Sports > Columnists > Bob Lutz

Posted on Thu, Oct. 15, 2009

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New arena deserves a competitive team

There's a change coming for the Wichita Thunder, a change that could make the 18-year-old hockey franchise more viable and popular than it has ever been.

But the impending move downtown, to Intrust Bank Arena on Jan. 23, isn't enough to do all of that on its own. The Thunder has to help by winning games.

Lots and lots of games.

The Thunder of the past two seasons — a combined 40-83-5 — won't cut it downtown. There is pressure on general manager Joel Lomurno and coach Brent Bilodeau to put a better product on the ice. If not, this team could get iced.

Lomurno, who has been with the Thunder for all but its first season and is beginning his second year running the franchise, doesn't back down from the challenge.

"Obviously, the team has been a disappointment the last couple of years and we want to reverse that trend,'' he said. "I know, with the newness of the arena, the changes in ticket prices and the fans' concern about parking, that if this team isn't playing well in January, it'll just give people another reason not to come to games.''

But if the Thunder is playing well... now that's an exciting proposition for Lomurno.

He sees the potential for a Thunder explosion downtown in an arena that can seat a little more than 14,000 for hockey.

"I can honestly tell you that I was inside the arena two months ago and I was extremely impressed, awed even,'' Lomurno said. "About a month ago, I went back with some of the office staff and a few new players and was equally impressed and in awe.''

Intrust Bank Arena has everything the Thunder could have asked for, Lomurno said.

"Room for the coaches, a workout room, a training room, an equipment room, a changing room, a shower room, a locker room,'' he said.

Clearly, Intrust Bank Arena has made room(s) for the Thunder.

But wait, there's more.

"All of our space is painted in Thunder blue,'' Lomurno said. "There are flat-screen TVs on the walls. We have so much storage space.''

But . . . there's always a "but."

The team has to produce. The Thunder has been out of the playoff picture by Thanksgiving the past couple of years and that won't fly downtown. Not that it has flown real well north of town.

Lomurno, Bilodeau, veteran Thunder player Jason Duda and others in the organization went to work during the summer and fall to find better players. They think they found a few who can help them better compete in the re-vamped CHL, where the Thunder will play in the seven-team Northern Conference against a few familiar rivals.

Five teams out of the North will make the playoffs, so there's no reason for the Thunder not to be one of them.

But saying it and doing it are different matters. Lomurno admits to feeling some apprehension as the regular season approaches. He thinks he and others have helped build a roster that can compete not just for a playoff spot, but for a championship. But he won't know until the rest of us do.

"It's so hard to win, but you've got to find a way,'' Lomurno said. "The biggest difference in our team this year from last is that we've added a lot of size. And that will make our little guys play better. It's something we've been lacking the past few years.''

Bossier-Shreveport is always good. Colorado is always really good. Mississippi was a force last season. There are good teams in the North.

The Thunder used to be a good team. But they've been a sub-par team for a while now, unable to generate many wins or much excitement.

More of the same won't cut it. Not with a shiny, new arena awaiting the team's arrival.

Downtown beckons. And, as Petula Clark sang so well in the '60s:

The lights are much brighter there

You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares

So go downtown, things'll be great when you're

Downtown — no finer place, for sure

Downtown — everything's waiting for you.

Eagle sports columnist Bob Lutz co-hosts "Sports Daily" from 9-11 a.m. weekdays on KFH, 1240-AM and 98.7-FM. Reach him at 316-268-6597 or blutz@wichitaeagle.com.