Kansas.com: Wichita Thunder

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.

Bilodeau expecting more from Thunder

KOLLEN LONG — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:09 CDT

While it would be an overstatement to call Brent Bilodeau's words a threat, the Wichita Thunder hockey coach certainly sounded a warning.

After what seemed like a strong recruiting effort in the offseason, the Thunder opened the year in surprisingly poor fashion, losing two home games by a combined score of 10-3.

So on Wednesday afternoon, Bilodeau made it clear that the roster isn't settled as the team heads into a three-game, three-night stretch that begins with a home game tonight against Tulsa.

Thunder open season 0-2

KOLLEN LONG — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:05 CDT

PARK CITY — Looking at the goaltending situation, it certainly seemed as if the Wichita Thunder was catching Mississippi on a good night.

In goal for the Riverkings was Ray Jean, a little-known player who has somewhat of an odd bio. Since leaving college in 2006-07, he had played in exactly two professional games — one in 2007-08 and one last season.

His record was 0-2, but he now has a career highlight, thanks to the Thunder.

Thunder falls flat in opener

KOLLEN LONG — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:38 CDT

There's likely no one on the Wichita Thunder who plays with more emotion than Mike Batovanja, so the boos probably bothered him the most.

But he certainly understood.

The Wichita Thunder lost its season opener in thoroughly humiliating fashion, falling 5-0 to the Amarillo Gorillas on Friday night in the Kansas Coliseum.

MISSISSIPPI AT THUNDER

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:05 CDT

When: 7:05 tonight

Where: Kansas Coliseum

Records: Mississippi 0-1, Thunder 0-1

Bilodeau mixes and matches for Thunder opener

KOLLEN LONG — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:05 CDT

Late Thursday afternoon, coach Brent Bilodeau's white board was filled with musings as he mixed and matched player combinations.
"It looks like General Patton's war board," Bilodeau said with a chuckle.
What finally emerged was a tentative plan for lines to be used in tonight's season opener against the visiting Amarillo Gorillas.

Thunder gets tougher for new season

KOLLEN LONG — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:39 CDT

For evidence that the Wichita Thunder has assembled the toughest blueline in franchise history, we turn to the foremost Web authority on hockey fights: dropyourgloves.com. Some quick research on the site, which tracks bouts from the NHL to the junior level, reveals that the Thunder's highest-profile defensemen — newcomers Chris McAllister, Jordan Little, Chris Kovalcik and Mark Adamek — have a combined 256 career fights.
Clearly, they're tough customers.
Good-sized boys, too.

Thunder 2009-10 schedule

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:45 CDT

Home games through Jan. 9 at Kansas Coliseum; games beginning Jan. 23 at Intrust Bank Arena.
OCTOBER
16Amarillo7:05

Thunder 2009-10 roster

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:39 CDT

NO. FORWARDS POS L/R HT WT HOMETOWN
7 Chris Trafford RW R 6-0 193 Kinburn, Ontario
Division III star had a goal and shootout goal in exhibition win

Injury woes striking early

KOLLEN LONG — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:05 CDT

Health issues, a huge problem last season, are hampering the Wichita Thunder already.
Two of the team's top defensemen, Chris Kovalcik and Jordan Little, will start the season on injured reserve.
Kovalcik, expected to bring toughness to the team, will have surgery on his right knee and could miss a month, the team said. Little has a sprained knee and is expected to be out two to three weeks.

Thunder sharp in shootout win

KOLLEN LONG — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:07 CDT

The Wichita Thunder's feel-good preseason continued with a 3-2 shootout victory over the expansion Missouri Mavericks on Saturday night.
After last season's 20-41-3 showing, second-year coach Brent Bilodeau seemingly improved recruiting efforts dramatically, signing several players who have excited the fan base.
The enthusiasm likely only increased with the Thunder's 3-0 victory on Friday, followed by the shootout win in front of a standing room-only crowd of more than 700 fans at the Wichita Ice Center. It marks the first time since 1992-93, the franchise's first year, that the Thunder has won two exhibition games.

Thunder strong in exhibition

KOLLEN LONG — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:07 CDT

Wichita Thunder rookie Mike Kneeland, by his own estimation, was "gassed," although you wouldn't have known it by the way he finished off an early shift on Friday night.
After Marc Belanger chipped him a pass off the boards, Kneeland skated toward the goal and scored on a wrister from the slot, giving the Thunder a 1-0 lead only 38 seconds into a Central Hockey League exhibition game with the expansion Missouri Mavericks at the Wichita Ice Center. Behind a two-point night from Kneeland and solid outings from two rookie goalies, the Thunder went on to a convincing 3-0 victory in front of about 700 fans.
The two teams meet again at 7:05 tonight in the Ice Center.