to do this in the future, and I know the guys want to keep doing it, because they want to keep playing,” Hall said.

The Wichita alums won both of the games, including an 8-7 victory at the BOK Center.

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder beat the Missouri Mavericks 2-1 in Game One of the Opening Round at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Wednesday night.

Wichita leads the best-of-five series 1-0.

Matt Robinson's power play goal 54 seconds into the second period broke a 1-1 tie and proved to be the final margin of the game.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas and the Thunder defense shut down Missouri over the final 39-plus minutes, limiting them to 14 shots.  Wichita prevented the Mavericks from taking any shots with an extra attacker during the game's final minute to close out the win.  The Thunder survived a minor scare late in the third when Nick Sirota's shot from the point bounced off the left post and then back to the point.  The goal light briefly came on, but the officials quickly waved the goal off, and later affirmed their call after a discussion with the goal judge.

Troy Schwab delivered the first goal of the playoffs at 12:57 in the first period.  Schwab carried the puck from behind the net and into the right circle before turning and shooting over the left shoulder of Mavericks' goaltender Rob Nolan.  Missouri tied the game at 16:14 when Brandon Coccimiglio scored on a high shot from the slot.

Robinson helped Wichita re-gain the lead at 0:54 in the second.  After several shots from varying directions, Robinson connected from the bottom of the right circle, shooting past Nolan's left.  Just beyond the 5:00 mark in the second, Gelinas denied Sirota with a backdoor save to his left on a clear two-on-one rush.

Gelinas earned a win in his professional postseason debut, saving 23 of 24.  Nolan was 22 of 24 in the loss.  Wichita went 1 for 4 on the power play while going a perfect 4 for 4 in penalty kill chances.

The series shifts to Missouri for Games Two and Three on Friday and Saturday.  Opening faceoff is 7:05 p.m. for both contests.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE as well as Oldies 95.3 KWME, and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  Game Four (if necessary) is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th at the INTRUST Bank Arena.  For tickets, call the INTRUST Bank Arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS - The Thunder will host the Mavericks for Game One at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Wednesday, March 30th.  Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.  The best-of-five series follows a 1-2-1-1 format.

2011 Central Hockey League Opening Round
(All Games Scheduled for 7:05 p.m.)
Game 1- Wednesday, March 30th at Wichita (INTRUST Bank Arena)
Game 2- Friday, April 1st, at Missouri (Independence Events Center)
Game 3- Saturday, April 2nd, at Missouri (Independence Events Center)
Game 4*- Tuesday, April 5th at Wichita (INTRUST Bank Arena)
Game 5*- Wednesday, April 6th, at Missouri (Independence Events Center)

*if necessary

For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL, or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder and Missouri Mavericks will have the stage to themselves tonight when the teams kickoff the 2011 Central Hockey League playoffs at the INTRUST Bank Arena.

Game One of the Opening Round begins at 7:05 p.m.  The best-of-five series shifts to Independence, MO for Games Two and Three on Friday and Saturday respectively.  The Thunder would host a potential Game Four on Tuesday, April 5th, while the Mavericks hold the rights to a winner-take-all Game Five the following night.  The remaining game times are all scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Separated by just 207 miles, the series pits one of the CHL's original members against one of its newest.  The Thunder, now in their 19th season, are in the playoffs for the 11th time in franchise history, but the first since 2007.  Under new Head Coach Kevin McClelland, the Thunder rebounded from 9-50-5 last season to 34-26-6 in 2010-11.  McClelland is now one of only four coaches in league history to guide three different teams to the playoffs.  A four-time Stanley Cup champion as a player, McClelland is making his fifth straight appearance in the CHL tournament, having taken Mississippi and Colorado twice each.

An expansion team last year, the Mavericks are making their second appearance in the CHL playoffs.  Missouri edged Mississippi two games to one in last year's Opening Round before losing to eventual champion Rapid City in the conference semifinals.  The Mavericks are coached by Scott Hillman who was a star defenseman for the Odessa Jackalopes from 1999-2007.  Hillman won back-to-back SPHL championships as Head Coach of the Knoxville Ice Bears before signing on with the Mavericks prior to last season.

Missouri dominated the head-to-head series last year, winning all 10 matches.  The Thunder responded this season with a 7-4-0 mark against the Mavericks that included one overtime win and one shootout win.  The Thunder was 4-1-0 versus the Mavericks at the INTRUST Bank Arena, while going 3-3-0 at the Independence Events Center.  Rob Nolan's 31-save shutout in a 2-0 Missouri win on December 27th marked the only time this season the Thunder lost in regulation to a Turner Conference opponent at home.

The Thunder ranked third in offense during the regular season at 3.77 goals for per game.  Missouri was first in defense, allowing just 2.62 goals against per contest.

Aaron Davis was Wichita's leading scorer versus Missouri, netting six goals with 11 assists and a +8 rating in 11 games.  Nick Sirota's 12 points (5 G, 7 A) led the Mavericks.

Each team features a player who took home major hardware last week.  Thunder defenseman Andrew Martens earned a spot on the 2011 All-CHL Team, and was later named the league's Most Outstanding Defenseman.  Nolan also earned a spot on the All-CHL Team, and was voted Most Outstanding Goaltender.  Missouri center Simon Watson won Man of the Year honors.

For tickets to tonight's game, call the INTRUST Bank Arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Thunder Starts Week Slow, Ends With a Bang
The Wichita Thunder went 1-3-0 last week to close out the regular season, beginning with a 5-3 loss to the Missouri Mavericks on Tuesday night in Independence.  The Thunder had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 thanks to goals from A.J. Gale and Troy Schwab, but the Mavericks scored three times in the second and never looked back.  Mike Berry netted a key goal on a penalty shot in the third for Missouri.  Dustin Donaghy accounted for the Thunder's other goal.  The game was a makeup for the contest originally scheduled for February 1st.

Wichita dropped a 5-3 contest to the Tulsa Oilers at home on Friday night.  Goals from Kory Scoran and Matt Robinson helped the Thunder battle back from an early 2-0 deficit, but the Oilers rattled off three straight scores to break open the game.  Kevin Beech took the loss, saving 16 of 21.  Davis and Scoran each had two points.  Robinson's goal was his 40th of the season.

The Thunder lost their third straight game on Saturday night, 4-2 at Tulsa.  Chris Greene potted a shorthanded goal in the first to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead, but the Oilers stormed back with three straight in the second to take control.  Andrew Martens cut the lead to 3-2 with a late goal in the second, before Jack Combs' second of the night midway through the third accounted for the game's final tally.  Marty Magers returned from Goaltender IR and was 20 of 24 in the loss.

Wichita ended their mini losing streak with a dominating 8-1 victory over the Mississippi RiverKings on Sunday at home.  Dustin Donaghy, Troy Schwab, and Daniel Tetrault each scored two goals, with Schwab and Tetrault finishing with four points each.  Marty Magers made a season-high 44 saves to earn the win.  Brent Cullaton and Steven Kaunisto each chipped in three assists, with Cullaton finishing the game +4.  Tetrault and Aaron Davis also scored shorthanded in the game.  It was Davis' fourth shorthanded goal of the year.  Magers' 44 saves were the most by a Thunder goaltender this season.

Opening Round: Thunder vs. Mavericks
The Wichita Thunder (5th, Turner) begin their first playoff run since 2007 on Wednesday, March 30th when they host the Missouri Mavericks (4th, Turner) in Game One of the Opening Round.  The best-of-five series follows at 1-2-1-1 format, with the Mavericks hosting Games Two and Three on Friday, April 1st and Saturday, April 2nd respectively.  Game Four (if necessary) is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th at Wichita.  Game Five (if necessary) would be Wednesday, April 6th at Missouri.  The Thunder was 7-4-0 against the Mavericks during the regular season, including an overtime win and a shootout win.  The Mavericks were the lone Turner Conference team to beat the Thunder in regulation at the INTRUST Bank Arena, winning 2-0 on December 27th behind a shutout from Rob Nolan.

The Quest for Three
The Wichita Thunder is in the postseason for the first time since 2007 and aims to win their first playoff series since 2005.  The Thunder is also looking to become the first CHL franchise to win three championships (1994, 1995).  The Oklahoma City Blazers, Memphis RiverKings, Laredo Bucks, and Colorado Eagles have also won two President's Cups during the league's 19-year history.

Thunder Finishes Third in Attendance Race
The Wichita Thunder finished the 2010-11 regular season third in the CHL attendance standings, averaging 5,342 fans per game.  It is the sixth consecutive year in which the Thunder has finished third or better.

McClelland in Select Company
First-year Thunder Head Coach is in the Central Hockey League playoffs for a fifth consecutive season.  McClelland has guided the Mississippi RiverKings and Colorado Eagles to the playoffs twice each, reaching the President's Cup Finals with Colorado in 2009.  McClelland is one of only four coaches in CHL history to lead three different teams to the playoffs.  Bill McDonald, Chris Stewart, and Todd Lalonde are the others.

INTRUST Bank Arena Advantage
At 20-9-4 (.667), the Thunder has the best home record in the Turner Conference and second-best overall in the league.  Wichita has played exceptionally well at the INTRUST Bank Arena when hosting Turner Conference opponents.  The Thunder finished the regular season 12-1-2 (.867) at home against the Turner, losing in regulation just once.

‘Turnering’ it Around
A big reason for Wichita's success this season has been its record versus the top three returning teams in the conference.  Wichita went a combined 13-7-2 (.636) against Colorado, Rapid City, and Missouri, with winning records against all three.  The Thunder was 0-24-3 against those three clubs last year.

Offensive Thunder
The Thunder finished the regular season third in the league in offense at 3.77 goals for per game.

Special Teams Finish Strong
The Thunder received exceptional play from its special teams units down the stretch.  The Thunder went 9 for 33 (27.3%) on the power play over its final seven games.  Wichita's penalty kill was 40 for 45 (88.9%) during that same stretch.

Thunder Survives Long March
The Thunder went 8-6-0 during the month of March in which they played 14 games in a span of just 27 days.

Team Awards
Prior to Sunday's regular season finale, the Thunder handed out their 2011 team awards.  Travis Wight was presented with the Thunder's Community Service Award.  A.J. Gale earned Most Improved Player honors.  Chris Greene took home the Lewis Street Glass Rattler of the Year.  Aaron Davis was named the Thunder's Unsung Hero.  Andrew Martens was awarded Thunder Defenseman of the Year.  Matt Robinson was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

Thunder Ironmen
Four players skated in all 66 of the Thunder's regular season games this season.  They were Chris Greent, Jesse Bennefield, Travis Wight, and Aaron Davis.

Big Week for Martens
Last week, Thunder defenseman Andrew Martens was named to the 2011 All-CHL Team and was also named the league's Most Outstanding Defenseman.  It marked the first time since 2005 that a Thunder player earned either distinction.  Martens finished the regular season tied for second among CHL blue liners with 54 points and tied for fourth with 15 goals.

Top-25
The Thunder ended the regular season with four players that ranked in the CHL's top-25 in points.  Right wing Jesse Bennefield led the Thunder with 75 points, and tied for 12th in the league.  Linemates Matt Robinson and Aaron Davis tied for 15th with 72 points each.  Right wing A.J. Gale finished 22nd in the league with 64 points.

Other League Leaders
Left wing Matt Robinson finished the season tied for second in the CHL with 40 goals, while right wing Jesse Bennefield tied for seventh with 35.  Kory Scoran's 12 goals were ninth-most among defensemen.  Forward Dustin Donaghy finished fourth among CHL rookies with 16 goals.  Defenseman Steven Kaunisto tied for fourth among rookies in plus/minus at +10.  Rookie goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas tied for third overall in the league with 26 wins and tied for second with four shutouts.  Right wing Robin Richards finished seventh overall with 189 PIM.

Around the CHL Playoffs
In the Northern Conference, Rapid City (1) faces Dayton (8), Colorado (2) takes on Quad City (7), and Bloomington (3) faces Fort Wayne.

In the Southern Conference, Allen (1) battles Rio Grande Valley (8), Bossier-Shreveport (2) tackles Arizona (7), Tulsa (3) faces Mississippi (6), and Texas (4) goes up against Odessa (5).

Roster Notes
Marty Magers was activated from Goaltender IR over the weekend.  The Thunder waived goaltender Kevin Beech.  Defenseman Mike Looby, forward Lance Galbraith, and center Bobby Hughes are all on the 10-Day IR.

Follow the Thunder Through the Playoffs
All Thunder playoff games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the playoffs.

Up Next
The Thunder hosts the Missouri Mavericks for Game One of the Opening Round on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.  Games Two and Three are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Independence Events Center.  Both start at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets to Wednesday's game, call the INTRUST Bank Arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder announced their 2011 playoff roster on Monday, as well as the acquisition of defenseman Iain McPhee.

McPhee skated in 48 games this season for the Berry Conference champion Allen Americans.  The 25-year old blue liner totaled 12 assists, 79 PIM, and a plus/minus rating of +14.  The 6-foot-2, 209-pound McPhee split time with three IHL clubs as a rookie last season, playing for Quad City, Muskegon, and Dayton.  A native of Pickering, Ontario, McPhee played four years of Major Junior hockey with the OHL's Windsor Spitfires before enjoying a three-year college career at the University of Prince Edward Island.

The Thunder also activated left wing Lance Galbraith from the 10-Day IR, giving them 19 players on their playoff roster.  CHL playoff rosters may not change during the course of the tournament, but teams may add up to two amateurs (players with zero professional experience) to their playoff roster as needed.  Defenseman Mike Looby and center Bobby Hughes will finish the season on the IR.

2011 Wichita Thunder Playoff Roster
#5 Kory Scoran, D
#6 Steven Kaunisto, D
#7 Daniel Tetrault, D
#16 Matt Robinson, LW
#18 Dustin Donaghy, LW
#19 Chris Greene, C
#21 Jesse Bennefield, RW
#22 A.J. Gale, RW
#23 Brent Cullaton, LW
#24 Robin Richards, RW
#27 Travis Wight, D
#28 Troy Schwab, RW
#29 Jason Goulet, D
#30 Marc-Antoine Gelinas, G
#40 Aaron Davis, C
#55 Andrew Martens, D
#56 Marty Magers, G
#71 Lance Galbraith, LW
Iain McPhee, D

The Thunder hosts the Missouri Mavericks in Game One of the Opening Round on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the INTRUST Bank Arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder has officially learned they will play the Missouri Mavericks in the Opening Round of the 2011 Central Hockey League playoffs.

The Thunder will host the Mavericks for Game One at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Wednesday, March 30th.  Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.  The best-of-five series follows a 1-2-1-1 format.

Earlier today, the Bloomington Prairie Thunder clinched the Turner Conference's number three seed by reaching overtime in an eventual shootout loss versus Evansville.  The result of that game left Missouri with the number four seed, and a matchup against fifth-seeded Wichita.

2011 Central Hockey League Opening Round
(All Games Scheduled for 7:05 p.m.)
Game 1- Wednesday, March 30th at Wichita (INTRUST Bank Arena)
Game 2- Friday, April 1st, at Missouri (Independence Events Center)
Game 3- Saturday, April 2nd, at Missouri (Independence Events Center)
Game 4*- Tuesday, April 5th at Wichita (INTRUST Bank Arena)
Game 5*- Wednesday, April 6th, at Missouri (Independence Events Center)

*if necessary

For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL, or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder defeated the Mississippi RiverKings 8-1 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Sunday evening in their regular season finale.

Dustin Donaghy, Troy Schwab, and Daniel Tetrault each potted two goals, while Marty Magers made a season-high 44 saves to earn the win.

Already leading 4-0 in the third, Tetrault rifled the puck from the left boards past RiverKings' goaltender Alexander Pechurskiy for a power play goal at 2:43.  48 seconds later, Schwab netted his second of the game for a 6-0 Thunder advantage.  Jesse Bennefield took a pass from Brent Cullaton during a two-on-one and shot past Pechurskiy's right at 12:58 for the Thunder's seventh goal.  Tetrault made it 8-0 at 16:38, scoring shorthanded on a one-timer that also originated from Cullaton.

Magers carried a shutout into the final minutes of the game.  Magers and the Thunder defense killed off an entire five-minute major midway through the third after Robin Richards was charged with a boarding penalty at 4:01.  During another Mississippi man advantage, Chris Richards deflected Derek Landmesser's shot from the point past Magers' right with 2:53 left in regulation to break up the shutout bid.  Magers was 16 of 17 in a third period that included nearly eight minutes of RiverKings power play.

The Thunder exploded for three goals in the first to take early control of the game.  Donaghy scored from the left halfboards at 5:07 for the first goal of the night.  At 14:04, and with the Thunder on a power play, Schwab shot a rebound past the left of Pechurskiy.  Schwab's opportunity was the product of Tetrault's shot from the right point.  Just 27 seconds after Schwab's first goal, Donaghy scored his second of the night, again from the left boards, this time beating Pechurskiy to the short side of the net.

Aaron Davis scored Wichita's first shorthanded goal at 10:19 in the second period to make it 4-0 Wichita.  Cullaton made a headlong pass to Tetrault that triggered a two-on-one.  Tetrault skated through the right circle before making a backdoor pass over the crease that Davis buried to the right of new RiverKings' goaltender Larry Sterling.  Sterling took over for Pechurskiy at 8:10 in the second.  Pechurskiy would return to start the third period and played the remainder of the game.  Magers stopped all 15 of Mississippi's shots in the second.

Magers was 44 of 45 for the game.  The 44 saves were the most for any Thunder goaltender this season.  Pechurskiy took the loss, combining for 22 saves on 29 shots.  Sterling was 11 for 12.  The Thunder went 2 for 6 on the power play and 6 for 7 on the penalty kill.

Cullaton and Steven Kaunisto finished with three assists, while Tetrault and Schwab each totaled four points.  Chris Greene also had two assists.  Cullaton was +4 in the game.

For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

TULSA, OK- The Wichita Thunder lost 4-2 to the Tulsa Oilers at the BOK Center on Saturday night.

Chris Greene helped the Thunder grab a first period lead, scoring shorthanded at 11:06.  Greene grabbed a loose puck at the Wichita blue line, worked up the ice, and faked out Oilers' goaltender Ian Keserich with a shot under his left pad.

Tulsa ran off three straight goals in the third to take a 3-1 advantage, including two scores separated by just 50 seconds.  After Marty Magers made a great kick save on a shot from Jack Combs, Combs snuck his own rebound past Magers' left to tie the game at 2:22.  At 3:12 in the period, Luke Lucyk scored from close range to give Tulsa a 2-1 lead.  Chad Costello scored Tulsa's third unanswered goal at 13:09, finishing off a two-on-one rush started by Combs.  Andrew Martens scored a key goal with 28 seconds left in the period to cut the lead to 3-2.  Martens connected on a one-timer from the right point that was setup by Kory Scoran.

Combs scored his second of the night at 11:46 in the third to make it 4-2 Tulsa.  Combs ripped a shot from the right half boards past Magers during a power play.

Magers took the loss, saving 20 of 24.  Keserich earned the win, stopping 37 of 39 and finishes the season 6-1-0 against the Thunder.  Wichita was 0 for 7 on the power play.  Tulsa was 1 for 8.

Prior to the game, the Wichita Thunder alumni topped the Oilers alumni for a second time in as many meetings this year, winning 8-7.

The Thunder closes the regular season on Sunday versus the Mississippi RiverKings at 5:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder lost 5-3 to the Tulsa Oilers at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Friday night.

