Wichita Thunder preview: Lighting the lamps
A couple of fans attended the first Wichita Thunder practice and, rather breathlessly, shared their opinion of newcomer Thomas Beauregard, reporting on the team's message board that he had "sick hands" and moves that were "absolutely electric."
Earlier in the preseason, a supporter of the team posted a YouTube link of another recruit, Alex Bourret, working out on an indoor track. Titled "Alex Bourret Summer Training Sequence," it showed the star of the video running sprints, lifting weights and jumping rope in every manner possible.
"Wow.. , "the fan posted. "He trains like no other."
Which brings us to the main point: When a fan feels compelled to share footage of a new player's off-ice training session — no matter how impressively the guy skips rope — it's clear that enthusiasm for a new Thunder hockey season is off the charts.
There is good reason for such unguarded optimism.
Wichita's Steven brothers — Brandon, Johnny and Rodney — purchased the team in the offseason and are providing supportive local ownership, something the franchise has desperately needed for years.
The new owners are expected to have a lasting, positive impact on the franchise, but, ultimately, the diehard Thunder fans care most about the product on the ice, and coach Kevin McClelland has seemingly delivered again.
In his first season, McClelland rebuilt the worst team in the Central Hockey League and guided the Thunder into the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
This season, more winning is expected, and the Thunder should make Intrust Bank Arena an exciting place to be, thanks in large part to an impressive collection of offensive talent on the roster.
The Thunder went 34-26-6 and was third in the CHL in offense last season, averaging a healthy 3.77 goals. Because of a strong recruiting class, including Bourret and Beauregard, and several key returners, pucks could fly into the net at a more impressive rate this season.
Tulsa Oilers coach Bruce Ramsay got an up-close look at the Thunder last weekend when Wichita swept his team in two exhibition games. He came away impressed.
"They definitely have some firepower," Ramsay said. "They can score goals in a hurry. They're probably gonna be one of the better teams in the league this year. We play them 12 or 13 times, and we're gonna have our work cut out for us."
Beauregard, he of the "sick hands," was McClelland's first prize of the offseason. After scoring 71 goals and 124 points in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, he turned professional and continued to put up points consistently. In 165 games, all in the East Coast or American hockey leagues, Beauregard has 87 goals and 164 points.
The younger brother of David Beauregard, who was the CHL Rookie of the Year while playing for the Thunder in 1997-98, Thomas is confident, but not cocky, about his abilities. He expected to play this season in Europe, but he heard about "the great city and great coach and great organization" and was sold on Wichita. (His brother also told him Wichita would be a good place to play.)
He knows why he's here.
"For sure, my job is to score goals," he said. "I'm an offensive guy. I can pass the puck — I have decent vision — but my main job is to score. I don't think it will change this year. I just want to contribute as much as I can. On paper, we're the most talented team in the league. But we have to put that talent on the ice and have great chemistry."
Luring Beauregard to town was considered a recruiting coup, and then came the acquisition of Bourret, an all-around talent who has 180 points in 248 North American professional games, including three seasons in the higher-level American Hockey League. In the past two years in the ECHL, he scored 30 goals and 83 points in 78 games.
Bourret said he had three or four CHL coaches calling him daily, but he chose Wichita largely because of McClelland's reputation and the roster he had already built.
Bourret prides himself on being a complete player.
"I score a lot of goals," said the 5-10 Bourret. "I'm not a big fighter, but sometimes I like to do it. I like to play physical, too. I'm small, but I play bigger."
Bourret was the 16th player taken in the 2005 NHL Draft. No player in the 20-year history of Thunder has been selected as high. After Bourret scored a hat trick in the final exhibition game, coach McClelland said that he was the "complete package."
Beauregard, who played against Bourret when they were younger, agreed with McClelland's assessment.
"He's so talented," Beauregard said. "He's so fast. He's strong. In the offensive zone, he has a great shot, unbelievable vision, and he can hit really, really hard. I don't think fans will be disappointed. There's a reason he was a first-rounder in the NHL. He has all the tools."
The arrival of Beauregard and Bourret, along with other newcomers Tim Kraus and the Hemingway brothers, have made it easy to overlook the offensive talent the Thunder has returning.
Matt Robinson, an early-season heist in a trade with the Laredo Bucks last year, posted career highs in all categories with 39 goals, 27 assists for 66 points in 57 games. He was a CHL all-star and named the Thunder's MVP.
During the preseason this year, he attended training camp with the AHL Oklahoma City Blazers and survived the first-round cuts.
"A big-time player," McClelland said of Robinson. "He lit it up as soon as he got here, and we expect him to do the same this year — be that force, that guy who puts the puck in the net. He's a goal scorer, but he's also a guy who hits and goes into the dirty areas."
Similarly, Aaron Davis enjoyed a career year last season, leading the Thunder with 46 assists and scoring 72 points while playing all 66 games.
"He's slick out there," McClelland said. "He brings a lot of people to him, a lot of attention, and the next thing you know he gets it to the guy who's wide open. You look at every situation in a game, and he's out there for our hockey club."
Soon, the long offseason wait will be over as the Thunder opens the season against Rapid City tonight in Intrust Bank Arena. The fans will get to see the returners play once again, and newcomers Beauregard and Bourret will finally hit the ice.
Which sure beats watching them skip rope.
This story was originally published October 21, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Wichita Thunder preview: Lighting the lamps."