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Posted on Thu, Oct. 15, 2009

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Thunder gets tougher for new season

BY KOLLEN LONG

The Wichita Eagle

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.

McAllister is a 6-foot-7, 240-pound veteran of more than 300 NHL games, and Little, Kovalcik and Adamek each checks in at 6-4.

So they're big, and they're bad.

"Yeah, we got real tough D here," Kovalcik said with a sneaky grin that only a tough hockey player can manage. "I'm gonna go ahead and say that I think we've got the toughest team in the league."

If Kovalcik's assessment is accurate — and who would have the courage to disagree? —it would represent a marked departure from recent seasons, including last year, when Thunder players were too often the ones taking the abuse rather than dishing it out.

The lack of toughness has been a source of disappointment to many longtime Thunder fans, a loyal group that seems to thirst for a physical style of hockey. Recall a few years ago when former general manager Chris Presson said that Wichita fans "love the blood and guts."

After a disappointing 20-41-3 season last year, current GM Joel Lomurno, himself a fan of the rough stuff, and coach Brent Bilodeau, a big defenseman during his playing days, made it a priority to toughen up the team. (The full impact will have to wait, though, as Kovalcik and Little will start the season on injured reserve.)

"There's no question that there's a pretty good buzz around this team, and I think a major reason is because of the big D," Lomurno said. "We're going to be one of the teams that does the pushing around this season."

McAllister, who has 1,570 penalty minutes in 663 professional games, and the 220-pound Kovalcik, who fought 24 times last season, are the most-likely Thunder players to drop the gloves.

Little, who had eight fighting majors in the International Hockey League last season, and the 215-pound Adamek will add presence.

"We're not looking to goon it up or anything like that," Bilodeau said, adding that the players also skate pretty well. "But if anything happens, we've got some guys who can take care of it."

Indeed, while fighting might be the most obvious result of the toughness, big and physical players can serve another valuable purpose: They patrol the ice, protecting smaller, skilled forwards.

"We got pushed around a little bit last year," forward Mike Batovanja said, "but I don't think that's going to happen this year with the big towers we have back there now.

"They don't have to fight every game; just having them back there, teams are going to think twice before taking any liberties."

Kovalcik agreed, saying that, for example, 5-7 playmaker Glenn Detulleo will find more open ice because of the intimidation provided by McAllister and Co.

"A smaller guy like Glennie, he'll have more confidence because if anyone does anything to him, they'll have to answer to guys like me or McAllister or some of the other guys we have," Kovalcik said.

Goaltender Tim Boron is exceedingly optimistic about this season — partially because he feels the benefits of offseason hip surgery, partially because he envisions the big boys on the blueline making his job much easier.

The crease, he said, should be cleared.

In turn, that should help the Thunder improve its defense, which has been poor for years; the Thunder, 11th in the Central Hockey League in goals allowed last season at 3.59, hasn't finished in the top half of the league since 2004-05.

Again, Kovalcik agreed.

"We're gonna clear room," he said. "Not only will people have it in the back of their head that we're there, but if they do have the guts to go to the front, they're gonna pay the price."