Wichita's loss combined with Quad City's loss at Dayton has guaranteed them the fifth seed in the Turner Conference playoffs next week.  Wichita will now face the fourth seed in the opening round, which has yet to be determined.

The Oilers claimed a 1-0 lead at 16:41 in the first when Michel Beausolei took a pass from Jack Combs and ripped a shot past the right side of Kevin Beech.

Tulsa took a 2-0 lead 41 seconds into the second period.  After Beech stopped a quick shot from Anthony Battaglia, Derek Eastman slipped the rebound under Beech's left pad for the score.  Kory Scoran cut the lead in half, blasting a shot from the middle point that traveled over the right shoulder of Oilers' goaltender Ian Keserich.  Matt Robinson knotted the score with his 40th goal of the season at 7:16, taking a cross-crease pass from Aaron Davis and shooting under Keserich's left pad from a tough angle along the goal line.  Anthony Battaglia put Tulsa back in front at 17:43 on a shot from the right circle that deflected off Beech and under the crossbar.

The Oilers ran off two more goals early in the third to break the game open.  Gary Steffes shot past Beech at 2:07 while Brennan Barker connected at 5:41 to make it 5-2.  Davis scored a power play goal at 7:49, tipping in Scoran's shot from the point to bring the Thunder back within two.

Beech took the loss, saving 16 of 21.  Keserich earned the win, saving 35 of 38.  Wichita was 1 for 2 on the power play.  Tulsa was 0 for 4.

The Thunder plays at Tulsa on Saturday at 7:35 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder hosts the Mississippi RiverKings on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. to close out the 2010-11 regular season.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- Wichita Thunder defenseman Andrew Martens has been named the Central Hockey League's 2011 Most Outstanding Defenseman.

Martens has skated in 62 of the Thunder's 63 games this season and is currently tied for second among CHL defensemen with 52 points.  Martens is tied for fourth with 14 goals, and ranks ninth in shot percentage at .101.  A native of Alberta, Canada, Martens has a plus/minus rating of +5 and has scored 47 points over his last 48 games.

Since November 24th, Martens has not gone more than two consecutive games without a point.  The 29-year old Martens has had three point streaks this season of five or more games, including a seven-game streak from January 25th-February 12th.  On February 5th at Fort Wayne, Martens became the first defenseman since the CHL's merger with the WPHL to score four goals in a game, turning the trick in a span of just 5:17.

Martens is the first Thunder player to earn a major CHL award since Paul Esdale was named Most Outstanding Defenseman in 2005.  Earlier this week, Martens was named to the 2011 All-CHL Team.

Including this year, Martens has now scored at least 30 points in five consecutive seasons.  The sixth-year professional played three years of college hockey at Bemidji State University before turning pro in 2006 with the ECHL's Greenville Grrrowl.  Martens saw extensive time in the AHL during the 2008-09 season with Manitoba and Toronto.

The Thunder hosts the Mississippi RiverKings tonight at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

INDEPENDENCE, MO- The Wichita Thunder lost 5-3 to the Missouri Mavericks at the Independence Events Center on Tuesday night.

The Mavericks overcame a pair of one-goal deficits during a three-goal second period that tipped the game in Missouri's favor.  With the Mavericks down 1-0, Ryan Jardine tied the game at 1:55 during a three-on-two rush.  Troy Schwab helped Wichita re-gain the lead at 3:57, carrying the puck around the net and shooting past Nolan's left.  But Missouri tied it at 4:41 on a power play goal from Brandon Coccimiglio, who snuck a rebound under Marc-Antoine Gelinas' right pad, and then took their first lead of the game at 9:00 on Jardine's second goal of the period.

Mike Berry converted a penalty shot 8:14 in the third to make it 4-2 Mavericks.  Berry was ruled to have been hauled down driving to the net before crashing into Marc-Antoine Gelinas.  Berry scored on a wristshot to Gelinas' left.  Dustin Donaghy cut the lead to 4-3 with a goal from the high slot at 9:22, but Todd Griffith scored on an empty net with 44 seconds left to close out the game.

A.J. Gale supplied the first goal of the night during a Thunder power play at 2:19 in the first.  Brent Cullaton passed to Gale who worked around the crease before shooting past the blocker side of Mavericks' goaltender Rob Nolan.

Gelinas saved 20 of 24 in the loss.  Nolan was 33 of 36 in the win.  Cullaton and Schwab each had two points.  Wichita was 1 for 3 on the power play.  Missouri was 1 for 4.

The Thunder hosts the Tulsa Oilers on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- Wichita Thunder defenseman Andrew Martens has been named to the 2011 All-CHL Team.

The six-man squad was voted on by the league's Head Coaches, Public Relations Departments, and select members of the media.

Martens opens the week tied for second among blue liners with 52 points, and tied for third with 14 goals.  Martens has skated in 61 of the Thunder's 62 games and has compiled a plus/minus rating of +6.  The Alberta native has now scored at least 30 points in five consecutive seasons.

On February 5th at Fort Wayne, the 29-year old Martens became the first defenseman to score four goals in a game since the CHL's merger with the WPHL.  Martens has strung together three point streaks this season of at least five games.

The rest of the 2011 All-CHL Team includes defenseman Darcy Campbell (Rio Grande Valley), forwards Riley Nelson (Colorado), Sebastien Thinel (Odessa), and Chad Woollard (Texas), and goaltender Rob Nolan (Missouri).

Martens is the first Thunder player to make the All-CHL Team since Travis Clayton and Paul Esdale were both named in 2005.

Martens is also a finalist for the CHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman award, which will be announced later this week.

For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

Thunder Has Another Winning Week
The Wichita Thunder won two of three games last week, beginning with a 6-4 road victory against the Quad City Mallards on Thursday night.  After falling behind 2-0 in the first, Wichita battled back to take three separate leads, with Bobby Hughes' shorthanded goal late in the third proving the difference.  Hughes and Troy Schwab each had two goals and two assists.  Schwab finished the game +4.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas saved 25 of 29 in the win.  The Thunder was 9 for 9 on the penalty kill.  Daniel Tetrault and Jesse Bennefield each had two points.

The Thunder lost 5-2 to the Missouri Mavericks in Independence on Friday night.  Missouri scored twice within the first seven minutes of the game, and while Kory Scoran cut the lead in half with a power play goal later in the period, the Mavericks re-extended their lead for good in the second.  Nick Sirota and Simon Watson both had two goals for Missouri.  Matt Robinson accounted for the Thunder's other goal.  Kevin Beech took the loss, saving 31 of 36.

Wichita came from behind to win 5-3 at Missouri on Saturday night.  A.J. Gale scored twice in the second period to wipe out a 3-1 Mavericks lead.  Troy Schwab supplied the game-winning goal with 2:33 left in regulation.  Aaron Davis and Matt Robinson also scored for the Thunder.  Kevin Beech picked up the win, saving 22 of 25.  Gale finished with three points.  Brent Cullaton had two assists in his return from team suspension.  It was the Thunder's first regulation win at the Independence Events Center in 10 tries.

Thunder Climbing CHL Attendance Race
The Wichita Thunder ranks third in the CHL in attendance at 5,342 fans per game.  Wichita needs to average 6,360 fans over their final two home games to finish in front of the Missouri Mavericks' current pace (5,403).  The Thunder has ranked second in the league in attendance each of the last five years.

The Race for Home Ice
While the Turner Conference playoff field has been set for over a week, the final seedings are far from decided.  Wichita currently sits in fifth place, four points back of Missouri and Bloomington for third and fourth place.  Wichita has one game in hand on Missouri while Bloomington has one game in hand on the Thund

Special Teams Excel
The Thunder had a productive week on special teams.  Wichita went 5 for 15 (33.3%) on the power play last week, with at least one goal on the man advantage in all three games.  Wichita's penalty kill was equally effective, converting 20 of 22 (90.1%) opportunities.

Playoff-Bound Thunder
Earlier this month, the Thunder clinched their first playoff berth in four years.  It is the 10th time in franchise history the Thunder is in the playoffs.

McClelland Joins Select Group
First-year Thunder Head Coach is in the Central Hockey League playoffs for a fifth consecutive season.  McClelland has guided the Mississippi RiverKings and Colorado Eagles to the playoffs twice each, reaching the President's Cup Finals with Colorado in 2009.  McClelland is now one of only four coaches in CHL history to lead three different teams to the playoffs.  Bill McDonald, Chris Stewart, and Todd Lalonde are the others.

Offensive Thunder
The Thunder is third in the league in goals for per game at 3.76.

Thunder Ironmen
Four players have skated in all 62 of the Thunder's games this year.  They are Chris Greene, Jesse Bennefield, Travis Wight, and Aaron Davis.

INTRUST Bank Arena Advantage
At 19-8-4 (.677), the Thunder has the best home record in the Turner Conference and second-best overall in the league.  Wichita has played exceptionally well at the INTRUST Bank Arena when hosting Turner Conference opponents.  The Thunder finishes the regular season 12-1-2 at home against the Turner, having lost in regulation just once.

'Turnering' it Around
A big reason for Wichita's success this season has been its record versus the top three returning teams in the conference.  Wichita is a combined 13-6-2 (.667) against Colorado, Rapid City, and Missouri, with winning records against all three.  The Thunder was 0-24-3 against those three clubs last year.

The Long March
The Thunder's final four games will be played in a span of six days.  Wichita opened the month of March having to play 14 games in 27 days.  The Thunder is currently 7-3-0 in March.

Martens CHL Finalist
Andrew Martens has been named a finalist for the CHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman award.  Martens is tied for second in the league among blue liners with 52 points, and tied for third with 14 goals.

Bennefield Among League's Best
Right wing Jesse Bennefield is tied for 12th in the league with 73 points and tied for seventh with 34 goals.  Bennefield has 93 goals and 203 points in 176 CHL games over the last three seasons.

Robinson Lighting the Lamp
Left wing Matt Robinson is second in the league with 39 goals.  Robinson trails Texas' Chad Woollard (42) in the CHL's scoring race.  Paul Jackson is the only Thunder player to ever lead the league in goals, scoring 71 in 1993-94.

Rookies Excelling
All three of Wichita's rookies have produced for the Thunder this season.  Forward Dustin Donaghy is tied for sixth among rookies with 13 goals.  Defenseman Steven Kaunisto ranks fourth with a +10 plus/minus rating.  Goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas is third overall in the league with 26 victories, and tied for second with four shutouts.

Roster Notes
Wichita made several transactions over the weekend.  Forward Lance Galbraith and defenseman Mike Looby were both placed on the 10-Day IR.  Defenseman Jason Goulet was activated from the 10-Day IR.  Left wing Brent Cullaton returned from team suspension.  Marty Magers is on Goaltender IR.

Catch the Thunder All Season
All 66 Thunder games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the season.

Up Next
The Thunder finally wraps up their busy March with a bevy of games this week.  The Thunder faces Missouri for a third straight game on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m.  Tuesday is the re-scheduled game that was snowed out on February 1st.

The Thunder returns home on Friday, March 25th when they host the Tulsa Oilers at 7:05 p.m.  Friday is Team Photo Night, courtesy of Allegiant Air, Eaton Place, Newman University, Oce, and The Wichita Eagle.  The first 5,000 fans through the door will receive a free 2011 Thunder team photo.  During the game, fans can also bid on the Thunder's 2011 wheelchair sweaters.  Proceeds from the auction will benefit Wheelchair Sports.

Wichita and Tulsa play at the BOK Center on Saturday night at 7:35 p.m.  The Thunder and Oilers alumni squads will have a rematch from their exhibition at the INTRUST Bank Arena on February 19th.

The regular season concludes Sunday when the Thunder hosts the Mississippi RiverKings at 5:05 p.m.  Sunday is 'Fan'demonium, presented by Wichita Technical Institute and Viega.  Great gifts will be thrown into the stands throughout the night.  There will also be an auction during the game for the Thunder's 2010-11 Meta Blade Record warm-up jerseys.

For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

INDEPENDENCE, MO- The Wichita Thunder beat the Missouri Mavericks 5-3 at the Independence Events Center on Saturday night.

A.J. Gale scored twice, while Troy Schwab scored the game-winning goal with 2:33 left in regulation.  It marked Wichita's first regulation win at the Independence Events Center in 10 games over the last two seasons.

Tied at 3-3 in the third, Brent Cullaton backhanded a pass from the left corner out to the crease where Schwab backhanded it past the left of Mavericks' goaltender Gerry Festa for the go-ahead goal.  Matt Robinson sealed the game with an empty netter at 19:40.

For a second straight night, the Mavericks used an early goal to jump out to a 1-0 lead.  Ryan Jardine wristed a shot past Kevin Beech 39 seconds into the game after taking a pass from Steven Later.  Aaron Davis tied it for Wichita at 10:37, ripping a shot from the left circle that Festa deadened, but could not stop from trickling through his five-hole.  Missouri re-gained the lead at 13:04 on a two-man advantage when Ray DiLauro scored on a one-timer from the right circle.

Mike Wakita scored from the left boards at 8:48 in the second to give Missouri a 3-1 lead, but Gale scored consecutive goals at 9:44 and 17:06 to tie the game.  Gale's first goal came on a backdoor pass that originated from Daniel Tetrault at the point, with Gale shooting past Festa's right.  The second came during a Thunder power play with Gale driving to the net and lifting the puck over Festa's left shoulder before being hauled down in front of the crease.

Kevin Beech stopped 22 of 25 for the win.  Festa was 25 of 29 in the loss.  The win pulls the Thunder within two points of both Missouri and Bloomington for third place in the Turner Conference playoff race.

Wichita was 2 for 5 on the power play and has scored two power play goals in three consecutive games.  Missouri was 1 for 7 on the man advantage.

Prior to the game, Lance Galbraith and Mike Looby were placed on the 10-Day IR.  Jason Goulet was activated from the 10-Day IR, while Cullaton returned from team suspension.

The Thunder and Mavericks play for a third straight game in Independence again on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  Wichita returns home on Friday, March 25th when they host the Tulsa Oilers.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

Photo Credit: Scott Thomas 

INDEPENDENCE, MO- The Wichita Thunder lost 5-2 to the Missouri Mavericks at the Independence Events Center on Friday night.

Missouri used two early goals to take control of the game.  Simon Watson scored past Kevin Beech just 1:45 into the contest, while Nick Sirota made it 2-0 at 6:58 on a deflection in front of the net.  Kory Scoran helped the Thunder cut the lead in half, scoring a power play goal on a one-timer from the point setup by Andrew Martens at 16:28.

Watson scored again at 7:55 in the second, skating towards the crease and beating Beech under his left pad.  In the third, Sirota became the second Mavericks player to score twice in the game, benefitting from a deflection off of Beech's skate from the red line at the 2:45 mark.  Matt Robinson slapped a puck past Rob Nolan during a Thunder power play at 5:52, shooting from the left halfboards, but Todd Griffith's power play goal at 15:17 sealed the game for Missouri.

Robin Richards picked up two fighting majors in the game, squaring off with Derek Knowles in the first and Mike Wakita in the third.  Daniel Tetrault also fought in the third, taking on Carlyle Lewis.

Beech was 31 of 36 in the loss.  Nolan earned the win, saving 22 of 24.  Wichita was 2 for 5 on the power play.  Missouri was 1 for 6.

The Thunder and Mavericks play in Independence again on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  Wichita returns home on Friday, March 25th when they host the Tulsa Oilers.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Cohrs 

MOLINE, IL- The Wichita Thunder defeated the Quad City Mallards 6-4 at the iWireless Center on Thursday night.

Bobby Hughes broke a 4-4 tie with a shorthanded goal with 2:54 left in regulation to propel the Thunder to the win.  Hughes and Troy Schwab each had two goals.

With Quad City on a power play, Hughes picked up a loose puck that trickled through the neutral zone.  Hughes grabbed the puck in the slot and drove closer to the net before beating Mallards' goaltender David Brown with a wristshot to his left.  Jesse Bennefield iced the game with an empty net goal with 1:02 left in the game.

Schwab scored his second of the night at 3:57 in the third to snap a 3-3 tie, tapping in his own rebound to the left of Brown.  Brandon Marino made it a 4-4 game at 10:41, dragging the puck around the left post and beating Marc-Antoine Gelinas with a high backhand shot.

Jared Brown scored the first goal of the night at 4:03 in the first period, beating Gelinas on a wrist shot from the right circle during an odd-man rush.  Later in the period, the Mallards went ahead 2-0 when Jake Riddle tipped the puck past Gelinas at 17:23 on a scramble in front of the crease.  Hughes cut the lead in half at 18:44, taking a drop pass from Jesse Bennefield and shooting past Brown from the slot.

Schwab tied the game at 2-2 at the 4:42 mark in the second.  Outnumbered by the Mallards' defense, Schwab beat Brown from the top of the right circle with a high shot that rang down under the crossbar.  Kory Scoran gave Wichita its first lead of the night with a power play goal at 7:26.  Hughes passed from behind the net where Scoran shot past Brown from close range.  Adam Maccarone re-tied the game at 9:09 in the second with a slapshot from the left circle.

Gelinas was 25 of 29 for the win.  Brown saved 28 of 33 in the loss.  Wichita was 9 for 9 on the penalty kill, including Hughes' shorthanded goal, while going 1 for 5 on the power play.

The win allowed the Thunder to sweep the regular season series from Quad City 4-0-0.

The Thunder plays at Missouri on Friday at 7:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  Wichita returns home on Friday, March 25th when they host the Tulsa Oilers.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- Wichita Thunder goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas has been named the Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week for March 7th-13th.

The rookie netminder went 3-0-0 last week with wins against Tulsa, Mississippi, and Quad City.  During the stretch, Gelinas posted a 1.63 goals against average and a .940 save percentage.

A native of St. Etienne de Lauzon, Quebec, Gelinas has put together a terrific rookie campaign.  Gelinas is second overall in the league with 25 wins, and tied for second with four shutouts.  The 22-year old Gelinas has proven durable as well, ranking fourth with 2400:40 minutes played.  The four shutouts are a Thunder single-season record.

For his accomplishments, Gelinas will receive a gift, courtesy of Oakley.

The Thunder plays at Quad City on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  Wichita returns home on Friday, March 25th when they host the Tulsa Oilers.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

Thunder Wins Three of Four
The Wichita Thunder earned six of eight points last week.  The Thunder came from behind and beat Tulsa 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday at the BOK Center.  Troy Schwab scored the game-winning goal with 43 seconds left in overtime.  Mike Looby tied the contest at 2-2 with a goal in the third period.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas earned the win, saving 25 of 27.  Aaron Davis scored for the Thunder.

Wichita defeated the Mississippi RiverKings 5-1 on Friday night at home.  Matt Robinson and Aaron Davis each had three points, with Robinson potting two goals.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas was 26 of 28 for the victory.  Davis, Dustin Donaghy, and Jesse Bennefield also scored Thunder goals.

The Thunder dropped a 4-1 game to the Allen Americans in Allen, TX on Saturday night.  Bobby Hughes scored Wichita's lone goal while Marty Magers was 25 of 29 in his first game since February 5th.  Nino Musitelli had two points in the win for the Americans.  Chris Whitley was the winning goaltender, saving 31 of 32.

Wichita finished the weekend strong with a 4-1 win versus Quad City on Sunday evening.  Aaron Davis netted two goals to lead the offense.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas was 28 for 29 in the victory.  Chris Greene and Jesse Bennefield also had Thunder goals.

