For first time since 2021, the Wichita Thunder are back in ECHL playoffs
For the first time in four years, the Wichita Thunder are headed to the Kelly Cup playoffs.
Courtesy of a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Tahoe Knight Monsters on Friday, the Thunder clinched a playoff berth for the first time since the 2020-21 season. It will be just the third playoff appearance since 2013.
A win in regulation in Saturday’s regular-season finale at Tahoe would catapult Wichita (40-24-6-1) to second place in the Mountain division and secure home-ice advantage for a first-round, 7-game series in a rematch against the Knight Monsters in the ECHL playoffs.
The 87 points earned by the Thunder under head coach Bruce Ramsay this season are the second-most in the franchise’s history since moving to the ECHL in 2014-15. The Thunder can also match the most victories in a season since joining the ECHL with a win Saturday.
Wichita needed a comeback Friday to pull off the celebration.
After falling behind 2-0, Wichita finally found the back of the net in the second period when Nolan Kneen finished off a goal from a feed by Jay Dickman. Joe Carroll tied the game with 11 minutes in the third period with a goal of his own, then Luke Grainger scored the game-winner at 13:02.
This story was originally published April 12, 2025 at 9:25 AM.
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