Kansas.com: Wichita Thunder

Shootout sinks Thunder

KOLLEN LONG — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

PARK CITY — The urgent dispatch came over general manager Joel Lomurno's radio late in the third period: Winners in the Wichita Thunder's jersey auction were tardy reporting to the tunnel to line up for their prizes.

"That's because they're watching the game," responded Lomurno, the team's general manager.

Indeed, the Thunder and its newly discovered physical style are keeping fans in their seats these days.

Third-period goal lifts Thunder

KOLLEN LONG — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

PARK CITY — While Jason Duda doesn't have much coaching experience, he certainly knows how to enter a dressing room with authority and enthusiasm.

Duda threw open the door, took a couple steps in and yelled, "How does that feel?"

With 18 hockey players hollering back at once, the exact answer was unintelligible, but rest assured Duda received a positive response.

Thunder looks to get well at home

KOLLEN LONG — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:08 CST

While Wichita Thunder fans are generally a loyal bunch, many have clearly lost patience with the struggling franchise.

The Thunder was booed during an embarrassing home-opening loss, and such verbal disapproval continued with alarming regularity as the team lost five of its first six home games — failings that contributed to the firing of Brent Bilodeau as coach last week.

The organization hopes leadership from injured Jason Duda, who was named interim coach, can help the team recover from a 2-9-1 start.

Thunder loses again

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:05 CST

The Wichita Thunder's losing streak reached seven games Tuesday in Tulsa with a 4-3 loss to the Oilers.

The Thunder scored first on a goal by Joel Hanson, but Tulsa responded with three consecutive goals in the first period.

Wichita's Brandon Kaleniecki cut the deficit to 3-2 before the end of the first period, but the Thunder was never able to pull even.

Boron decision to come today

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:05 CST

Thunder goaltender Tim Boron, who hasn't played since Oct. 30, may be placed on injured reserve today.

Boron, who had off-season surgery on both hips, was expected to be the team's clear-cut No. 1 goaltender. But he has struggled, going 1-2 with a 4.67 goals-against average and a .835 saves percentage.

"He's just not healthy enough to play at this time," said general manager Joel Lomurno, who has taken a more active role in roster matters since Brent Bilodeau was fired as coach last week. "He's still sore, and when he got sick at the beginning of the season, that kind of threw off his rehab. He lost weight, and he hasn't been able to get it back."

Thunder can't stop Mavericks

Eagle staff — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:07 CST

The Missouri Mavericks scored three power-play goals in just more than three minutes in the second period and beat the Wichita Thunder for the second consecutive night, 4-2 on Saturday in Independence, Mo.

Troy Ofukany's first-period goal power-play gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead midway through the period. That lead stood until Bill Vandermeer's man-advantage goal at 11:37 of the second period pulled Missouri even and started their run taking advantage of Thunder penalties.

Mike Kneeland scored in the third period for Wichita, which took a season-high 40 shots.

Thunder struggles continue

Eagle staff — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:06 CST

The expansion Missouri Mavericks beat the Wichita Thunder for the third time this season, winning 3-2 in a shootout Friday night at Independence, Mo.

The Thunder, playing for the first time since coach Brent Bilodeau was fired Thursday, took a 2-0 lead. Joel Hanson scored late in the first period, then Jim Jorgenson added a power-play goal early in the second period.

The Mavericks cut the lead in half 19 seconds later with a power-play goal of their own. They got the tying goal at 15:15 of the third period.

Thunder dumps Bilodeau

KOLLEN LONG — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:00 CST

During a 45-minute span early Thursday evening, Wichita Thunder general manager Joel Lomurno was contacted — via phone or e-mail — by five coaches inquiring about the team's vacant position.

Lomurno was surprised that word had spread so quickly about the firing of Brent Bilodeau, which had occurred three hours earlier.

Some interesting would-be candidates left messages on Lomurno's cell phone, including two with strong ties to the Central Hockey League franchise: Bryan Wells and Rob Weingartner.

Wichita Thunder fires Bilodeau after 2-7 start

KOLLEN LONG — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:00 CST

With the Wichita Thunder hockey team off to a 2-7 start, coach Brent Bilodeau was fired this afternoon.

Last season, as a rookie head coach, Bilodeau went 20-41-3 in Wichita.

Veteran Jason Duda, on 30-day injured reserve with a bad back, will take over as interim coach, general manager Joel Lomurno said.

Melting at home: Thunder loses to Rapid City

KOLLEN LONG — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:30 CST

There was a time, not so long ago, when Wichita Thunder fans would have felt a sense of nostalgia as the number of games remaining at the Kansas Coliseum began to dwindle.

The Brown Barn, the franchise's home for 18 years, has been the site of countless fond memories.

But at this point, even the diehards who recall the days when the Thunder enjoyed one of the best home-ice advantages in the Central Hockey League probably can't wait to open Intrust Bank Arena.