Thunder Climbing CHL Attendance Race
The Wichita Thunder ranks third in the CHL in attendance at 5,342 fans per game.  Wichita needs to average 6,063 fans over their final two home games to finish in front of the Missouri Mavericks' current pace (5,385).  The Thunder has ranked second in the league in attendance each of the last five years.

Full Lineup
On Friday, the Thunder played with their seven highest-scoring forwards (Aaron Davis, Matt Robinson, A.J. Gale, Bobby Hughes, Troy Schwab, Jesse Bennefield, and Lance Galbraith) for the first time in 25 games.  The group had not played together since January 7th.

Playoff-Bound Thunder
Earlier this month, the Thunder clinched their first playoff berth in four years.  It is the 10th time in franchise history the Thunder is in the playoffs.

McClelland Joins Select Group
First-year Thunder Head Coach is in the Central Hockey League playoffs for a fifth consecutive season.  McClelland has guided the Mississippi RiverKings and Colorado Eagles to the playoffs twice each, reaching the President's Cup Finals with Colorado in 2009.  McClelland is now one of only four coaches in CHL history to lead three different teams to the playoffs.  Bill McDonald, Chris Stewart, and Todd Lalonde are the others.

Offensive Thunder
The Thunder is second in the league in goals for per game at 3.73.

Thunder Ironmen
Five players have skated in all 59 of the Thunder's games this year.  They are Chris Greene, Jesse Bennefield, Travis Wight, Aaron Davis, and Lance Galbraith.

Home Ice Advantage
The Thunder has one of the best home records in the league at 19-8-4.  Wichita has played exceptionally well at the INTRUST Bank Arena when hosting Turner Conference opponents.  The Thunder finishes the regular season 12-1-2 at home against the Turner, having lost in regulation just once.

'Turnering' it Around
A big reason for Wichita's success this season has been its record versus the top three returning teams in the conference.  Wichita is a combined 12-5-2 against Colorado, Rapid City, and Missouri, with winning records against all three.  The Thunder was 0-24-3 against those three clubs last year.  The Thunder begins a stretch of three straight games against Missouri later this week.

The Long March
The Thunder's final seven games will be played in a span of 11 days, including two sets of three games in three nights.  Wichita opened the month of March having to play 14 games in 27 days.

30 Goals
Both Matt Robinson (35) and Jesse Bennefield (31) have scored 30 goals in a Thunder sweater this season.  Wichita's last 30-goal campaign was by Travis Clayton (30) in 2006-07.  Wichita has had just one 20-goal scorer (Jason Duda, 2008-09) over the last three years.  A.J. Gale joins Robinson and Bennefield as Thunder players with 20-plus goals in 2010-11, with Aaron Davis (19) and Andrew Martens (14) within in reach.

Martens CHL Finalist
Andrew Martens has been named a finalist for the CHL's Most Outstanding Defenseman award.  Martens is second in the league among blue liners with 50 points, and third with 14 goals.

Bennefield Among League's Best
Right wing Jesse Bennefield is 13th in the league with 71 points and tied for eighth with 33 goals.  Bennefield has 92 goals and 201 points in 173 CHL games over the last three seasons.

Robinson Lighting the Lamp
Left wing Matt Robinson is second in the league with 37 goals.  Robinson trails Texas' Chad Woollard (40) in the CHL's scoring race.  Paul Jackson is the only Thunder player to ever lead the league in goals, scoring 71 in 1993-94.

Rookies Excelling
All three of Wichita's rookies have produced for the Thunder this season.  Forward Dustin Donaghy is tied for fourth among rookies with 13 goals.  Defenseman Steven Kaunisto ranks second with a +15 plus/minus rating.  Goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas is second overall in the league with 25 victories, and tied for second with four shutouts.

Roster Notes
Right wing A.J. Gale returned to the lineup on Friday after missing four games.  Forward Robin Richards has been scratched each of the last three games.  Marty Magers was activated from Goaltender IR.  Goaltender Kevin Beech was granted leave by the league.  Defenseman Jason Goulet is on the 10-Day IR.  Left wing Brent Cullaton is on team suspension.

Catch the Thunder All Season
All 66 Thunder games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the season.

Up Next
The Thunder has another busy week, playing three games on the road.  Wichita plays at Quad City on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.  The Thunder then plays at Missouri both Friday and Saturday.  Both contests against the Mavericks begin at 7:05 p.m.  The Thunder finally returns home on Friday, March 25th when they host the Tulsa Oilers at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For playoff tickets and information, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder beat the Quad City Mallards 4-1 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Sunday evening.

Aaron Davis scored two goals while Marc-Antoine Gelinas stopped 28 of 29 in the win.

Wichita scored twice in the second period to open a 3-1 lead.  Aaron Davis broke a 1-1 tie at 10:39, scoring his second goal of the night.  Davis took a centering pass from Matt Robinson and shot just under the crossbar for the go-ahead goal.  Chris Greene made it 3-1 at 14:57, faking out Mallards' goaltender Adam Russo on a two-on-one.  Greene brought the puck down the right circle and snuck it around Russo's left pad after the netminder came out to challenge him at the top of the crease.

Jesse Bennefield sealed the game at 15:58 in the third period, shooting past Russo's left during an odd-man rush.  Just prior, Gelinas made a key save on a Joel Gasper breakaway that kept Quad City from pulling back within one goal.

Quad City scored the first goal of the game at 8:12 in the first.  Tyler Sheast ripped a shot from the right half boards over the shoulder of Marc-Antoine Gelinas.  The Thunder evened things just 28 seconds later on a goal from Davis.  Andrew Martens flipped the puck through the length of the slot where Davis re-directed it behind Russo from just outside the crease.

Each team was 0 for 1 on the power play.  Russo took the loss, saving 44 of 48.  The Thunder finishes the regular season 12-1-2 against the Turner Conference at the INTRUST Bank Arena.

The Thunder plays at Quad City on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder next plays at home on Friday, March 25th against the Tulsa Oilers.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

ALLEN, TX- The Wichita Thunder lost 4-1 to the Allen Americans at the Allen Event Center on Saturday night.

Allen cracked a scoreless tie at 18:23 in the first on the power play.  Colton Yellow Horn carried the puck in front of the crease and made a backdoor pass that deflected off of Nino Musitelli's skate and into the net.  After the officials reviewed the call, the goal was allowed to stand.

After Brian McMillan's goal at 4:35 in the second gave Allen a 2-0 lead, Bobby Hughes responded 32 seconds later to bring the Thunder back within one.  Hughes led a two-on-one rush into the slot and scored on a snapshot past the right of Americans' goaltender Chris Whitley.

Liam Huculak made it 3-1 Allen at 10:43 in the third, while Tobias Whelan put the game away with a power play goal in the final minute of regulation.

Marty Magers stopped 25 of 29 in the loss.  Whitley earned the win, saving 31 of 32.  Wichita was 0 for 3 on the power play.  Allen was 2 for 5.

The Thunder hosts the Quad City Mallards Sunday at 5:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder defeated the Mississippi RiverKings 5-2 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Friday night.

Matt Robinson and Aaron Davis each had three points as the Thunder improved to 4-1-0 in the month of March.

Robinson scored twice in the second to help Wichita build a 3-2 lead.  With the game tied at 1-1, Robinson won a foot race to a loose puck in front of the crease and then beat RiverKings' goaltender Alexander Pechurskiy with a deke to his left.  Robinson made it 3-1 at 9:32, re-directing Aaron Davis' shot from the point through Pechurskiy's five-hole.  Chris Richards cut the lead to 3-2 at 13:23, converting a rebound to right of Marc-Antoine Gelinas.

Dustin Donaghy gave the Thunder some breathing room at the 14:23 mark in the third, beating Pechurskiy five-hole with a slapshot from halfway down the left boards.  Jesse Bennefield put the game away with an empty netter at 19:16.

Wichita opened a 1-0 lead at 8:54 in the first when Aaron Davis tipped in a rebound behind the left side of Pechurskiy.  A.J. Gale started the play off the right boards and passed to Matt Robinson in the slot who took the initial shot.  Chris Auger was credited with a goal at 16:10 in the first, backhanding a high shot that rang under the crossbar and then into the net.

Gelinas was 26 of 28 for the win.  Pechurskiy was 38 of 42 in the loss.  The Thunder was 0 for 5 on the power play while Mississippi was 0 for 3.

The Thunder plays at Allen on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder hosts the Quad City Mallards on Sunday at 5:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- Wichita Thunder defenseman Andrew Martens has been named a finalist for the Central Hockey League's 2011 Most Outstanding Defenseman Award.

Martens is joined by Darcy Campbell (Rio Grande Valley), Frankie DeAngelis (Fort Wayne), Derek Eastman (Tulsa), and Jason Krischuk (Texas).

Martens enters Friday third among CHL blue liners in both goals (14) and points (48).  The 29-year old Martens has played in 55 games and has a plus/minus rating of +7.

Prior to this season, the sixth-year pro had spent his entire career at the ECHL and AHL levels.  On February 5th at Fort Wayne, Martens became the first defenseman to score four goals in a game since the CHL's merger with the WPHL.  The Alberta native has strung together three point streaks this season of at least five games.

Martens played three seasons of college hockey at Bemidji State University before turning pro in late 2006 with the ECHL's Greenville Grrrowl.  Including this year, Martens has scored at least 30 points in five straight seasons.

Balloting for the league's annual awards will take place among CHL Head Coaches, team Communications Departments, and select members of the media.

For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

TULSA, OK- The Wichita Thunder defeated the Tulsa Oilers 3-2 in overtime at the BOK Center on Tuesday night.

Troy Schwab punched in the game-winner with 43 seconds left in overtime, sneaking the puck under left pad of Oilers' goaltender Trevor Cann from just outside the left post.

Mike Looby helped the Thunder get through regulation, scoring at 5:28 in the third to tie the game at 2-2.  Looby carried the puck through the right circle and slipped it behind Cann after a pass from Steven Kaunisto.

With the game scoreless, John Mori gave Tulsa a 1-0 lead with a shorthanded goal at 7:58 in the second period.  Mori came around the right post and poked the puck behind Marc-Antoine Gelinas for the goal.  Aaron Davis tied it at 1-1 at the 13:10 mark, shooting over the left shoulder of Cann from the right side of the slot.  Tulsa re-gained the lead when Tom Dignard stripped the puck at his own blue line and connected on the ensuing breakaway at 18:19.

Gelinas saved 25 of 27 to earn the win.  Cann took the loss, saving 36 of 39.  Each team was 0 for 3 on the power play.

The Thunder hosts the Mississippi RiverKings on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- For a second straight season, the INTRUST Bank Arena has topped the Central Hockey League's annual Best-of-the-Best poll.

The Thunder's home venue, now in its second year, took home first place honors for "Best Arena", "Best Locker Rooms", and "Best Press Box".

"We are thrilled to play in the CHL's premier arena", said Thunder General Manager Joel T. Lomurno.  "It has been very helpful to our recruiting this season and should be for years to come."

The poll lists the top three finishers in 50 categories, using input from players, coaches, and staff.  A feature story on this year's poll, written by Blake Sebring of The News Sentinel in Fort Wayne, IN, can be found here: http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110308/SPORTS/103080305

The INTRUST Bank Arena is a modern, state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue, perfect for concerts and conventions alike.  The arena features 22 suites, 40 loge boxes, and 300 premium seats with a total 15,000-seat capacity (www.intrustbankarena.com).

The arena has given Wichita a clear home ice advantage this season, where  the Thunder is 17-8-4 at home, and an even more impressive 11-1-2 against Turner Conference opponents.  The Thunder has played at the INTRUST Bank Arena since January 23rd, 2010.

Fifth-year Equipment Manager Brad Brungardt and First-Year Athletic Trainer Dennis Brogna placed third under "Best Training/Equipment Staff".

Wichita ranked second in the "Most Annoying Fans" category, with the Texas Brahmas having the honor of ending the Thunder's seven-year reign at the top.

Thunderdog, the teams 18-year old mascot earned second place billing for "Best Mascot".  Thunderdog fell one vote shy of beating Rio Grande Valley's Sir-Sting-A-Lot for first place.

For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

Thunder Takes Two of Three
The Wichita Thunder earned four of six points last week, beginning with a 7-6 shootout win versus Colorado on Tuesday.  Troy Schwab finished the night with three points, including the game-winner in the shootout.  Dustin Donaghy had two goals and an assist.  Jesse Bennefield and Lance Galbraith each had two points.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas was 4 for 4 in the shootout and 26 of 32 in regulation and overtime to earn the victory.

The Thunder topped the Rapid City Rush 3-2 on the road on Friday night.  Matt Robinson scored two goals to lead a second-period comeback.  Kevin Beech saved 33 of 35 to earn the win.  Dustin Donaghy also scored for the Thunder.

Rapid City earned a split of the weekend series with a comeback of their own, winning 2-1 on Saturday night in South Dakota.  Konrad Reeder and Jamie Carroll scored 2:03 apart in the third to erase a 1-0 Wichita lead.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas played well in the loss, saving 33 of 35.  Lance Galbraith scored the Thunder's lone goal.

Thunder Clinches Playoff Berth
With Evansville's loss to Fort Wayne on Sunday, the Thunder officially clinched its first playoff berth since the 2006-07 season.  It is the Thunder's 10th playoff appearance in franchise history.

McClelland in Playoffs Again, Joins Select Group
First-year Thunder Head Coach is in the Central Hockey League playoffs for a fifth consecutive season.  McClelland has guided the Mississippi RiverKings and Colorado Eagles to the playoffs twice each, reaching the President's Cup Finals with Colorado in 2009.  McClelland is now one of only four coaches in CHL history to lead three different teams to the playoffs.  Bill McDonald, Chris Stewart, and Todd Lalonde are the others.

Offensive Thunder
The Thunder ranks second in the league in offense, averaging 3.76 goals per game.

Thunder Ironmen
Five players have skated in all 55 games this season for the Thunder.  They are Chris Greene, Jesse Bennefield, Travis Wight, Aaron Davis, and Lance Galbraith.

Home Ice Advantage
The Thunder has one of the best home records in the league at 17-8-4.  Wichita has played exceptionally well at the INTRUST Bank Arena when hosting Turner Conference opponents.  The Thunder is 11-1-2 at home against the Turner, having lost in regulation just once.

'Turnering' it Around
A big reason for Wichita's success this season has been its record versus the top three returning teams in the conference.  Wichita is a combined 12-5-2 against Colorado, Rapid City, and Missouri, with winning records against all three.  The Thunder was 0-24-3 against those three clubs last year.

Bonus Hockey
The Thunder played 21 consecutive games decided in regulation from November 26th-January 17th.  Since then, Wichita has reached overtime or a shootout in seven of their last 20 contests.

The Long March
Wichita's final 11 games will be played in a span of 20 calendar days.  Wichita has three stretches of three games in three nights remaining on their schedule.

30 Goals
Both Matt Robinson (35) and Jesse Bennefield (31) have scored 30 goals in a Thunder sweater this season.  Wichita's last 30-goal campaign was by Travis Clayton (30) in 2006-07.  Wichita has had just one 20-goal scorer (Jason Duda, 2008-09) over the last three years.  A.J. Gale joins Robinson and Bennefield as Thunder players with 20-plus goals in 2010-11, with Aaron Davis (19) and Andrew Martens (14) within in reach.

Schwab Back in Full Force
Since missing 10 games during the month of January due to injury, center/right wing Troy Schwab has quickly returned to form.  The second-year pro has 15 points in his last 12 games, and 42 total points in 43 contests for the season.

Bennefield Among CHL's Best
Right wing Jesse Bennefield ranks 13th in the league with 67 points and tied for ninth with 31 goals.  Bennefield has 90 goals and 197 points in 169 CHL games over the last three seasons.

Robinson Lighting the Lamp
Left wing Matt Robinson is tied for third in the league with 35 goals.  Robinson trails Texas' Chad Woollard (39) and Rapid City's Ryan Menei (36) in the CHL's scoring race.  Paul Jackson is the only Thunder player to ever lead the league in goals, scoring 71 in 1993-94.

Dynamic D-Man
Defenseman Andrew Martens is tied for third among CHL blue liners with 47 points and third with 14 goals.  Paul Esdale led all CHL defensemen with 22 goals and 69 points in 2004-05.

Rookies Excelling
All three of Wichita's rookies have produced for the Thunder this season.  Forward Dustin Donaghy is tied for fifth among rookies with 12 goals.  Defenseman Steven Kaunisto ranks third with a +13 plus/minus rating.  Goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas is tied for fourth overall in the league with 22 victories, and ranks second with four shutouts.

Roster Notes
Center Bobby Hughes was activated from the 10-Day IR last week.  Defenseman Jason Goulet was placed on the 10-Day IR.  Marty Magers is on Goaltender IR.  Left wing Brent Cullaton is on team suspension.  A.J. Gale has been scratched the last three games.

Catch the Thunder All Season
All 66 Thunder games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the season.

Up Next
The Thunder has a busy week ahead, beginning with a road game at Tulsa on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.

The Thunder returns home on Friday, March 11th to host the Mississippi RiverKings at 7:05 p.m.  Friday is Youth Jersey Night, presented by Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Blockbuster Video, and 105.3 The Buzz.  The first 1,000 fans at the game ages 12 and under receive a free youth jersey.

The Thunder plays at Allen on Saturday night and returns home Sunday evening to host the Quad City Mallards at 5:05 p.m.  Sunday is American Family Insurance Buy-In Night.  Fans can stop by any participating American Family Insurance Agent's office for a free Upper Level ticket.

For tickets to this weekend's games, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com  For information on playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder has officially clinched a berth in the 2011 Central Hockey League playoffs.

By virture of the Evansville IceMen's 5-1 loss to the Fort Wayne Komets earlier this afternoon, the Thunder has guaranteed at least an eighth place finish in the Turner Conference.

It is the Thunder's first playoff berth since the 2006-07 season, and 10th overall in franchise history.  With 11 games remaining on their regular season schedule, Wichita will now focus on earning its highest possible seed for the tournament.  The conference's top four finishers earn home ice advantage in the opening round.

Eight teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs.  The first two rounds feature best-of-five series, while the Conference and President's Cup Finals are best-of-seven matchups.

Playoff tickets are available round-by-round, or in an entire block to ensure the same great seats at the INTRUST Bank Arena for all potential home playoff games

For more information, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL, or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

RAPID CITY, SD- The Wichita Thunder lost 2-1 to the Rapid City Rush at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center on Saturday night.

Konrad Reeder and Jamie Carroll scored at 5:27 and 7:30 in the third period respectively to erase a 1-0 Thunder lead.  Reeder tipped in a shot from the point by Gio Flaminio while Carroll scored on a slapshot along the right half boards.

Lance Galbraith broke a scoreless deadlock that lasted nearly two full periods, connecting on a one-timer with 56.3 seconds left in the second period.  Troy Schwab led a two-on-one during a Wichita power play and passed to the right circle where Galbraith scored past the left of Rush goaltender Danny Battochio.

Marc-Antoine Gelinas helped keep the Rush off the scoreboard through the first period, stopping 14 shots.  Gelinas cut down three clear-cut two-on-one rushes during the first.

Gelinas took the tough loss, saving 33 of 35.  Battochio earned the win, saving 26 of 27.  Wichita was 1 for 8 on the power play.  Rapid City was 0 for 7.

