With new affiliation, young core, Wichita Thunder expect return to ECHL hockey playoffs
After last season’s last-place debacle, a return to the ECHL playoffs is the expectation for the Wichita Thunder in the 2022-23 season.
Wichita’s minor-league hockey team opens a new season against the Allen Americans at 7 p.m. Saturday at Intrust Bank Arena. Tickets are available for purchase on the Thunder’s team website.
“We were very disappointed with how things ended last season, but that’s hockey: you can’t worry about the past, you have to focus on the future,” Thunder coach Bruce Ramsay said. “We’re moving forward and we’re making sure we get ourselves back into a situation where we’re capable of winning a championship.”
While last season ended in disappointment, Ramsay said the deadline deals he was able to make — trading away four veterans who were unlikely to return to Wichita for a total of 11 players, many of whom are on the roster for this season — has set up the Thunder for success this season.
The rush of young talent to the roster includes Quinn Preston, a 24-year-old forward and former Ohio State star, Peter Bates (26, forward), Billy Constantinou (21, defender), Kyle Rhodes (24, defender) and Chris McKay (26, defender).
Throw in other promising returners like Carter Johnson (27, forward) and Brayden Watts (23, forward) and Ramsay is excited about the nucleus.
“I wanted to help those guys that we sent away and then obviously benefit us at the same time,” Ramsay said. “I feel like we received a lot of really good, young players that have all played in the ECHL. So knowing that they’re capable of playing at this level, I feel like the sky’s the limit for this team.”
Those inside the franchise are also optimistic that their new affiliation partnership with the San Jose Sharks will prove to be more beneficial than their previous agreement. Wichita will also share players with the San Jose Barracuda, the Sharks’ AHL affiliate.
Ramsay is also ecstatic to be able to return his leading scorer from last season, Jay Dickman, who netted 20 goals and finished with 38 assists for the Thunder. The 29-year-old forward started the season in Slovakia, but the fourth-year pro decided to return to the United States and play for the Thunder again.
The team should also have veteran leadership from Stefan Fournier, who has returned once again to Wichita in a player-coach role.
“Jay has been a stalwart for us the last couple of seasons,” Ramsay said. “His size, his leadership, his ability to kill penalties, he does so many positive things for us on the ice and in the dressing room. We’re excited to have him back.”
The goal is to shake off last season’s losing and return to the team’s form in the 2020-21 season when the Thunder finished with the second-most points in the ECHL and reached the playoffs and this time advance further than the first round.
Ramsay, who is entering the final year of his contract, knows the importance of reaching the postseason again.
“We’ve got to be more consistent than we were last year,” Ramsay said. “We don’t want those big peaks and valleys like we had last year. We would love to go on those long winning streaks, but I just want us to be more consistent and be relentless. That’s the one word I can think of that I would love to be a description of our team. Never quitting, going full force, leaving everything you have out there on the ice.”
Wichita Thunder hockey 2022-23 season home schedule
Note: All game times are p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 22 — Allen, 7
Friday, Oct. 28 — Tulsa, 7
Friday, Nov. 4 — Allen, 7
Sunday, Nov. 6 — Tulsa, 4
Saturday, Nov. 12 — Iowa, 7
Sunday, Nov. 13 — Kansas City, 4
Sunday, Nov. 20 — Kansas City, 4
Wednesday, Nov. 23 — Tulsa, 7
Saturday, Nov. 26 — Tulsa, 7
Wednesday, Nov. 30 — Indy, 7
Saturday, Dec. 3 — Kansas City, 7
Sunday, Dec. 4 — Kansas City, 4
Wednesday, Dec. 21 — Rapid City, 7
Thursday, Dec. 22 — Rapid City, 7
Friday, Dec. 23 — Rapid City, 7
Wednesday, Dec. 28 — Allen, 7
Wednesday, Jan. 4 — Idaho, 7
Friday, Jan. 6 — Idaho, 7
Saturday, Jan. 7 — Idaho, 7
Friday, Jan. 13 — Allen, 7
Saturday, Jan. 14 — Allen, 7
Sunday, Jan. 15 — Tulsa, 4
Friday, Jan. 20 — Allen, 7
Saturday, Jan. 21 — Kansas City, 7
Saturday, Feb. 4 — Rapid City, 7
Sunday, Feb. 5 — Rapid City, 2
Friday, Feb. 10 — Kansas City, 7
Wednesday, Feb. 15 — Idaho, 7
Saturday, Feb. 18 — Tulsa, 7
This story was originally published October 21, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
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