GM expects more from Thunder

KOLLEN LONG — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

Wichita Thunder general manager Joel Lomurno didn't give coach Brent Bilodeau an ultimatum — at least publicly. But Lomurno didn't deliver a vote of confidence, either.

In an impromptu state of the Thunder address earlier this week, Lomurno said that the Thunder, 2-6 and with the fewest points in the Central Hockey League, must show immediate and lasting improvement.

"We really thought we were going to be one of the better teams in the North," he said. "So far, that hasn't happened. Everything has been a disaster, and everyone needs to be held accountable — from myself, to the players, to Brent.

Eagles defeat Thunder

Eagle staff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:07 CST

The Wichita Thunder lost its third consecutive game, falling to the Colorado Eagles 5-2 on Friday in Loveland, Colo.

The Thunder grabbed an early 1-0 lead when Troy Ofukany deflected Mark Adamek's blue line shot at 3:22 in the first period. Colorado answered just over two minutes later on the power play.

The Eagles rallied for three goals in a span of 2:43 early in the second period, getting scores from Riley Nelson, Adam Hogg, and Felipe Larranaga.

CHL report

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:32 CST

The Thunder expects to find out more about Jason Duda's status today when the veteran forward sees a back specialist.

Duda is on 14-day injured reserve after he aggravated a back injury during a game at Tulsa on Oct. 24.

"I just got hit and fell awkward," he said. "I landed hard, and it kind of flared up. I'm just waiting to see what the doctor has to say."

Thunder loses second straight

Jeffrey Lutz — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:04 CDT

Unfortunately for the Thunder, passion cannot be orchestrated. Nor can it be forced on a fan base that grew uninspired over Wichita's weekend performance against an expansion team.

Jordan Little tried to give the Thunder some life by engaging Missouri's Carlyle Lewis in a fight just after the puck dropped Saturday at the Kansas Coliseum. Little lost the fight and Wichita's enthusiasm after that was sporadic at best as they lost to the Mavericks for the second straight night, this time 2-0. Missouri entered the weekend with an 0-5 record.

After Wichita scored the opening goal against Missouri on Friday, the Mavericks scored eight straight. The Thunder, which has been shut out at home twice this season and dropped to 2-5, had a 30-minute team meeting after Saturday's game.

Another setback for Thunder

KOLLEN LONG — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:19 CDT

PARK CITY — Jason's Duda's re-emerging back problem, which forced the Wichita Thunder veteran to go on injured reserve Friday afternoon, was certainly concerning enough.

Add in the Thunder's embarrassing, troubling loss to previously winless Missouri and Friday surely qualifies as one of the worst days in recent memory for the struggling Central Hockey League franchise.

The expansion Missouri Mavericks thumped the listless Thunder 6-1 in the Kansas Coliseum.

Thunder's Boron gets back on track after illness

KOLLEN LONG — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:57 CDT

After battling a stubborn illness for more than three weeks, losing 10 pounds in the process and missing several games, Wichita Thunder goaltender Tim Boron says he is still only at 85 to 90 percent.

Coach Brent Bilodeau will take it.

Even in a weakened state, Boron remains capable of controlling a game, evidenced by his victory at Mississippi on Sunday.

Central Hockey League report

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:55 CDT

It's too early to make a judgment about the Wichita Thunder's penalty kill, but early results indicate the unit may be much improved.

The Thunder (2-3) is third in the 15-team Central Hockey League on the PK at 93.5 percent — a noteworthy performance given recent history.

Last season, the Thunder was ninth of 16 teams at 82.4 percent. Two years ago, the team was even worse: 13th at 79.6 percent.

Thunder holds on for win over Mississippi

Eagle staff — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:16 CDT

The Wichita Thunder opened up a 3-0 lead then held on for the 4-3 win over the Mississippi RiverKings on Sunday in Southhaven, Miss.

Wichita scored three times in the second period, stared when Brent Ottmann scored on a rebound from Brad Thompson.

Glenn Detulleo added a goal at the 17:36 mark and Marc Belanger scored less than a minute later.

Tulsa tops Thunder

Eagle staff — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:06 CDT

The Wichita Thunder lost 3-1 in Tulsa on Saturday, the second of three CHL games in three days.

The Thunder beat Tulsa on Friday night in Wichita for its first win of the season.

Tulsa scored goals late in both the first and second periods to build a 2-0 lead, before breaking it open on Rob Hisey's goal at 6:24 in the third period.

Thunder rout Tulsa to avoid 0-3 start

KOLLEN LONG — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:04 CDT

The evening started with Wichita Thunder general manager Joel Lomurno sweating it out in the press box over the health of No. 1 goalie Tim Boron.

A text message arrived with good news just before the first puck was dropped: Boron doesn't have mono.

The evening ended with Lomurno in another tough situation: picking the stars of the game with too many deserving Thunder players to choose from.