The Thunder travels to Tulsa on Tuesday to take on the Oilers at 7:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder returns home on Friday, March 11th when they host the Mississippi RiverKings.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Photo Credit: Mike Wolforth 

RAPID CITY, SD- The Wichita Thunder defeated the Rapid City Rush 3-2 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center on Friday night.

Kevin Beech saved 33 of 35 for the win, while Matt Robinson scored his 34th and 35th goals of the season.

Trailing 1-0 in the second, Robinson scored to the short side of the net during a Thunder power play at 2:39 to tie the game.  At 6:47, Dustin Donaghy took advantage of a turnover at Rapid City's blue line, and shot past the right of Rush goaltender Danny Battochio to give the Thunder a 2-1 lead.  Robinson made it three straight goals for Wichita at 12:47, bouncing one past Battochio after taking a pass from the left point from Andrew Martens.  Derek LeBlanc tipped in Ryan Menei's shot from against the right boards at 15:34 to trim the lead to 3-2.

Beech made several key saves for the Thunder in the period.  Inside the 9:00 marker, and with Wichita on a power play, Beech faced a three-on-one rush that he quelled with a poke check on Derek LeBlanc.  Later in the period, Beech rolled on his back to freeze a puck just before it could cross the goal line.

Beech was 8 for 8 in the third, helped by several plays by the Thunder defense, to hold on for the win.

Menei gave the Rush a 1-0 lead 1:34 into the game.  After receiving a centering feed from Scott Wray, Menei waited and then shot past the left of Beech for the game's first score.

Battochio was 21 of 24 in the loss.  Wichita was 1 for 4 on the power play.  Rapid City was 1 for 3.

The Thunder and Rush complete their series Saturday at 8:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder returns home on Friday, March 11th when they host the Mississippi RiverKings.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder beat the Colorado Eagles 7-6 in a shootout at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Tuesday night.

With the Thunder leading 1-0 in shootout after four rounds, Aaron Davis sealed the win with a quick wrister past Eagles' goaltender Kyle Jones.  Troy Schwab earned credit for the game-winner, sneaking the puck past Jones' right pad on a deke.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas stopped all four of Colorado's shootout attempts to earn the win.

It was the Thunder's first home shootout win since March 7th, 2007 when Wichita beat Colorado 3-2 at the Kansas Coliseum.  It was also the third straight game in which the Thunder went into overtime.

Colorado managed to push the game to overtime, scoring two power play goals in the third period that wiped away a 6-4 Thunder lead.  Daymen Rycroft netted a hat trick at 4:17 while Kevin Ulanski found the back of the net at 13:53 to tie the game.

The Thunder overcame a couple of early deficits to build a 4-2 lead after the first period.  Rycroft blasted a power play shot from the left circle that clanked just under the long corner of the net at 1:17 to give Colorado the early lead.  Steven Kaunisto responded 25 seconds later, tying the game on the front end of a two-on-one rush.  The Eagles went ahead 2-1 at 10:39 on another power play goal, this time with Riley Nelson forcing the puck in the net from around the left post.

At 11:42 in the first, Eagles' forward Alex Penner took a spearing penalty that resulted in a five-minute Thunder power play.  Wichita took full advantage, scoring twice to take their first lead of the night.  Lance Galbraith re-tied the game at 2-2 at the 12:24 mark, scoring high on a rebound in front of the crease left by Davis.  Jesse Bennefield scored in similar fashion 31 seconds later, finishing off a loose puck from Schwab.  Wichita made it 4-2 at 17:06 when Dustin Donaghy scored just inside the left post on a centering pass from Chris Greene.

Dan Sullivan's goal at 3:59 in the first pulled the Eagles within one, but Donaghy earned his second of the night at 11:59 to re-extend Wichita's lead.  Donaghy, who had just stepped onto the ice to begin a line change, scored under the crossbar from the high slot on a pass from Schwab.  Kory Scoran made it 6-3 Thunder at 15:32, scoring on the power play from the left corner.  Rycroft again made it a two-goal contest, netting his second of the game with 8.1 seconds left in the period while a delayed penalty was being called against Wichita.

Gelinas saved 26 of 32 in regulation and overtime.  Jones took the loss, saving 34 of 40 and two of four in the shootout.  Wichita was 3 for 9 on the power play.  The Eagles were 4 for 6.

The Thunder heads to Rapid City for a two-game series beginning Friday night at 7:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder returns home on Friday, March 11th when they host the Mississippi RiverKings.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Thunder Drops Two Heartbreakers, Gains Two Points
The Wichita Thunder picked up two of four points last week, falling twice in overtime.  Wichita dropped a wild 8-7 affair on Wednesday to the Texas Brahmas at home, battling back from three separate four-goal deficits to tie the game.  Greg Hogeboom scored the overtime game-winner for the Brahmas 27 seconds into the extra frame.  Matt Robinson scored two goals while Aaron Davis and Andrew Martens each had three points.

The Thunder fell 5-4 in overtime to the Colorado Eagles on Saturday night in a back-and-forth contest.  After Colorado took an early 1-0 lead, Matt Robinson, Jesse Bennefield, and Robin Richards scored in succession to put the Thunder in front 3-1.  The Eagles responded and patched together three straight of their own to re-gain the lead before Andrew Martens tied the game at 4-4 midway through the third period.  Adam Chorneyko potted the game-winner at 1:34 in overtime.

Offensive Thunder
The Thunder ranks second in the league in offense, averaging 3.77 goals per game.

Thunder Ironmen
After 52 games played this season, the Thunder has had six players appear in every contest.  They are Chris Greene, Jesse Bennefield, A.J. Gale, Travis Wight, Aaron Davis, and Lance Galbraith.

Bonus Hockey
The Thunder has gone to overtime in six of their last 17 games.  Prior to January 21st, the Thunder had played 21 straight games that were decided in regulation.

The Long March
The Thunder endures a greuling schedule to finish out the season.  Wichita plays their final 14 games in a span of just 27 days.  Nine of the Thunder's final 13 games will be on the road.  Wichita also does not have any consecutive home games left on their schedule.

30 Goals
Both Matt Robinson (32) and Jesse Bennefield (30) have scored 30 goals in a Thunder sweater this season.  Wichita's last 30-goal campaign was by Travis Clayton (30) in 2006-07.  Wichita has had just one 20-goal scorer (Jason Duda, 2008-09) over the last three years.  A.J. Gale joins Robinson and Bennefield as Thunder players with 20-plus goals in 2010-11, with Aaron Davis (19) and Andrew Martens (14) well within in reach.

Schwab Back in Full Force
Since missing 10 games during the month of January due to injury, center/right wing Troy Schwab has quickly returned to form.  The second-year pro has 11 points in his last nine games, and 38 total points in 40 contests for the season.

Bennefield Among CHL's Best
Right wing Jesse Bennefield ranks tied for 11th in the league with 65 points and tied for ninth with 30 goals.  Bennefield has 89 goals and 195 points in 166 CHL games over the last three seasons.

Robinson Lighting the Lamp
Left wing Matt Robinson is third in the league with 33 goals.  Robinson trails Texas' Chad Woollard (35) and Rapid City's Ryan Menei (34) in the CHL's scoring race.  Paul Jackson is the only Thunder player to ever lead the league in goals, scoring 71 in 1993-94.

Dynamic D-Man
Defenseman Andrew Martens is tied for second among CHL blue liners with 45 points and tied for first with 14 goals.  Paul Esdale led all CHL defensemen with 22 goals and 69 points in 2004-05.

Roster Notes
Center Bobby Hughes is on the 10-Day IR.  Center Matt Hubbauer is on the 30-Day IR.  Marty Magers is on Goaltender IR.  Left wing Brent Cullaton is on team suspension.

Catch the Thunder All Season
All 66 Thunder games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the season.

Up Next
The Thunder hosts the Colorado Eagles on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m.  Tuesday is Sonic Drive-In Buy-In Night, presented by Sonic Drive-In and KFH Radio.  Fans can stop by any participating Sonic Drive-In in the Wichita area and receive a free Green Level ticket to the game.

The Thunder plays at Rapid City both Friday and Saturday.  Both games are scheduled for 8:05 p.m.

For tickets to Tuesday's game, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

LOVELAND, CO- The Wichita Thunder lost 5-4 in overtime to the Colorado Eagles at the Budweiser Events Center on Saturday night.

Adam Chorneyko scored on a one-on-one rush at 1:34 in overtime, shooting through the five-hole of Marc-Antoine Gelinas.

The back-and-forth game saw the lead change a total of four times.  Down 3-2 entering the third, Colorado went in front 4-3 on goals from Aaron Schneekloth at 4:53 and Steve Haddon at 8:47.  Schneekloth wrapped a loose puck around the left post while Haddon scored on a slapshot from the top of the left circle.  Andrew Martens tied the game for the Thunder at 11:39, shooting from the point on a Thunder power play.

Colorado struck just 29 seconds into the game when Dan Sullivan tipped a centering feed through the five-hole of Gelinas.  Wichita rallied for three straight goals to run out the period, beginning with Matt Robinson at 5:20.  Robinson took Chris Greene's pass from the left half-wall and ripped it past the right of Eagles' goaltender Kyle Jones.  At 11:04, Jesse Bennefield's pass from the left corner deflected off of Jones' pad and into the net to give the Thunder a 2-1 lead.  Robin Richards scored Wichita's third goal of the period at 16:44.  While on a breakaway, Richards dragged the puck across the crease from right to left before backhanding it behind Jones.

Colorado trimmed the lead to 3-2 early in the second when Riley Nelson connected on the power play 15 seconds into the frame.

Gelinas was 33 of 38 in the loss.  Jones earned the win, saving 33 of 37.  Wichita went 1 for 9 on the power play.  Colorado was 2 for 6.

The Thunder hosts the Eagles on Tuesday, March 1st at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder fell 8-7 to the Texas Brahmas in overtime at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Wednesday night.

The Thunder battled back from three separate four-goal deficits to force overtime, but Greg Hogeboom's hat trick goal 23 seconds into overtime allowed Texas to escape with the win.

Wichita's comeback began in the second period in which they entered trailing 5-2.  Hogemboom scored a power play goal at 5:55 in the period to give Texas their third four-goal lead of the night.  Wichita responded with three unanswered goals to pull within 6-5.  Steven Kaunisto re-directed Jason Goulet's shot from the point past the right of Brahmas' goaltender Scott Reid at 6:07 to cut the lead to 6-3.  At 13:05, Aaron Davis took a centering pass from Matt Robinson before poking the puck just inside the right post to make it 6-4 Texas.

The Thunder made it a one-goal game at 14:56 in the second when Lance Galbraith beat Reid on a breakaway, using a wristshot past his right.  Galbraith grabbed the puck from Andrew Martens who made a clean pass through the neutral zone.  Wayne Savage came in for Reid after Galbraith's goal.  Texas inched forward to 7-5 with 16.5 seconds left in the period on a one-timer from Jason Krischuk who was fed off the right boards by Hogeboom.

Jesse Bennefield sliced the lead to 7-6 at 5:36 in the third.  Robinson delivered his second of the night at 9:06 to finally tie the game, stickhandling his way through the zone and then beating Savage to his left with a backhander.

Texas came out firing in the first and built a four-goal just over halfway through the period.  Darryl McArthur punched in on a wide-open backdoor 65 seconds into the game for the Brahmas first score.  Chad Woollard potted back-to-back goals at 2:57 and 11:10 before Hogeboom ripped a shot from the high slot at 12:22 to make it 4-0.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas relieved Kevin Beech after Texas scored their fourth goal.

Robinson put the Thunder on the board at the 13:23 mark in the first, cleaning up a rebound left from a shot by Aaron Davis.  Brian Ihnacak made it 5-1 Brahmas at 13:38 before A.J. Gale connected with 1:04 left in the opening period.

Wichita recorded 60 shots on goal, tying a franchise single-game record set on March 8th, 1994.  Texas had 29 shots.  Savage earned the win in relief, saving 21 of 23.  Reid was 32 of 37.  Gelinas went 17 of 21 in the loss.  Beech was 4 for 8.  The Thunder was 1 for 3 on the power play while the Brahmas were 1 for 4.

The Thunder plays at Colorado on Saturday at 8:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder returns home on Tuesday, March 1st versus the Eagles.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Thunder Splits Four Games
The Wichita Thunder took four of eight points in recent action.  The Thunder shutout the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 3-0 at the Century Tel Center on Tuesday.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas worked his fourth shutout of the season, making a career-best 38 saves.  Aaron Davis provided early offense with his third shorthanded goal of the year.  Troy Schwab and Robin Richards also scored.

The Thunder rolled to a 5-2 win versus the Mississippi RiverKings on Friday, their first in four head-to-head tries this season.  Jesse Bennefield led the offense, scoring two goals and two assists.  Troy Schwab collected three points, while Kory Scoran and A.J. Gale each had two.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas was 19 of 21 in the win.

Wichita fell 5-1 to the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday night.  The Thunder had a season-high 53 shots while allowing a season-low 12, but a three-goal first by the Oilers proved more than enough.  Former Thunder netminder Ian Keserich saved 52 of 53 in the win.  Matt Robinson scored Wichita's lone goal.  Kevin Beech was seven of eight over the final two periods in relief of Marc-Antoine Gelinas.

The Thunder lost 4-1 to the Texas Brahmas on Monday night in North Richland Hills, TX.  After taking an early 1-0 lead, the Brahmas scored four unanswered goals, including three on the power play, to pick up the win.  Kevin Beech saved 29 of 33 and also stymied a third period penalty shot while taking the tough loss.  Andrew Martens scored the Thunder's lone goal.

Tough Schedule
Including Monday's game at Texas, the Thunder plays the Brahmas, Colorado Eagles, and Rapid City Rush two games apiece over their next six.  Texas and Colorado opened the week in second place in the Berry and Turner Conferences respectively.  The Rush have won 13 games in a row and lead the Turner.

Offensive Thunder
The Thunder is averaging 3.70 goals per game, second most in the CHL.

Team Defense
The Thunder has allowed just 28.26 shots per game, fourth fewest in the league.

Thunder Ironmen
After 50 games played this season, the Thunder has had six players appear in every contest.  They are Chris Greene, Jesse Bennefield, Travis Wight, and Lance Galbraith.

Robinson Lighting the Lamp
Left wing Matt Robinson is tied for third in the league with 30 goals scored.  Robinson has scored 29 of them in just 41 games with Wichita.  Robinson is also 14th in the league with 56 points.

Bennefield Among CHL's Best
Right wing Jesse Bennefield ranks tied for ninth in the league with 63 points and tied for eighth with 28 goals.  Over the last three seasons, all spent in the CHL, Bennefield has 87 goals and 193 points in 164 games.

Gale Having Stellar Season
Right wing A.J. Gale is tied for 15th in the league with 55 points, and tied for 20th with 22 goals.  Gale has had three point streaks this season of seven or more games and was the CHL's Player of the Month for December.

Dynamic D-Man
Defenseman Andrew Martens is fifth in the league among blue liners with 40 points and tied for first with 13 goals.  Martens scored four goals in one game on February 5th at Fort Wayne.

Rookie Netminder Excels
Rookie goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas ranks 11th in the league with a 2.78 goals against averave, 15th with a .900 save percentage, and tied for third with 21 wins.  Gelinas is also tied for the league lead with four shutouts, a new Thunder single-season record.

Roster Notes
Center Bobby Hughes is on the 10-Day IR.  Center Matt Hubbauer is on the 30-Day IR.  Marty Magers is on Goaltender IR.  Left wing Brent Cullaton is on team suspension.

Catch the Thunder All Season
All 66 Thunder games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the season.

Up Next
The Thunder and Brahmas square off again Wednesday night at the INTRUST Bank Arena at 7:05 p.m.  Wednesday is Bombardier Learjet Buy-In Night.  Following the game, there will be a postgame party at Emerson Biggin's West, located at 21st and Maize.

The Thunder concludes the week Saturday night at Colorado for an 8:05 p.m. game.

For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX- The Wichita Thunder lost 4-1 to the Texas Brahmas at the NYTEX Sports Centre on Monday night.

Wichita took the early lead, but the Brahmas managed four unanswered goals, the last three of which came on the power play, to earn the win.

Wichita scored just 3:08 into the game for the first goal of the night.  Andrew Martens took a pass from Aaron Davis and scored from the blue line.  The Brahmas tied it 41 seconds later when Mick Lawrence backhanded an open rebound underneath the left pad of Kevin Beech.

Jason Deitsch fanned on a shot during a Texas power play early in the second period, but the puck slipped past Beech's right side at 1:38 to give the Brahmas a 2-1 lead.

Texas broke the game open with two more power play goals in the third.  Greg Hogebom ripped a backdoor pass from Deitsch under the left corner of the net on a five-on-three at 2:34.  Chad Woollard made it 4-1 at 7:31 on another man advantage, scoring on a slapshot from the point.

Beech stopped a penalty shot from Ross Rouleau late in the third and saved 29 of 33 in the loss.  Wayne Savage picked up the win for the Brahmas, saving 32 of 33.

Wichita was 0 for 4 on the power play while Texas was 3 for 5.

The Thunder returns home on Wednesday to host the Brahmas at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- Stars of past and present aligned at the INTRUST Bank Arena late Saturday evening as the Wichita Thunder defeated the Tulsa Oilers 9-8 in their first ever alumni game.

Scott Rozendal (Wichita 05-07, 08-09) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal, shooting under the left corner of the net at the 12:03 mark of the second half.  The goal, which gave Wichita its biggest lead of the event at 9-6, proved key as the Oilers pulled within one thanks to a pair of late goals by Doug Pirnak (98-00, 01-05) inside the final two minutes.  Pirnak finished the game with a hat trick.

The first several minutes were mostly defensive-minded for both sides, with Bobby Desjardins (Wichita 92-94) and Brian George (Tulsa) making key saves.

Former Team Captain and Head Coach Rob Weingartner (92-96) broke the ice at the 4:37 mark in the first half to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead.  Sean Roulston, who played under Weingartner in 2008, assisted on the goal.

The teams continued to trade goals throughout the first half until the score was tied 3-3 heading into the intermission.  Cory Dosdall (Wichita 96-99) accounted for both Thunder goals, coming at 6:23 and 15:47.

Sly Naud (Tulsa 92-96, 99-01) gave the Oilers their only lead of the night at 4-3 just 1:50 into the second half.  Naud finished the night with two goals.

The Thunder responded 67 seconds later when Weingartner setup a backdoor opportunity that was punched in by Sean Roulston.

Roulston's father, Tom (Wichita 94-95), put Wichita back in front at 5-4 at the 6:19 mark.  Bryan Wells (Wichita 93-96), another former captain and Head Coach had the assist.

Todd Newton (Tulsa 99-00) knotted the game yet again, scoring on a three-on-one at 7:08, but Dosdall scored his second of the night 15 seconds later to put Wichita in front for good.  Weingartner and Mike Hiebert (Wichita 97-98, 99-00) added goals for the Thunder before Rozendal capped off Wichita's offensive attack.

Brad Link (Wichita 98-99) and Brad Best (10-11) played in net for their respective teams during the second half.

Three of Wichita's four retired numbers were represented on the ice through Weingartner (#15), Jason Duda (#11), and Desjardins (#35).

The two alumni squads will have a rematch on Saturday, March 26th at the BOK Center, preceding the regularly scheduled game between the Thunder and Oilers.

The Thunder and Oilers play their regularly scheduled game at 7:05 p.m. tonight at the INTRUST Bank Arena.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder lost 5-1 to the Tulsa Oilers at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Saturday night.

Matt Robinson became the first Thunder player to score 30 goals in a season since 2006-07, but a three-goal first period by the Oilers was too much to overcome.

Mike Wirill snuck a backhander near the crease under the left pad of Marc-Antoine Gelinas at 6:30 in the first ti give Tulsa a 1-0 lead.  At 12:51, Jason Goulet hauled down Evan Kotsopoulos at the tail end of a breakaway, leading to a penalty shot.  Kotsopoulos converted the free chance with a backhander through Gelinas' five-hole.  The Oilers made it 3-0 at 13:10 when Anthony Battaglia deflected a rising puck just inside the right post.

Tulsa extended their lead to 4-0 when Marty Standish scored shorthanded 25 seconds into the second period.  Robinson punched in a loose puck on the backdoor at the 9:59 mark in the third.  Chad Costello scored on an empty net at 19:23 to provide the final margin.

The Thunder pounded out a season-high 53 shots while allowing a season-low 11.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas took the loss, allowing three goals on three shots in the first.  Kevin Beech saved seven of eight over the final two periods in relief.  Ian Keserich picked up the win, stopping 52 of 53.  Wichita was 0 for 6 on the power play while Tulsa was 0 for 2.

Prior to the game, the Thunder defeated the Oilers 9-8 in the teams' first ever alumni game.

The Thunder plays at Texas on Monday at 6:00 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder hosts the Brahmas on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder and Thankful American Civilians (TAC) are holding a benefit night for USMC Sgt. Jonathon Blank tomorrow, Saturday, February 19 when the Thunder battles the Tulsa Oilers at INTRUST Bank Arena.

USMC Sgt. Jonathon Blank, 1st Marine Recon was hit with an IED on October 26 in Afghanistan when his team was fighting to take over a compound held by insurgents.  Jonathon, a native of Augusta, Kansas lost both legs and sustained serious internal injuries.  Jonathon will have many new challenges and added expenses to his life, including the need to purchase a new vehicle with a wheelchair lift as a means of transportation to gain his independence back, as well as many modifications to his house and simply adjusting to life.

The Wichita Thunder has teamed up with the local American Legions, American Legion Riders, Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary to fill the arena on February 19th and help Jonathon!  The first 1500 fans in attendance will receive a small U.S. Flag, while Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Mel Hambelton Ford will also make presentations to Jonathon.
 
The Thunder will hold a ceremony prior to the opening face-off, including a tribute video, numerous Color Guards, a re-enactment of the flag raising at Mount Sarabachi on Iwo Jima and a ceremonial puck drop by Jonathan’s family.  Congressman Mike Pompeo (R - Wichita) will also be on hand to present the Blank family with an honorary American flag which was flown over the U.S. Capitol.

Fans can get discount coupons for the event at numerous locations around Sedgwick County.  A generous portion of the proceeds purchased with these coupons will go to Jonathon.  To see the complete list, visit the Thunder website at www.wichitathunder.com.  A large crowd is expected, as over 6000 tickets have already been sold for the event.

Saturday’s game is also sponsored by Popeyes in support of C.A.R.E. Program at Heartspring.  A portion of proceeds from the game will also go to this cause.

Prior to this game members of the Wichita Thunder Alumni will battle the Tulsa Oilers Alumni at 5:30 p.m.  Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. for this evening’s events and the start time of the Thunder-Oilers game has been moved back to 7:35 p.m.  For more information or to order season tickets, please call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

Remember the Thunder office is not open on weekends, but fans can purchase tickets on Saturday at the INTRUST Bank Arena box office.

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder beat the Mississippi RiverKings 5-2 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Friday night.

Jesse Bennefield led the offense with Wichita's fifth hat trick of the season, helping the Thunder beat the RiverKings for the first time in four tries this year.

A.J. Gale capped off a defensive-minded first period with a goal at the 19:24 mark.  Aaron Davis led a three-on-one rush down the left side before making a centering pass to Gale.  Gale's one-timer went through the five-hole of RiverKings' goaltender Larry Sterling, hit the left post, and then bounced off the back of Sterling's pad and into the net.

Bennefield increased Wichita's lead to 2-0 at 2:02 in the second, deflecting Mike Looby's shot from the high slot over Sterling's left shoulder.  The Thunder scored in the final minute of play for a second straight period when Troy Schwab lifted a backhander from the right faceoff circle past Sterling's right with 27 seconds left on the clock.

After Matt Summers scored from close range at 1:38 in the third to get Mississippi on the board, Bennefield punched in Gale's backdoor pass along the crease just 1:40 later.  Bennefield potted his third of the night at 8:30, connecting on a breakaway setup by a headlong pass from Schwab.  Patrik Levesque cut the lead to 5-2 with a goal at 10:41, but Wichita kept the RiverKings scoreless for the rest of the night.

Marc-Antoine Gelinas stopped 19 of 21 for the win.  Sterling saved 31 of 36 in the loss.  Wichita was 0 for 5 on the power play.  Mississippi was 0 for 7.

The Thunder hosts the Tulsa Oilers Saturday night at 7:35 p.m.  Prior to the game, the Thunder plays its inaugural alumni game at 5:30 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

from www.centralhockeyleague.com

TEMPE, AZ- For the fifth consecutive poll and for the sixth time this season, the Allen Americans have been voted the #1 team in the Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll.  Allen continues to lead all CHL teams with 69 points and despite losing back-to-back games for the first time this season in their last two outings, are 34-10-1.  Allen is well on their way to winning the Berry Conference leading the second place Texas Brahmas by 16 points.

The Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll is released on or near the beginning and middle of each month throughout the regular season.  Each first place vote receives 10 points, second place votes earn nine points, etc.

All 10 teams on the CHL Coaches Poll remained the same from the poll released in early February.  The #2 and #3 teams switched places as the Turner Conference leading Rapid City Rush, winners of 11 straight games, take over the #2 spot and the Colorado Eagles drop to #3.  Wichita remains #4 and Bloomington remains #5 rounding out the top five.  The Rush have been the biggest movers over the past month moving up from the #9 spot in the mid-January poll to their current location at #2.

The Americans earned 16 first place votes and the Rush garnered the other two top votes.

The biggest advancement in the current poll belongs to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs who jump from #9 to #6 thanks to three wins in their last four outings.  The Tulsa Oilers reflect the biggest drop falling from #6 to #10.

Complete rankings in the Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll: http://www.centralhockeyleague.com/pressroom/poll/

-www.centralhockeyleague.com-

BOSSIER CITY, LA- The Wichita Thunder won 3-0 over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs at the Century Tel Center on Tuesday night.

Marc-Antoine Gelinas set a new Thunder single-season record with his fourth shutout of the year.  Gelinas stopped all 36 Mudbugs' shots, including a staggering 21 in the final period.

Gelinas made several brilliant saves from close range throughout the game, and was helped by a number of defensive plays in a third period that saw Wichita get outshot 21-0.

Aaron Davis put Wichita in front 1-0 with a shorthanded goal at the 5:14 mark in the first.  A.J. Gale's shot from the top of the right circle created a rebound in the low slot that Davis banged past the left of Mudbugs' goaltender John DeCaro.  It was Davis's third shorthanded goal of the season.  In the closing seconds of the period, and with the Thunder on a power play, Matt Robinson was struck in the face with a puck that created a breakaway  for Simon Mangos.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas stopped Mnagos's attempt to tie the game and then halted Shawn Limpright's rebound opportunity near the left post as time expired.

The Thunder increased its lead to 3-0 after the second.  Robin Richards's took a backhand shot in front of the net that hit the crossbar and eventually settled behind DeCaro at 14:18.  The Thunder struck again at 18:17 on a goal from Troy Schwab.  Jesse Bennefield made a circle-to-circle pass to Lance Galbraith who passed into the slot where Schwab punched through a wide-open backdoor.

DeCaro was 15 of 18 in the loss.  Each team went 0 for 5 on the power play.

The Thunder hosts the Mississippi RiverKings on Friday at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Thunder Wins One, Drops Two
The Wichita Thunder went 1-2-0 last week, playing three games in three nights.  Wichita fell 5-3 to the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on Friday night at home, allowing three shorthanded goals.  The Thunder twice pulled within one goal in the third period, but were unable to tie the game.  Troy Schwab, Matt Robinson, and Mike Looby all scored with Andrew Martens and Lance Galbraith each chipping in two assists.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas saved 12 of 17 in the loss.  The crowd of 10,114 at the INTRUST Bank Arena was the second-largest in the Thunder's 19-year history.

The Thunder earned a dramatic 4-3 overtime win versus Bloomington on Saturday night.  Wichita overcame a 3-0 deficit, including a game-tying goal from Lance Galbraith with 47.3 seconds left in regulation.  Aaron Davis scored the game-winner in overtime during a Thunder power play.  Jesse Bennefield netted two goals, while Troy Schwab and Galbraith finished with three points each.  Kevin Beech stopped 22 of 25 in the win in his Thunder debut.  It was the Thunder's first home overtime victory since Jason Tessier beat Odessa in OT on February 7th, 2009 at the Kansas Coliseum.

The Thunder closed out the weekend with a 4-1 loss at Mississippi on Sunday.  Daniel Tetrault tied the game at 1-1 in the third, but the RiverKings struck twice within 10 seconds shortly thereafter to re-gain the lead for good.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday, had a strong game, making 30 saves on 33 shots.

Offensive Thunder
Wichita ranks second in the league at 3.80 goals per game.

Team Defense
The Thunder has allowed the fourth fewest shots in the league per game at 28.46.

Penalty Shot Bonanza
The Thunder has taken seven penalty shots this season, breaking the team's previous record of five set during the 2005-06 campaign.  Wichita is 2 for 7 in their chances this year.  Jesse Bennefield has been awarded a team-leading four penalty shots, going 2 for 4.

Gale Having Stellar Year
Right wing A.J. Gale had a 10-game point streak snapped on Sunday at Mississippi.  It was Gale's third point streak this season of seven or more games.  Gale was named the CHL's Player of the Month for December and has 45 points over his last 31 games and ranks tied for 14th in the league with 52 points for the season.

Bennefield Among League's Best
Right wing Jesse Bennefield is having a third consecutive all-star year in the CHL.  Bennefield is tied for ninth in the league with 58 points and tied for eighth with 26 goals.  Bennefield has 188 points in 160 CHL games over the last three seasons with Wichita and Rio Grande Valley.

Robinson Lighting the Lamp
Left wing Matt Robinson is tied for third in the league with 29 goals and 12th with 56 points.  Robinson has scored 28 of his goals in just 37 games with the Thunder.  Robinson had a seven-game point streak broken on Sunday afternoon.

Dynamic Martens
Defenseman Andrew Martens is tied for third among CHL blue liners with 38 points and tied for first with 12 goals.  Martens had a seven-game point streak snapped on Sunday in which he totaled four goals and eight assists.

Roster Notes
Center Bobby Hughes is on the 10-Day IR.  Center Matt Hubbauer is on the 30-Day IR.  Left wing Brent Cullaton is on team suspension.  Robin Richards, Jason Goulet, and Marty Magers have all served out their suspensions resulting from the February 5th game at Fort Wayne.

Catch the Thunder All Season
All 66 Thunder games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the season.

Up Next
The Thunder plays their lone game this season against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. at the Century Tel Center.

The Thunder returns home on Friday to host the Mississippi RiverKings at 7:05 p.m. for Alefs Harley Davidson Night.

Saturday, the Thunder hosts the Tulsa Oilers at 7:35 p.m.  Prior to the regularly scheduled contest, the Thunder and Oilers will play their first ever alumni game at 5:30 at the INTRUST Bank Arena, presented by 104.5 The Fox.  The gates open for the alumni game at 5:00 p.m.  Fans can use their regular game ticket to gain admission to the event.

Saturday is also Jonathan Blank Benefit Night, in conjunction with Thankful American Citizens, The American Legion, American Legion Riders, Sons of the American Legion, and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.  Proceeds from the game will benefit Jonathan Blank, a US Marine Corps Sgt. and native of Augusta, KS, who injured in combat while in Afghanistan last October.  More information about how to get involved can be found here: http://www.wichitathunder.com/jonathonblankbenefitnight.html

For tickets to next weekend's games, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

SOUTHAVEN, MS- The Wichita Thunder lost 4-1 to the Mississippi RiverKings at the DeSoto Civic Center on Sunday afternoon.

R.G Flath and Brennan Sarazin scored 10 seconds apart midway through the third to break a 1-1 tie and open a 3-1 RiverKings' lead.  Flath knocked in a rebound near the crease at 9:08, while Sarazin drove to the net on the ensuing faceoff and slipped the puck past the left of Marc-Antoine Gelinas.  Daniel Tetrault had tied the game for Wichita at 8:11 with a power play goal from the high slot.

Gelinas, who turned 22 Sunday, stopped 30 of 33 in the tough loss.  RiverKings' goaltender Larry Sterling was 33 of 34 in the win.

The RiverKings scored the first goal of the game at 5:27 in the second.  Derek Landmesser lofted a shot from the blue line that ticked off the crossbar and behind Gelinas.  The teams battled to a scoreless tie after the first, with both Gelinas and Sterling making several key saves.

Each team was 1 for 7 on the power play.

The Thunder plays at Bossier-Shreveport on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder returns home on Friday, February 18th when they host the RiverKings at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder won 4-3 in overtime over the Bloomington Prairie Thunder at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Saturday night.

Wichita overcame a three-goal deficit, including a game-tying goal from Lance Galbraith with 47.3 seconds left in regulation, before Aaron Davis scored at 2:37 in overtime for the win.

With an extra attacker on the ice, Matt Robinson led the game-tying rush, carrying the puck down the left boards and behind the net.  Robinson slipped the puck in front of the crease where Galbraith crashed through the slot and knocked it past the right of Bloomington goaltender Brad Phillips.

In overtime, A.J. Gale faked before stepping to his left and blasting a shot from the high slot that Davis re-directed over Phillips' left shoulder for the game-winner.

It was Wichita's first home overtime win since February 7th, 2009.

Bloomington scored twice in the first to take an early 2-0 lead.  Brett Holmberg opened the scoring at 4:28, shooting high on Kevin Beech on a rebound from the slot.  Billy Bezeau slipped a goal past Beech's left from just outside the crease at 13:09.

After Jon Booras' wrist shot at 6:58 in the second gave Bloomington a 3-0 lead, Jesse Bennefield put the Thunder on the board, banging in a backdoor rebound during a Wichita power play at 17:05.

Bennefield sliced the lead to 3-2, scoring at 4:49 in the third.

Beech, who was making his Thunder debut, made several key saves in the second to keep Wichita in the game.  Beech finished the night 22 for 25.  Phillips took the loss, saving 30 of 34.  Wichita was 2 for 10 on the power play while Bloomington was 0 for 3.

The Thunder heads to Mississippi for a Sunday afternoon match at 3:00 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder returns home on Friday, February 18th when they host the RiverKings at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder lost 5-3 to the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Friday night.

The Thunder allowed three shorthanded goals in the loss, while outshooting the Killer Bees 46 to 17.  10,114 fans attended the game, ranking as the second-largest crowd in Thunder history.

The Thunder twice pulled within one goal in the third period, but Rio responded each time.  Down 3-1, Matt Robinson poked in a rebound at 6:05, but Aaron Lewicki scored his second shorthanded goal of the night at 7:46 to re-extend the lead.  After Mike Looby cut the deficit to 4-3 with a power play goal from the low slot at 8:42, the Killer Bees potted the final goal of the game at 12:32 on a score from Dan Gendur.

Troy Schwab scored the first goal of the night at 12:01 in the first period, driving the puck in from the slot after taking Lance Galbraith's pass from behind the left post.  Zal McClellan tied the game with a shorthanded goal, during a Wichita two-man advantage, at the 13:55 mark.  Wichita had two goals waved off by the officials during the first.

Aaron Lewicki battled through the Thunder slot and scored Rio's second shorthanded goal of the night at the 3:03 mark in the second.  Bo Cheesman made it 3-1 at 10:49, scoring on a shot that ricocheted off two posts.

Marc-Antoine Gelinas took the loss, saving 12 of 17.  Juliano Pagliaro earned the win, saving 43 of 46.  Wichita was 1 for 7 on the power play while Rio Grande Valley was 0 for 3.

The Thunder hosts the Bloomington Prairie Thunder on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder signed goaltender Kevin Beech to a five-game contract on Thursday afternoon.

Beech appeared in 19 games this season with the Texas Brahmas, going 8-4-2 with a 3.25 goals against average and an .891 save percentage.  On November 6th, Beech worked a 26-save shutout against the Arizona Sundogs.  The Brantford, Ontario native is in his fifth season of professional hockey, and has ranked in the Central Hockey League's top-10 in goals against average each of the last three years.

Beech was named the CHL's Most Outstanding Goaltender in 2009, leading the league with 35 wins while playing for the Mississippi RiverKings.  The 24-year old backstop also finished fourth that season with a 2.44 goals against average.  Beech joins the Thunder with career marks of 3.37 and .901 in 159 professional games.

Beech played four years of Major Juniors in the OHL before turning pro in 2007 with the AHL's Springfield Falcons.  A former sixth round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2005, Beech has seen time in the CHL with Laredo, Youngstown, Mississippi, Corpus Christi, and Texas.

Beech is expected to be in uniform this weekend, beginning Friday night versus Rio Grande Valley.

Earlier in the week, goaltender Marty Magers was suspended three games by the CHL as a result of last Saturday's game at Fort Wayne.  Defenseman Jason Goulet and forward Robin Richards were each suspended two games.

The Thunder hosts the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Thunder Closes Out Long Trip With Loss
The Wichita Thunder went 0-1-1 last weekend, closing out a 10-day road trip at 2-1-1.  The Thunder lost 5-4 in a shootout at Fort Wayne on Friday night.  The Komets scored four goals in the third to erase a 4-0 Thunder lead, before outscoring Wichita 2-0 in the shootout for the win.  Matt Robinson, Chris Greene, Lance Galbraith, and Jesse Bennefield all scored for the Thunder.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas made a season-high 38 saves on 42 attempts in regulation and overtime in the loss.

Wichita fell 5-4 to the Komets in a wild game on Saturday night.  Andrew Martens scored four goals in the second period to help Wichita battle from a 3-0 hole to a 4-4 tie.  Fort Wayne regained the lead for good with an early goal in the third period.  Komets' goaltender Nick Boucher stopped Matt Robinson's penalty shot with 2.3 seconds left in regulation to keep Wichita from tying the game.  Following the penalty shot, a series of fights and penalties took place that resulted in 205 PIM between the two teams.  The Thunder finishes their inaugural season series with the Komets 1-1-1.

Martens Quartet One for the Record Books
Andrew Martens became the first defenseman since the CHL's merger with the WPHL to score four goals in a game.  Martens is also the first player to pot four goals in a single period since Mississippi's Louis Dumont in December of 2009.  The feat took just 5:17 with a Fort Wayne goal mixed in between.  Martens' first two goals came 26 seconds apart.

Consistent Thunder
Saturday marked the first time since December 25th that the Thunder lost consecutive games.  The Thunder is 12-3-2 in their last 17 games.

Road Warriors
The Thunder has played well on the road of late.  Since December 29th, the Thunder is 6-2-1 away from the INTRUST Bank Arena.

Robinson Lighting the Lamp
Left wing Matt Robinson is a on five-game point streak (4 G, 5 A) and is tied for third in the CHL with 28 goals scored.  Robinson is also 10th in the league with 53 points.

Bennefield Among League's Best
Right wing Jesse Bennefield is ninth in the league with both 55 points and 24 goals.

Gale Streaking Again
Right wing A.J. Gale is riding an eight-game point streak (5 G, 9 A), and is tied for 12th in the league with 50 points.  Since December 10th, Gale has had two other streaks that lasted seven games.  Gale has 43 points in his last 29 games.

Martens Moving Up the Ranks
After a five-point weekend, Andrew Martens now leads all CHL defensemen with 12 goals and ranks third with 35 points.

Heavyweight Thunder
Robin Richards is now fifth in the league with 143 PIM and ranks tied for third with 15 majors.  Jason Goulet's 111 PIM and 13 majors are fifth and third respectively among defensemen.

Gelinas Strong in Net
Goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas is all over the leaderboards in his rookie season.  The 21-year old is tied for third with 19 wins, tied for ninth in goals against average (2.75), 10th in save percentage (.903), and tied for first with three shutouts.

Stars Among Stars
Matt Robinson currently ranks third among the CHL's three star leaders with 42 points.  Robinson has earned three star honors 14 times this season.  Jesse Bennefield is tied for 13th with 33 points.

Roster Notes
Center Bobby Hughes is on the 10-Day IR, while center Matt Hubbauer is on the 30-Day IR.  Last week, Troy Schwab was activated from the 10-Day IR while Brent Cullaton was placed on the team suspension.  Kory Scoran was scratched from Saturday's game at Fort Wayne.

Catch the Thunder All Season
All 66 Thunder games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the season.

Up Next
The Thunder returns home on Friday, February 11th when they host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at 7:05 p.m.  Friday the 11th is Credit Union of America Buy-In Night.  Fans can stop by any participating Credit Union of America and pick up a free Upper Level voucher for the game.  Friday is also the Thunder's first ever White-Out Night.  Fans are encouraged to wear white to the arena, while the merchandise stand will offer 15% off all white apparel (excluding jerseys).

Saturday, February 12th is the Thunder's fourth annual Pink at the Rink Night, presented by AT&T Real Real Yellow Pages, Protection One, Salon Knotty, and KFDI.  The Thunder will wear special pink sweaters which will be auctioned off during the game.  Proceeds from the event will be donated to help raise the awareness of all forms of cancer.

For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

FORT WAYNE, IN- The Wichita Thunder lost 5-4 to the Fort Wayne Komets at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night.

Wichita rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game, but P.C. Drouin's goal at 3:08 in the third gave Fort Wayne a 5-4 lead that they held through the end of the game.

Driving to the net on a power play with an extra attacker, Matt Robinson was awarded a penalty shot with 2.3 seconds left when the Komets' were called for covering the puck in the crease.  Robinson was stopped by Fort Wayne goaltender Nick Boucher who used a poke check in front of the crease.

Following the penalty shot, a series of fights and penalties broke out beginning with Thunder goaltender Marty Magers, who attempted to fight Boucher.  Boucher refused and Magers was sent to the locker room.  Lance Galbraith and Daniel Tetrault then dropped the gloves with Bobby Phillips and Craig Cescon respectively.

Before what would have been another faceoff, Jason Goulet locked horns with Dustin Molle, while Robin Richards fought Kaleigh Schrock.  The Thunder totaled 124 penalty minutes in the game.

Andrew Martens rallied the Thunder from a 3-0 deficit in the second to an eventual 4-4 tie by the end of the period.  Martens connected twice on a power play just 26 seconds apart at 8:25 and 8:51.  The Komets re-extended the lead to 4-2 on a goal from Mathieu Curadeau at 9:48, but Martens popped two more at even strength at 11:40 and 13:42 to tie the game.

It was the first time since the CHL's merger with the WPHL that a defenseman scored four goals in a game.

The Komets built a 3-0 lead at the end of the first.  Kaleigh Schrock scored at 8:23 for the first goal of the night.  Tab Lardner connected on a two-on-one to the left side of Magers at 10:10.  Frankie DeAngelis fired a rebound past Magers at 13:46 to make it 3-0.

The Thunder returns home on Friday, February 11th when they host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

FORT WAYNE, IN- The Wichita Thunder lost 5-4 in a shootout to the Fort Wayne Komets at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Friday night.

Fort Wayne rallied for four goals in the third to wipe out a 4-0 Thunder lead, before outscoring the Thunder 2-0 in the shootout for the win.

Bobby Phillips lofted a shot past Marc-Antoine Gelinas at 2:43 in the third to get Fort Wayne on the board at 4-1.  At 12:10, Tab Lardner tipped in a rebound at the end of a Komets' power play to cut the lead in half.  With just over 40 seconds left in regulation, Sean O'Connor made it 4-3 while Lardner tied it with 8.6 seconds left to send the game to overtime.

Fort Wayne had five power plays in the third period, including a stretch of four straight 8:07-16:29.

The Thunder scored twice late in the first to build a 2-0 lead.  Matt Robinson scored a power play goal from the right hash mark at 15:43, beating Komets' goaltender Nick Boucher over the left shoulder.  At 17:23, Chris Greene deflected Dustin Donaghy's shot from the point around Boucher's right skate to make it 2-0.

Wichita scored twice more in the second to increase its lead to 4-0.  Lance Galbraith connected on a perfect backdoor pass from Jesse Bennefield at 5:02 to finish off a two-on-one rush.  Later in the period, Bennefield beat Boucher on a penalty shot that bounced off his blocker and into the net.

Gelinas took the loss, saving 38 of 42.  Boucher earned the win, stopping 21 of 25.  Wichita was 1 for 5 on the power play, while the Komets were 1 for 7.  Bennefield's goal was his second penalty shot goal of the season.

The Thunder and Komets finish their series Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.  The Thunder returns home on Friday, February 11th when they host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- Several Wichita Thunder players recently visited with Victory in the Valley Support Groups in anticipation of the team's fourth annual Pink at the Rink Night on February 12th versus Bloomington.

The Wichita Thunder invites all survivors, as well as those fighting their battle, onto the ice during the first intermission for the special survivor walk and luminary ceremony.  Participants will receive their goody bags on the ice.  Wear your cancer awareness color to the game.  Please sign up to participate in the survivor walk with Victory in the Valley at 3755 East Douglas Avenue, or at the Wichita Thunder business office at 505 W. Maple, #100.  You can also register the night of the game at the Fan Relations table behind section 121.  Check-in for the Survivor walk will be no later than the 10-minute mark of the first period at Fan Relations.  Proceeds will be donated to Victory in the Valley.

The Thunder will wear special pink sweaters which fans can bid on during the game.

Tables hosted by Be The Match, The Cancer Center of Kansas, Chris Cakes of Wichita, and Victory in the Valley will be on the concourse that night to help educate fans on the fight against cancer.

More details about Pink at the Rink Night 2011 can be found here: http://www.wichitathunder.com/pinkattherink.html

The Thunder faces the Fort Wayne Komets tonight at 8:05 p.m. at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.  All the action can be heard live on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder next plays at home on Friday, February 11th when they host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- Tuesday's scheduled game between the Thunder and Missouri Mavericks has been postponed due to the expected inclement weather near the Kansas City area.

The game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 22nd at 7:05 p.m. at the Independence Events Center.  The Thunder will resume play on Friday for their scheduled game against the Fort Wayne Komets.

All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder returns home on Friday, February 11th when they host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

from www.centralhockeyleague.com 

TEMPE, AZ- For the fourth consecutive poll and for the fifth time this season, the Allen Americans have been voted the #1 team in the Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll.  The Americans are the number one team in the league with a 30-8-1 record and 61 points (nine more than the next closest team).  Allen is coming off an 8-3-0 record in the month of January.  The Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll is released on or near the beginning and middle of each month throughout the regular season.  Each first place vote receives 10 points, second place votes earn nine points, etc.

The Americans earned 15 first place votes, followed by Rapid City with two and Colorado with one.

Nine of the top 10 teams remained the same with the lone change being the Wichita Thunder (23-15-3) jumping into the poll all the way up to the #4 spot.  The Thunder were 9-2-1 in the month of January and are now poised in the fourth spot in the Turner Conference.  The team dropping out was the Odessa Jackalopes (19-18-5) who fell from #7 to outside of the top ten. 

The Rapid City Rush (24-17-4) and Tulsa Oilers (23-19-1) also made big jumps with the Rush moving up six spots (from #9 to #3) and the Oilers moving up four spots (from #10 to #6).

The biggest fall in the latest poll belongs to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (22-19-2) who drop from #2 all the way down to #10.

CLICK HERE for the complete rankings in the Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll.

-Thunder-

Thunder Point Streak Hits Eight
The Wichita Thunder went 2-0-1 last week and has collected at least one point in eight consecutive games.  The Thunder lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Rapid City Rush on Tuesday night at the INTRUST Bank Arena.  Matt Robinson scored twice for Wichita, while Les Reaney netted two for Rapid City, including the shootout game-winner.  Steven Kaunisto also scored for Wichita.  Brent Cullaton returned to the team, assisting on Kaunisto's goal.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas was 36 of 39 in regulation and overtime.

Wichita earned a 5-3 road win at Dayton on Friday in the inaugural meeting between the Thunder and Gems.  A.J. Gale recorded the first hat trick of his professional career, helping the Thunder rally from a third period deficit.  Aaron Davis and Jesse Bennefield also scored.  Gale, Kory Scoran, and Andrew Martens all finished +3, with Martens chipping in two assists.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas saved 17 of 20 in the win.

The Thunder pulled out another come from behind win on Sunday, beating Dayton 4-3.  Lance Galbraith and A.J. Gale scored 12 seconds apart inside the 16:00 mark to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas saved 23 of 26 in the win.  Matt Robinson and Aaron Davis also scored for the Thunder.

Thunder Streak First in Five Years
The last time the Thunder collected at least one point in eight consecutive games was during a nine-game stretch from February 22nd-March 10th in 2006.

Offensive Thunder
The Thunder ranks second in the league with 3.88 goals for per game.  During the last 14 games, in which the Thunder is 11-2-1, Wichita has totaled 59 goals (4.21).  The Thunder has scored 20 or more goals in 20 of their last 27 games.

Defense Improving
The Thunder has allowed just 40 goals in their last 15 games (2.67), and has risen to 12th in the league in defense at 3.39 goals against per game.

Robinson Atop the CHL
Left wing Matt Robinson has strung together three straight multi-point games and is tied for the league lead with 27 goals scored.  Since joining the Thunder in November, Robinson has 26 goals in just 32 games played.

Gale Crushes Weekend
Right wing A.J. Gale had a monster weekend in Dayton, potting both game-winners against the Gems.  Gale recorded the first hat trick of his professional career in Friday's win, and supplied the late, go-ahead goal on Sunday afternoon.  Gale is tied for 16th in the league with 47 points and tied for 13th with 21 goals.  Gale is on a six-game point streak and has 40 points in his last 27 games.

Bennefield Among League's Best
Right wing Jesse Bennefield had a 10-game point streak come to an end on Sunday and ranks seventh in the CHL with 53 points.  Bennefield is also tied for ninth in the league with 23 goals.

Davis Reaches Top 20
Center Aaron Davis is tied for 19th in the league with 45 points.  Davis has 15 points in his last 11 games in which he is +12.

Martens and Scoran Shine
Defensive partners Andrew Martens and Kory Scoran continue to rank among the best at their position.  Martens is tied for sixth among blue liners with 30 points.  Scoran is tied for fourth with nine goals.

Rookie Guarding the Crease
Rookie goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas is tied for the league lead with 19 wins, and is 9-2-1 over his last 12 starts.  During this stretch, Gelinas has a 2.23 goals against average (27 goals allowed in 728 minutes played) and a .921 save percentage (316 for 343).  Gelinas is seventh overall in the CHL with a 2.71 GAA.

Roster Notes
Left wing Troy Schwab and center Bobby Hughes are on the 10-Day IR.  Center Matt Hubbauer is on the 30-Day IR.

Catch the Thunder All Season
All 66 Thunder games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the season.

Up Next
The Thunder continues their 10-day road trip on Tuesday against the Missouri Mavericks at 7:05 p.m.  The Thunder completes the trip against the Fort Wayne Komets on Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The Thunder finally returns home on Friday, February 11th when they host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at 7:05 p.m.  Friday the 11th is Credit Union of America Buy-In Night.  Fans can stop by any participating Credit Union of America and pick up a free Upper Level voucher for the game.  Friday is also the Thunder's first ever White-Out Night.  Fans are encouraged to wear white to the arena, while the merchandise stand will offer 15% off all white apparel (excluding jerseys).

For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

DAYTON, OH- The Wichita Thunder defeated the Dayton Gems 4-3 at Hara Arena on Sunday evening.

Lance Galbraith and A.J. Gale scored 12 seconds apart, turning a late one-goal deficit into a 4-3 lead.

With Dayton leading 3-2, Galbraith scored to the right of Gems' goaltender Jeff Jakaitis on a rebound during a Thunder power play at 16:47.  With the teams back at even strength, Gale struck at 16:59, cashing in his own rebound in front of the crease, again to Jakaitis's right side.

Matt Robinson snapped a 1-1 tie 28 seconds into the third with a power play goal, but the Gems moved in front on goals from Matthew McCue at 5:21 and Mike Vaskivuo at 15:41.

Aaron Davis broke a scoreless tie at 5:20 in the second period, banging in a backdoor pass from Matt Robinson on a Thunder power play.  Jonathan Ornelas tied it at 15:20 in the period, cutting through the slot and shooting over the left shoulder of Marc-Antoine Gelinas from just inside the left circle.

Gelinas stopped nine of nine in the opening period to keep the game scoreless.  Gelinas made a key stop on a Mike Vaskivuo breakaway attempt midway through the frame.

Gelinas earned the win, saving 23 of 26.  Jakaitis took the loss, saving 29 of 33.  Wichita was 3 for 8 on the power play while going a perfect 5 for 5 on the penalty kill.

The Thunder travels to Missouri to face the Mavericks on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder returns home on Friday, February 11th when they host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

DAYTON, OH- The Wichita Thunder beat the Dayton Gems 5-3 at Hara Arena on Friday night.

A.J. Gale recorded a hat trick, which included the game-winning goal, while the Thunder overcame a third period deficit during an eventful final frame.

Down 3-2, Aaron Davis scored a hard-fought goal at 5:45 to knot the score.  Matt Robinson led a two-on-one rush through the right circle and made a last second pass to his left that Davis punched past the right of Gems' goaltender Jeff Jakaitis.  Shortly after, Jesse Bennefield appeared to have given Wichita a 4-3 lead, but the goal was overturned and the game remained tied.

Gale struck with 3:25 left in regulation, slipping the puck past Jakaitis's right on another key pass from Robinson.  The goal was the end result of sustained pressure deep in the Gems' defensive zone.

With an extra attacker, Matt Larke shot past Marc-Antoine Gelinas with 26.2 seconds left in regulation, but the goal did not count because of a delayed penalty against Dayton.  Gale buried the empty net with three seconds left to complete the hat trick.

The Thunder built a 2-0 lead midway through the first, beginning with Gale's shorthanded goal at 10:10.  Gale stole the puck in neutral ice and skated into the left circle before beating with a slapshot.  Bennefield made it 2-0 at 11:34, driving in a puck from the slot that Dayton was unable to clear.  Brett Lutes put the Gems on the board, scoring on a two-man advantage at 15:05.

Larke tied the game with a goal from the slot at 8:38 in the second.  Mike Vaskivuo lifted the puck below the hashmarks where Larke turned and fired high on Gelinas.  Kyle Bochek gave the Gems their first lead of the night at 16:26, connecting on a rebound in front of the crease left by Greg Labenski's shot from the point.

Gelinas saved 17 of 20 in the win.  Jakaitis was 39 of 43 in the loss.  Each team was 1 for 4 on the power play.

The Thunder finishes its series at Dayton on Sunday at 4:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder returns home on Friday, February 11th when they host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Rapid City Rush at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Tuesday night.

Rush goaltender Tim Boron made a kick save on Lance Galbraith's attempt to extend the shootout and preserve the win for Rapid City.  Aaron Davis scored in round four to keep Wichita alive, who had fallen behind 3-1 in the shootout after Rapid City's first four attempts.

Steven Kaunisto helped Wichita reach overtime, slamming home a one-timer from the slot that was setup by Brent Cullaton at the 7:48 mark in the third period.  Kaunisto's goal came 1:22 after Jamie Carroll gave Rapid City a 3-2 lead, winning a scrum in front of the net.

Matt Robinson scored the first goal of the game at 14:36 in the opening period.  During a Thunder two-man advantage, Kory Scoran ripped a shot from the point that went off Boron's blocker.  Robinson grabbed the rebound near the left side of the crease and shot past Boron's left for the goal.

Ryan Menei tied the game 72 seconds into the second frame, beating Marc-Antoine Gelinas with a high shot from underneath the hashmarks.  Konrad Reeder gave Rapid City a 2-1 lead at 6:31, but Robinson struck again just 27 seconds after Reeder's goal to tie the game.  Robinson connected on a snapshot at the top of the right circle that beat Boron over his right shoulder.

Gelinas saved 36 of 39 in regulation and overtime in the loss.  Boron earned the win, stopping 28 of 31.  Each team was 1 for 6 on the power play.

Cullaton was re-signed by the Thunder prior to the game.  Wichita also placed Bobby Hughes on the 10-Day IR.

The Thunder plays at Dayton on Friday at 6:30 p.m., opening a two-game series against the Gems as well as a five-game road trip.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder returns home Friday, February 11th when they host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- Wichita Thunder right wing Jesse Bennefield has been named the Oakley Central Hockey League Player of the Week for January 17th-23rd.

Bennefield helped the Thunder to a perfect 4-0-0 record last week, scoring four goals and three assists with a +6 rating.  The Calgary, Alberta native is riding a six-game goal scoring streak and an eight-game point streak.  The goal scoring streak is one shy of the CHL's season-high, held by Chad Woollard of Texas and Brandon Naurato of Dayton.

Bennefield has scored at least one point in 28 of 38 games this season, and ranks sixth in the CHL in both goals (22) and points (51).  The 29-year old Bennefield leads the Thunder with 17 multi-point games.

The accomplishment is the third league-wide honor a Thunder player has received this year.  Defenseman Steven Kaunisto was named Player of the Week for October 25th-31st, while right wing A.J. Gale earned Player of the Month honors in December.  Bennefield will receive a gift, courtesy of Oakley.

The Thunder hosts the Rapid City Rush on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder won their fifth consecutive game, beating the Laredo Bucks 6-3 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Sunday evening.

Rookie left wing Dustin Donaghy scored a hat trick to lead the offense, while Chris Greene had two assists.  Jesse Bennefield, Jason Goulet, and Bobby Hughes also had multi-point games.

Wichita built a 2-1 lead after the first, highlighted by two goals from Donaghy.  Donaghy scored the first goal of the night at 2:08, tipping Robin Richards' shot from the right circle over the right shoulder of Bucks' goaltender Torrie Jung.  After Jeff Hazelwood tied the game for Laredo at 9:58, Donaghy cashed in his own rebound just 45 seconds later to give the Thunder a 2-1 advantage.

Daniel Koger scored a power play goal from the slot to tie the game at 3:07 in the second, but Wichita responded with four unanswered goals to run out the frame with a 6-2 lead.  A.J. Gale won a scramble in front of the crease at 4:08 to give Wichita its third lead of the night.  At 12:57, Jesse Bennefield knocked in a close-range pass from Lance Galbraith to make it 4-2.  Donaghy potted his third of the night at 16:00, beating Jung on a wrist shot from the right circle.

David Wilson subbed for Jung after the Thunder's fifth goal.  Bobby Hughes scored at 17:29 to cap off the period, taking advantage of crisp passing from Bennefield and Mike Looby.  Hans Benson sliced the lead to 6-3, scoring at 2:06 in the third, but Wichita shut down the Bucks for the remainder of the game.

Marty Magers saved 22 of 25 for the win, while Jung took the loss, saving 18 of 23.  Wilson saved 13 of 14 in his relief effort.  The Thunder went 1 for 6 on the power play, while Laredo was 2 for 5.  Wichita has now won 10 of their last 13 games.

The Thunder hosts the Rapid City Rush on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Thunder Sweeps Three-in-Three- The Wichita Thunder ran their current winning streak to five games, with three victories in three nights last weekend.  The Thunder edged the Missouri Mavericks 4-3 in a shootout on Friday at the Independence Events Center.  Matt Robinson scored two goals, including the shootout game-winner.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas saved 25 of 28 in regulation and overtime as well as four of four in the shootout for the win.

The Thunder made it four straight wins on Saturday, beating Missouri 4-0 at the INTRUST Bank Arena.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas notched his third shutout of the season, saving 16 of 16.  Matt Robinson, Jesse Bennefield, Aaron Davis, and Andrew Martens accounted for the goals, with Davis chipping in his second shorthanded goal of the year.  Davis, Martens, and Kory Scoran each finished +3.

Wichita won 6-3 over the Laredo Bucks on Sunday evening, led by a hat trick from rookie left wing Dustin Donaghy.  Donaghy netted two in the first and another in the second to pull off the feat.  Bobby Hughes scored a goal and an assist while Chris Greene and Jason Goulet also had multi-point games.  Marty Magers saved 22 of 25 to earn his second consecutive win.  Sunday was also the first time the Thunder had beaten Laredo in regulation through eight all-time meetings.

Offensive Thunder- The Thunder ranks second in the league on offense at 3.87 goals per game.  Wichita leads the Turner Conference with 147 total goals.

Even Strength- The Thunder has excelled while at even strength this season, highlighted by a +112 rating as a team.  Wichita's plus/minus is second only to the Allen Americans who are +160.  The next closest team in the Turner Conference is Missouri at +46.

Defense Locking Down- The Thunder has allowed just 16 goals in their last seven games (2.29).  Wichita has moved up to 11th in the league for the season at 3.39 goals against per game.  The Thunder is also fourth in the CHL with 28.32 shots allowed per game.

Bennefield on a Tear- Right wing Jesse Bennefield has scored a goal in six consecutive games and is also riding an eight-game point streak.  Bennefield ranks sixth in the CHL with 51 points and tied for sixth with 22 goals.

Robinson Lighting the Lamp- Left wing Matt Robinson is tied for third in the CHL with 24 goals and has 23 in just 29 games played with the Thunder.  Robinson has 27 points in his last 18 games.

Hughes Streaking- Center Bobby Hughes is riding a five-game point streak in which he is +7 with two goals and five assists.

Davis Consistent- Center Aaron Davis has 12 points in his last eight games with a +10 rating.  Davis has 42 points in 38 games this year and has gone back-to-back games without a point just twice all season.

Gale Staying Hot- Right wing A.J. Gale, who was the CHL's Player of the Month for December, has remained hot well into the month of January.  Gale has nine points in nine games in January, and 33 points over his last 24.

Galbraith on Fire- Veteran left wing Lance Galbraith is on a seven-game point streak and has 21 points in his last 18 games.  Galbraith is also +15 in his last 13 contests.

Defensive Partners Shine- Defensive partners Andrew Martens and Kory Scoran continue to find themselves on the CHL leaderboards.  Martens is tied for seventh among blue liners with 26 points, and has 21 points in his last 25 games.  Scoran is tied for 18th among defensemen with 20 points and is tied for third with nine goals.

Gelinas Leading the League- Rookie goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas is tied for the league lead with 17 wins and is 7-2-0 over his last nine starts.  During this stretch, Gelinas has a 1.99 goals against average (18 goals allowed in 543 minutes played) and a .930 save percentage (240 for 258).  Gelinas ranks eighth in the league with a 2.68 goals against average for the season.

Crowd Ranks Among All-Time Best- Sunday was J.P. Weigand Buy-In Night at the INTRUST Bank Arena, helping push 9,477 fans through the gates.  The crowd was the largest by the Thunder this season, and ranks 18th all-time in team history.  It was also the largest non-sellout crowd in team history.

Roster Notes- Left wing Troy Schwab is on the 10-Day IR.  Center Matt Hubbauer is on the 30-Day IR.

Catch the Thunder All Season- All 66 Thunder games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the season.

Up Next- The Thunder host the Rapid City Rush on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m.  KFH Radio presents Pay what You Weigh Night.  Fans can receive tickets for one penny per pound off of their driver's license plus a $2.00 facility fee.

Following Tuesday's game, the Thunder begins a 10-day road trip on Friday at Dayton.  The Thunder faces the Gems again on Sunday afternoon.  The trip also includes a stop at Missouri and a two-game series at Fort Wayne.

For tickets to Tuesday's game, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder blanked the Missouri Mavericks 4-0 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Saturday night.

Marc-Antoine Gelinas earned his third shutout of the season, stopping all 16 of the Mavericks' attempts, while four different Thunder players hit the back of the net.

The Thunder led 2-0 after one period, helped by goals from Jesse Bennefield and Andrew Martens.  Bennefield drove a perfect feed by Bobby Hughes from behind the net past Missouri goaltender Rob Nolan at 5:44.  Martens scored from the point through traffic in front of Nolan with 61 seconds left in the period.

Matt Robinson scored at 6:21 in the second to make it 3-0 Wichita.  Aaron Davis forced a turnover in the offensive zone that allowed A.J. Gale to fire on Nolan from the left circle.  Robinson backhanded the rebound from the right circle to the long side of the net for the goal.  Davis scored shorthanded at 11:09 in the second, taking the puck deep down the right boards before cutting to the net and backhanding the puck behind Nolan.

Strong team defense helped Gelinas stop six of six in the third period to complete the shutout.

Wichita was 0 for 5 on the power play while Missouri was 0 for 3.  Nolan took the loss, saving 21 of 25.

The Thunder hosts the Laredo Bucks on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Photo Credit: Scott Thomas

INDEPENDENCE, MO- The Wichita Thunder defeated the Missouri Mavericks 4-3 in a shootout at the Independence Events Center on Friday night.

The Thunder outscored the Mavs 2-0 in the shootout, which lasted only four rounds.  Matt Robinson earned credit for the game-winner, sniping Wichita's first attempt through Missouri goaltender Rob Nolan.  After Marc-Antoine Gelinas stopped the Mavericks' first four attempts, Bobby Hughes sealed the win with a hard wrist shot past Nolan's right.

The shootout followed an overtime in which the Thunder narrowly missed winning the game on several occasions.  Wichita perservered through nine Missouri power plays to four of their own.  The Mavericks did not have a penalty called on them after the 10:22 mark in the second, and were awarded two separate two-man advantages.

The Thunder took an early 1-0 when Jesse Bennefield scored at 3:09 in the first.  Bennefield skated around two Missouri defensemen, broke towards the crease, and beat Nolan with a backhander through the five-hole.  Robinson made it 2-0 Wichita at 7:10.  Aaron Davis took advantage of a turnover in the neutral zone and led a two-on-one rush with Robinson.  Davis made a cross-crease pass to his left where Robinson shot over Nolan's right shoulder.

Missouri cut Wichita's lead in half at 7:24 in the second.  Ryan Jardine scored on the power play using a snapshot from the right faceoff circle.  Lance Galbraith made it 3-1 Thunder at 9:06, pounding in a close-range rebound setup by Hughes.  Nathan O'Nabigon again made it a one-goal game at the 12:45 mark, slipping the puck past the right of Gelinas from the slot during a five-on-three power play.

Missouri tied the game at 3-3, winning a scrum in front of the net with just 1:33 left in regulation.  Mike Berry was credited with the goal.

Gelinas saved 25 of 28 in regulation and overtime for the win.  Nolan stopped 28 of 31 in the loss.  The Thunder was 0 for 4 on the power play while Missouri was 2 for 9.

The Thunder hosts the Mavericks Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- Wichita Thunder mascot Thunderdog remains atop the roof of the Wichita Ice Center, in hopes of selling more tickets for Saturday's Pack-the-House Night versus the Missouri Mavericks.

Thunderdog was caught stealing a zamboni from the INTRUST Bank Arena on Monday afternoon before escaping from authorities to the confines of the roof.

The Thunder will wear special jerseys on Saturday which will be auctioned off during the game.  Proceeds from the jersey auction will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas.

The Thunder continues to hold extended hours this week at the Wichita Ice Center, located at 505 W. Maple St.  Office hours run from 8:00-6:00 through Friday and 1:00-4:00 on Saturday.  Fans can receive discounted tickets to Saturday's game by calling the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL and mentioning the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas and Thunderdog.

From left to right, Thunderdog is joined by Amy from the Thunder front office, Lori from the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas, and Kathy from B98 FM.

Thunderdog taking a rooftop nap.

For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Thunder Takes Two of Three- The Wichita Thunder took two of three in recent action and has won seven of their last 10 games.  Wichita returned from the all-star break on Friday, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Texas Brahmas.  The Thunder battled back from three separate one-goal deficits to tie the game before Mick Lawrence scored late in the third to provide the final margin.  Matt Robinson, Jesse Bennefield, and Mike Looby scored for the Thunder.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas made a season-high 35 saves on 39 attempts in the loss.

Wichita bounced back with a 6-3 win versus Arizona on Saturday night.  Matt Robinson scored twice in a game that the Thunder never trailed.  Aaron Davis netted the Thunder's first shorthanded goal of the season and finished with three points.  Lance Galbraith also had three points while Jesse Bennefield had a goal and an assist.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas saved 33 of 36 in the win.

The Thunder clipped the Quad City Mallards 3-2 on Monday night at the iWireless Center.  Lance Galbraith scored the game-winning goal with just 67 seconds left in regulation and finished the game +3.  Jesse Bennefield and Bobby Hughes were also +3 with Bennefield scoring a goal and two assists.  Marty Magers saved 13 of 15 to earn the victory.

Offensive Thunder- The Thunder ranks third in the league in offense, averaging 3.80 goals per game.  Wichita has scored four or more goals 20 times in their last 31 contests.

Bennefield Among League's Best- Jesse Bennefield scored three points in the Thunder's win at Quad City on Monday and now ranks tied for seventh in the CHL with 47 points this season.  Bennefield leads the Thunder with 16 multi-point games.

Robinson Lighting the Lamp- Left wing Matt Robinson is fourth in the league with 21 goals scored.  Robinson had a seven-game point streak snapped on Monday and has 22 points in his last 15 contests.  Robinson also scored a natural hat trick in the CHL All-Star Game on January 12th, helping the CHL All-Stars to an 11-6 win over the Rapid City Rush.

Gale Still Hot in January- A.J. Gale, the CHL's Player of the Month for December, is still collecting points at a high rate.  Gale had a seven-game point streak end on Monday, and has 29 points in his last 21 games.

Galbraith on Fire- Veteran left wing Lance Galbraith is on a four-game point streak and has 18 points in his last 15 games.  Galbraith scored a Gordie Howe Hat Trick on January 8th versus Bloomington.

Defensive Partners Shine- Defensive partners Andrew Martens and Kory Scoran continue to find themselves on the CHL leaderboards.  Martens is seventh among blue liners with 25 points and has 20 points in his last 22 games.  Scoran is tied for 16th among defensemen with 20 points and is tied for second with nine goals. 

Looby Streaking- Defenseman Mike Looby is on a five-game point streak in which he has two goals and three assists.  Looby is also +4 during the streak, finishing even or better in all five games.

Gelinas on Track- Rookie goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas is 5-2-0 over his last seven starts.  During this stretch, Gelinas has a 2.15 goals against average (15 goals allowed in 418 minutes played) and a .930 save percentage (199 for 214).  Gelinas ranks ninth in the league with a 2.80 goals against average for the season.

Penalty Kill Improvement- The Thunder's penalty kill is 38 for its last 42 (90.4%) over its last 10 games.

Three Games Over- The Thunder snapped another long standing streak on Monday, moving their record three games above the .500 mark for the first time since November 5th, 2006 (4-1-1).  Other streaks the Thunder has broken this season include winning four or more consecutive games for the first time since the end of the 2005-06 season, earning a win against the Missouri Mavericks who won the first 11 head-to-head meetings between the clubs, and posting more wins than total losses in-season for the first time since November 2006.

Roster Notes- Left wing Troy Schwab is on the 10-Day IR.  Center Matt Hubbauer is on the 30-Day IR.  Last week, the Thunder acquired left wing Dustin Donaghy from the Allen Americans in exchange for future considerations.

Catch the Thunder All Season- All 66 Thunder games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the season.

Up Next- The Thunder has a busy schedule ahead, playing four games in five nights beginning Friday night at Missouri at 7:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and Oldies 93.5 KWME, as well as worldwide at www.kleyam.com

The Thunder hosts the Mavericks Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. for Pack-the-House Night, presented by Furniture on Consignment and Clear Channel Radio.  The Thunder will be wearing special sweaters that will be auctioned off during the game to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas.

On Sunday, the Laredo Bucks make their first visit to Wichita since March 7th, 2005 for a 5:05 p.m. match.  Sunday is JP Weigand Buy-In Night.  Fans can stop by any participating JP Weigand agent's office to pick up a complimentary Upper Level voucher.  Following the game, fans can meet their favorite Thunder players at Emerson Biggin's West, located at 21st and Maize.

The Rapid City Rush visit on Tuesday, January 25th.  KFH Radio presents Pay What You Weigh Night.  Fans can receive Yellow and Green Level seating for just one penny per pound to the 7:05 p.m. game ($2.00 facility fee not included).

For tickets to the Thunder's upcoming games, call the INTRUST Bank Arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT, or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Cohrs

MOLINE, IL- The Wichita Thunder beat the Quad City Mallards 3-2 at the iWireless Center on Monday night.

Lance Galbraith snapped a 2-2 tie with 67 seconds left in regulation to lift Wichita to victory.  Galbraith took a pass from Jesse Bennefield towards the left corner and wristed a shot to the long side of the net past the left pad of Mallards' goaltender Adam Russo.  The Thunder looked to have taken the lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the third when Bennefield slipped a puck past Russo from close range, but the goal was overturned and the game remained tied.  Tyler Kindle had knotted the game at 2-2 for Quad City 2:11 into the third period.

Wichita took a 1-0 lead at 17:52 in the first when Andrew Martens shot from the point made it through to the net.  Prior to the goal, Marty Magers made a key save with his left pad that short circuited a Mallards' three-on-one rush.

Darren McMillan tied the game at 10:17 in the second, connecting from the high slot.  But Jesse Bennefield helped the Thunder re-gain the lead at 12:43, pounding in a perfect backdoor pass from Daniel Tetrault.

Magers saved 13 of 15 for the win.  Russo took the loss, saving 43 of 45.  The Thunder was 0 for 2 on the power play while Quad City was 0 for 3.

The Thunder plays at Missouri on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder hosts the Mavericks on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder has partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas to raise funds through Pack-the-House Night this Saturday when the Missouri Mavericks visit the INTRUST Bank Arena.

Wichita's loveable mascot Thunderdog is reportedly hiding out on the roof of the Thunder's office at the Wichita Ice Center to help raise money for the event.

Earlier this afternoon, the 18-year old mascot was caught stealing a zamboni from the INTRUST Bank Arena where he was chased down St. Francis St. by the Wichita Police Department.  The usually mild-mannered canine escaped capture on an Alefs Harley Davidson  motorcycle before securing himself atop the Ice Center located at 505 W. Maple St.

The Thunder will wear specialty jerseys for Saturday's contest, which will be auctioned off after the game.  Proceeds from the jersey auction will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas.

Fans interested in helping Thunderdog and the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas can purchase tickets for Pack-the-House Night 2011 by calling the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL and mentioning the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Kansas and Thunderdog.  The Thunder will also hold extended hours from Tuesday through Friday from 8:00-6:00.  The office will also be opened Saturday afternoon from 1:00-4:00.

To see footage of Thunderdog's exploits, check the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com beginning Tuesday.

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder defeated the Arizona Sundogs 6-3 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Saturday night.

Matt Robinson scored two goals while Aaron Davis and Lance Galbraith each had three points.  The Thunder, who has won six of their last nine games, took three of four on their homestand heading into Monday's game at Quad City.

With the Thunder keading 3-2 in the third, Robinson scored his second of the night at 7:28, slipping the puck through the five-hole of Sundogs' goaltender Doug Groenestege.  Mark Kolanos trimmed the lead to 4-3 at 13:33, but Jesse Bennefield scored 1:12 later on a shot from the top of the left circle.  Davis potted the Thunder's first shorthanded goal of the year at 16:21 to seal the game.  Davis worked through the slot on a breakaway and beat Groenestege with a backhand move under his left pad.

Robinson scored the first of the night at 9:07 in the first period, finishing off a rebound setup by A.J. Gale.  Bobby Hughes made it 2-0 during a Thunder power play at the 10:47 mark.  Groenestege sticked Galbraith's wrap around attempt into the right circle where Hughes buried it under the crossbar.  Joey Sides scored from in front of the crease off a deflection in the right corner at 14:58 to cut Wichita's lead in half.

Galbraith increased the lead to 3-1 at 3:12 in the second, rocketing a shot past the right of Groenestege from just inside the point.  Jamie Vanderveeken pulled Arizona within one with a shorthanded goal at 13:24.

Marc-Antoine Gelinas earned the win, saving 33 of 36.  Groenestege took the loss, saving 25 of 31.  Wichita was 1 for 5 on the power play and a perfect 7 for 7 on the penalty kill.

The Thunder heads to Quad City on Monday to face the Mallards at 7:05 p.m.  All the action can be heard locally on Sports Radio 1550 KKLE and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Thunder returns home on Saturday, January 22nd when they host the Missouri Mavericks at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder lost 4-3 to the Texas Brahmas at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Friday night.

Mick Lawrence snapped a 3-3 tie at 13:37 in the third period to provide the final margin.  Wichita had several opportunities with an extra attacker in the final 1:43, but Brahmas' goaltender Wayne Savage prevented the Thunder from tying the game.

Trailing 3-2 after two periods, Lance Galbraith tied the game at 6:40 in the third, winning a scrum in front of the net.  It was the third time Wichita battled back to even the contest.  Galbraith finished the night with a goal and an assist.  Lawrence scored with 6:23 left in regulation, wristing a shot past Marc-Antoine Gelinas while leading a two-on-one rush. 

Texas took a 1-0 lead at 12:05 in the first period on a goal from Chad Woollard.  Woollard picked up a rebound just to the left of the slot where he fired off the right post and into the net.

Matt Robinson tied it at the 1:28 mark in the second.  Robinson skated into the right circle and wristed the puck past the right of Brahmas' goaltender Wayne Savage.  Just over a minute later, Tyler Allen batted in a power play goal to give Allen a 2-1 lead.  The Thunder re-tied the game at 3:22 when Jesse Bennefield scored on a one-timer from the slot.  Jason Krischuk gave Texas its third lead at 11:55.  With Marc-Antoine Gelinas pinned on the crease, Krischuk shot over his left shoulder from the right halfboards.

Gelinas took a tough loss, saving 35 of 39.  Savage earned the win, saving 38 of 41.  Wichita was 0 for 3 on the power play while Texas was 1 for 4.

The Thunder hosts the Arizona Sundogs on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder announced several roster moves on Friday, led by the acquisition of left wing Dustin Donaghy from the Allen Americans in exchange for future considerations.  The Thunder also placed left wing Troy Schwab on the 10-Day IR, while activating forward Ryan Hand.

Donaghy (pronounced DON-uh-hee) skated in 23 games this season for Allen, scoring six goals, one assist, and adding 43 PIM.  Just 21 years old, Donaghy made his professional debut during the Americans' Southern Conference championship run last spring, appearing in two playoff games.

A native of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Donaghy played three seasons of Major Juniors in the WHL.  The 5-foot-11, 196-pound Donaghy split the 2009-10 season with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Spokane Chiefs, combining for 13 points and 98 PIM in 66 games.  A left-handed shot, Donaghy's best statistical junior season came with Spokane in 2008-09 where he scored 10 goals, 24 points, and tallied 129 PIM.  Donaghy also played two seasons of junior hockey in his home province for the BCHL's Penticton Vees.

Hand has been on the 10-Day IR retroactive to his last game on December 27th, and is expected to be in the lineup tonight against Texas.  Schwab, who was scratched from last Saturday's game versus Bloomington, has 27 points in 29 games played this season.

The Thunder hosts the Texas Brahmas tonight at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

from www.centralhockeyleague.com

RAPID CITY, SD- The stars were out in Rapid City on Wednesday night as a near capacity crowd of 5,009 rocked the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena watching their beloved Rapid City Rush (the defending CHL Champs) fall to a team of CHL All-Stars by a final score of 11-6.

Bloomington’s Jason Dale took home the game’s Most Valuable Player honors with two goals and a CHL record-tying five assists (along with a +7 plus/minus rating).  The MVP honor for the home team went to Ryan Menei who scored a pair of goals in a 25 second stretch of the second period.  The Co-MVP awards featured an Apple ITouch for both players presented by Sher-Wood Hockey Inc.

The CHL team showed some great passing in the early going scoring the game’s first goal just 3:17 into the opening period when David Rutherford (Bossier-Shreveport) showed some creativity picking the puck up with his blade and getting the shot away.  Dale would clean up the rebound with Rutherford and Sebastien Thinel (Odessa) drawing the assists.

Just over a minute later, the Rush would tie the score with Andrew Smale sneaking behind the defense and beating the all-stars goaltender Kyle Jones (Colorado) on the backhand.

Wichita’s Matt Robinson would steal the show next scoring three straight goal within a 3:55 span earning the natural hat trick in the first half of the game.  The Surrey, British Columbia native’s theatrics built a 4-1 lead for the CHL team.

Rapid City would get one back at the 11:51 mark by Derek LeBlanc who walked in on the left circle with the puck and snapped a shot just under the crossbar for the goal making the game look like it might challenge for the highest scoring affair in CHL All-Star history with six combined goals scored in the first 11 minutes.

The defense and goaltenders would answer the bell though settling things down in the final half of the opening frame.  Danny Battochio finished the period with 10 saves and looked like the all-star he is when he robbed Arizona’s Joey Sides around the 18-minute mark

Jones finished strong as well robbing Colt King twice on point-blank looks and making several clutch stops down the stretch in the first period.  The Eagles netminder finished the first 20 minutes with eight saves. 

In the second period, the Rush would treat Missouri goaltender Robby Nolan rudely in the first minute setting an CHL All-Star record with three goals in a 39 second time frame.  Menei’s two goals followed by Konrad Reeder grabbed the lead at 5-4.

The previous record was set in the 2006 game with Jeff Bes scoring twice and Nolan Graham once for the Southern Conference team who lost the game to the North in a shootout, 10-9.

Not to be outdone, the CHL team answered back scoring the game’s next three goals regaining the lead around the midway point of the period.

Allen defenseman David Strathman tied the game beating Battochio at the 4:11 mark and Evansville’s Brian Bicek scored the next two with nifty moves both times that created some space and allowed him to beat the Rush goaltender.  Dale had assists on all three goals giving him five points (1-4=5) in the game through two periods.

Battochio, also known as ‘the Batman’ showed his superhero form late in the period making an unbelievable save on Strathman that drew the fans from their seats.  He later stopped Neil Trimm on a breakaway continuing his solid performance.

Rapid City outshot the All-Stars 20-12 in the period and maintained a two period shot lead of 32-27.  After allowing the record goal run for the Rush, Nolan settled down stopping 17 shots in the period.

The CHL team expanded their lead early in the third period with Bicek netting the hat trick at the 21 second mark of the frame beating Rush goaltender Terry Dunbar who started the third replacing Battochio.

Dayton goaltender Jeff Jakaitis made several spectacular saves to start the period keeping the Rush at bay and finished the period with 13 stops.

With the score 8-5, Rapid City would try to mount a comeback when Brendon Hodge lit the lamp with a blast from between the circles at the 9:38 mark.

The CHL All-Stars would score three times in the final 3and a half minutes putting the game away.  The first came from Texas defenseman Jason Krischuk followed by Dale who grabbed hold of the MVP honors by scoring his second of the night and his seventh point.

Mississippi defenseman Nathan Lutz finished off the scoring with just six seconds remaining.

Other offensive stars in the game included Thinel with five helpers, and Bicek’s and Robinson’s hat tricks.

The Thunder resumes the 2010-11 season on Friday when they host the Texas Brahmas at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

from www.centralhockeyleague.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- Thunder fans can catch left wing Matt Robinson at the 2011 Central Hockey League All-Star Game tonight at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, SD.

The game can be viewed live on CHL-TV by visiting www.centralhockeyleague.com  The game will also be streamed live on 100.3 The FOX in Rapid City.  A link to the audio stream can be found at http://www.newrushmoreradio.com/kfxs/

Robinson, who is making his first professional all-star appearance, has 18 goals and 19 assists this season in 31 games played.  Robinson's 18 goals are tied for seventh in the CHL while his 37 total points rank 18th.  Since joining the Thunder on November 12th, Robinson has scored 17 goals in just 23 contests.  The Surrey, British Columbia native potted four goals and had five total points in a 7-6 win at Tulsa on December 14th.

Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. CST.  This year's format features the defending champion Rapid City Rush against an all-star team made up of the league's 17 other teams.

The Thunder resumes the 2010-11 season on Friday when they host the Texas Brahmas at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Thunder Sweeps Two at Home
The Wichita Thunder went 2-0-0 last week, beginning with a 6-4 win on Friday versus the Missouri Mavericks.  Trailing 1-0 after one period, the Thunder exploded for five goals in the second, including two from Aaron Davis.  Missouri trimmed the lead to 5-4 with a three-goal third, but Daniel Tetrault gave Wichita enough breathing room with an empty netter at 19:19.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas saved 27 of 31 in the win.  Andrew Martens, A.J. Gale, and Chris Greene all had multi-point games.

Wichita knocked off the Bloomington Prairie Thunder 5-1 on Saturday at the INTRUST Bank Arena.  The Thunder scored four times in the first, including three goals separated by just 2:22.  Lance Galbraith picked up a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, scoring a goal, two assists, and a fighting major against Bloomington's Travis Granbois.  Daniel Tetrault and A.J. Gale each scored and finished the night +3.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas won his fourth consecutive start, saving 33 of 34.

Red-Hot Offense
The Thunder scored 11 goals in their two victories last weekend.  Wichita has scored 80 goals in its last 18 games for an average of 4.44.  The Thunder has also scored four or more goals in 14 of the 18 contests during that stretch.  For the season, the Thunder ranks third in the league in offense at 3.78 goals per game.

Gale Earns Player of the Month
Thunder right wing A.J. Gale was named the CHL's Sher-Wood Player of the Month for December last week.  Gale led the entire league with 21 points in 13 December contests, which included nine goals scored.  Gale's outstanding play has carried into January where he is currently riding a five-game point streak.  Gale has 12 goals and 27 points in his last 18 games.

Robinson Streaking
Left wing Matt Robinson is currently on a five-game point streak.  Robinson has 19 points in his last 12 games and is tied for seventh in the CHL with 18 goals scored.

Bennefield Among League's Best
Right wing Jesse Bennefield ranks tied for 10th in the league with 41 points.  Bennefield leads the Thunder with 14 multi-point games, and has not gone more than two consecutive games without a point this season.

Galbraith Heating Up
Right wing Lance Galbraith scored a Gordie Howe Hat Trick on Saturday versus Bloomington.  Galbraith has 12 points in his last 12 games.  Over his last seven contests, Galbraith is a combined +8.

Multi-Point Tetrault
Thunder Captain Daniel Tetrault has scored two or more points four times in the last nine games.  Tetrault has four goals and 10 points during this stretch in which he is +7.

Offensive Defense
Defensemen Andrew Martens and Kory Scoran continue to rank on the CHL leaderboards.  Martens is tied for ninth among blue liners with 22 points.  Scoran is tied for 17th with 19 points and ranks tied for first with nine goals.  Scoran is also tied for fifth overall with seven power play goals.

Gelinas Rolling
Rookie goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas has won four consecutive starts.  Over his last five games, Gelinas has a 1.61 goals against average and a .942 save percentage.

Follow Matt Robinson at the All-Star Game
Left wing Matt Robinson will represent the Thunder in the 2011 CHL All-Star Game on Wednesday night.  This year's format pits the defending champion Rapid City Rush against an all-star squad made up of the remaining 17 teams.  The game begins at 7:35 p.m. and can be viewed live at www.centralhockeyleague.com

Roster Notes
Forward Ryan Hand is on the 10-Day IR.  Center Matt Hubbauer is on the 30-Day IR.  Left wing Troy Schwab was scratched from Saturday's game.

Catch the Thunder All Season
All 66 Thunder games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can also listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the season.

Up Next
The Thunder continues its four-game home stretch this Friday when they host the Texas Brahmas at 7:05 p.m.  The Arizona Sundogs visit Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  Friday is Facebook Friday, presented by Power 93.9.  Fans can receive discount tickets by visiting www.power939.com  Students can also receive $10 Yellow and Green level seating by showing their student ID, courtesy of America's Pub.

Saturday is Bail Out Wichita Night, presented by The Wichita Eagle, Carrabba's, and Apprentice Personnel.  Fans 18 years of age and older, who are both in attendance and register at the designated areas, will have $1.00 of their admission ticket pooled together to purchase Powerball tickets.  If one of the tickets wins the Powerball Grand Prize Jackpot, everyone who was in attendance and registered will receive a cut of the winnings.

For tickets to this weekend's games, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder beat the Bloomington Prairie Thunder 5-1 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Saturday night.

Wichita scored four times in the first period, while Lance Galbraith earned a Gordie Howe Hat Trick with a goal, two assists, and a fight against Bloomington's Travis Granbois late in the third period.

For a second straight game, the Thunder benefitted from a big period, beginning with Daniel Tetrault's score at 7:32 in the first.  Tetrault walked the puck down the right boards, cut to the net, and backhanded it over the shoulder of Bloomington goaltender Marco Emond.  At 13:02, Mike Looby scored a power play goal from inside the left circle after Lance Galbraith narrowly missed from in front of the crease.  Galbraith eventually scored at 14:56, wrapping around the right post and backhanding the puck through Emond's five-hole.  Matt Robinson snapped home Wichita's fourth goal of the period at 15:24, shooting from inside the left circle.  Brad Phillips subbed for Emond after Robinson's goal.

Bloomington got on the board at 15:51 in the second when Jon Booras connected on a slapshot from the top of the left circle during a Prairie Thunder power play.  Late in the period, Aaron Davis directed a faceoff win to A.J. Gale who scored at 19:00 to re-extend Wichita's lead.

Wichita played clean defense over the final two minutes, with Marc-Antoine Gelinas going 8 for 8.  Gelinas earned the win, saving 33 of 34.  Jason Goulet and Robin Richards dropped the gloves in succession on two occassions.  The second set of bouts preceded Galbraith's with just over three minutes left in regulation.  Wichita was 1 for 3 on the power play while Bloomington was 1 for 6.

The Thunder hosts the Texas Brahmas on Friday, January 14th at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder defeated the Missouri Mavericks 6-4 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Friday night.

Aaron Davis scored two goals, while the Thunder survived a late rally by the Mavs to hang on for the victory.

Trailing 1-0, the Thunder powered their way in front with a five-goal second period.  Bobby Hughes started the attack, firing a wrist shot past the right of Mavericks' goaltender Rob Nolan.  A.J. Gale ripped a one-timer from the right circle at 9:24 to make it 2-1.  Gale was setup by Chris Greene who carried the puck up the slot before making the pass.

At 11:13 in the second, Robin Richards capped off a series of long shots with an attempt that deflected off a Missouri defender and into the net.  Davis picked up a feed from Troy Schwab and made it 4-1 Wichita at 15:23.  Schwab passed from the right side of the goal line to Davis who was waiting in the slot.  Davis slammed home his second of the night at 18:31, beating Nolan to the right on a cross-slot pass from Matt Robinson.

Missouri scored three times in the third, including two goals just 20 seconds apart near the end of the period to pull within one.  Toby Lafrance snuck a shot under the five-hole of Marc-Antoine Gelinas at 2:55 to cut the Thunder lead to 5-2.  Olivier Filion trimmed the lead to 5-3 at 16:40 and was followed by Carlyle Lewis's score at 17:00 from the right circle.  Wichita persevered over the final 1:42 while Missouri worked with an extra attacker.  Daniel Tetrault iced the game with 41 seconds left, hitting an empty net from his own end with a bankshot off the penalty box boards.

The Mavericks scored the first goal of the night at 14:55 in the first.  After Gelinas used a stick save to stop a Missouri two-on-one, Derek Pallardy cashed in the rebound which had bounced off the endboard.

Gelinas earned the win, saving 27 of 31.  Nolan took the loss, going 23 of 28.  Wichita was 0 for 2 on the power play while Missouri was 0 for 4.

The Thunder hosts the Bloomington Prairie Thunder Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder learned Thursday that forward A.J. Gale has been named the Central Hockey League's Sher-Wood Player of the Month for December.

Gale led the entire CHL with 21 points in 13 December contests.  The second-year pro is tied for 24th in the league with 31 overall points in 30 games.

On December 14th at Tulsa, Gale had two goals, three assists, and finished +4 in a 7-6 Thunder victory.  The Nanaimo, British Columbia native rattled off a seven-game point streak from December 10th-26th in which he tallied six goals and eight assists.

The 23-year old Gale made his professional debut last season for the Texas Brahmas, scoring 25 points in 58 games.  Gale's 15 goals ranked fifth among CHL rookies while his 25 points tied for eighth.

Gale played four years of junior hockey in his home province for the Nanaimo Clippers, scoring 77 goals and 74 assists (151 points) in 162 games.  Prior to turning pro, Gale skated for St. Norbert College during the 2008-09 season, amassing 30 points in just 19 games.  Gale also played two seasons at St. Cloud State University.

The Thunder opens a stretch of four consecutive home games on Friday night when they host the Missouri Mavericks at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

WICHITA, KS- Hockey fans have the chance to strike it rich on Saturday, January 15th when the Thunder tries to "Bail Out Wichita" during their match versus the Arizona Sundogs.

Every adult 18 years of age or older, who is in attendance and registers for the contest, will have $1.00 from their ticket pooled toward the purchase of Powerball lottery tickets.  If the Thunder wins the Powerball Grand Prize Jackpot, everyone who registered receives a share of the winnings.  Adults 18 years of age or older must register for the promotion at the designated areas during the game to be eligible.  The 7:05 p.m. game is presented by The Wichita Eagle, Carrabba's, and Apprentice Personnel.

Click here to download and print off the registration form in advance and avoid waiting in line.

The Thunder hosts the Missouri Mavericks this Friday at 7:05 p.m.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Thunder Takes Two of Three on Long Road Trip
The Wichita Thunder earned four of six points in recent action, beginning with a 2-0 win at Quad City on Wednesday night.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas made 27 saves en route to his second shutout of the season.  A.J. Gale and Troy Schwab provided the goals while the Thunder's penalty kill was 4 for 4.

The Thunder defeated the Rapid City Rush 4-1 on Friday night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.  Four different Thunder players scored, while Andrew Martens and Daniel Tetrault each chipped in two assists.  Marc-Antoine Gelinas saved 25 of 26 to pick up the victory.  Wichita scored twice on the power play in the win.

The Rush beat the Thunder 7-4 on Saturday night to split the two game series.  Matt Robinson scored twice, helping the Thunder battle back from an early 2-0 deficit, but Rapid City rattled off four unanswered goals over the final two periods to take the lead for good.  Chris Greene and Bobby Hughes also scored.  Marty Magers took the loss, saving 30 of 37.  Magers was appearing for the first time since November 26th.

Robinson an All-Star
Left wing Matt Robinson will represent the Thunder in the CHL All-Star Game on January 12th at Rapid City.  The host Rush will face an all-star squad comprised of the league's remaining 17 teams.  Robinson scored two goals on Saturday and is tied for seventh in the CHL with 17 this season.  Robinson has 16 goals in just 21 games with the Thunder.

Bennefield Among League's Best
Right wing Jesse Bennefield ranks 12th in the league with 38 points and is tied for 14th with 16 goals.  Bennefield leads the Thunder with 13 multi-point games.

Gale on Fire
Left wing A.J. Gale has 10 goals and 24 total points in his last 16 games.  Gale's 31 points are tied for 24th in the CHL.

Offensive Defense
Thunder defensemen Andrew Martens and Kory Scoran are among the best at their position.  Martens is tied for ninth among blue liners with 20 points.  Scoran is tied for 14th with 19 points and tied for first with nine goals.  Scoran is also tied for third overall in the CHL with seven power play goals.

Gelinas on a Roll
Goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas had a strong week in which he was 2-1-0.  In three games, Gelinas posted a 1.01 goals against average and a .959 save percentage.

Penalty Kill Improvement
Wichita's penalty kill has played well of late.  The Thunder is 16 for its last 18 (88.9%) over the last five games.

Roster Notes
Forward Ryan Hand was placed on the 10-Day IR last week.  Center Matt Hubbauer is on the 30-Day IR.  Marty Magers and Jason Goulet were activated from the IR last week.

Catch the Thunder All Season
All 66 Thunder games are broadcast on either 93.5 FM KWME or 1550 AM KKLE.  You can listen to each game on the internet at www.kleyam.com  Emerson Biggin's West (located at 21st and Maize) is the Thunder's official watch party sponsor of all road games.  Thunder food and drink specials will be offered throughout the season.

Up Next
The Thunder plays twice at home this week, hosting the Missouri Mavericks on Friday and the Bloomington Prairie Thunder on Saturday.  Both games start at 7:05 p.m.  Friday is Fans Choose Night presented by 104.5 The Fox.  Saturday is Sonic Thunderdog's 18th Birthday Party and Kids Run the Show, presented by Sonic Drive-In, Kissin' 102.1, and B98 FM.  The Thunder will wear special Thunderdog sweaters during Saturday's game which fans can bid on during the game.  Following the game, fans can also meet their favorite players at Applebee's, located at Maple and Ridge.  For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com

-Thunder-

Photo Credit: Mike Wolforth