Thunder drops home finale to Tulsa

Ian Lowe has played the last four seasons for coach Kevin McClelland. He just happened to be wearing a Wichita Thunder jersey for those 278 games.

The Thunder’s 2-1 loss to Tulsa on Friday night in its home finale – Wichita ends its season Saturday in Tulsa – got the team one small step closer to the uncertainty it faces this offseason.

Much of that surrounds McClelland, the Thunder’s leader for the last six seasons. His contract expires after the season and both sides, McClelland and the front office, have been mum on what direction that might take.

Lowe, the Thunder’s captain, is rooting for his coach, though he declined to speculate on whether he expects players to have input on the decision.

“Absolutely I’m playing hockey because of him. I’m playing hockey because of Mac,” Lowe said. “I go on the ice every day and battle for him. A lot of these go out and battle for him and we have a good time playing for him. He’s the one that got me here, and that’s why I lace them up every night and do what he says.”

The 53-year-old McClelland spent the season constantly rebuilding and remaking the roster, using 36 players until settling on a group that included potential mainstays Kale Kerbashian, Landon Oslanski and Miles Koules.

It’s clear, though, that a more drastic overhaul is necessary for the Thunder to reach the postseason after a three-year absence. McClelland is responsible for recruiting players but faces obstacles such as the Thunder’s lack of an NHL affiliation.

The players that do pick Wichita rarely seem to regret the experience, even at the end of a difficult season in which the Thunder (18-41-6-6) has the ECHL’s worst record. McClelland, they say, helps negate the sting of losing.

“I love him as a coach,” Milan said. “He’s been great for us, he’s stuck behind us, and that’s what you want. One-hundred percent a players’ coach, and I love playing for the guy.”

Doubt surrounding the Thunder has crept into the dressing room in recent weeks. The inevitable roster changes may leave some players, damaged by being attached to a lost season, with few prospects elsewhere.

McClelland has said he’s spent those weeks evaluating players for next year. Since moving to the ECHL from the Central Hockey League in 2014, the Thunder has struggled to organize a team fit for the higher level of play. Job security is a concern even in the best of circumstances.

“Always. Always. Even if you’re on a good team,” Milan said. “A lot of times you don’t have to worry about it as much if you’re on a good team because people want guys that have been on successful teams. But that was one of our driving our aspects, especially once we knew we were out of the playoffs.

“Guys knew they were playing for their jobs and whether it’s for this team or you’re playing for the coach on the other bench and trying to give him a good look, there’s always that urgency. You can’t take it easy, otherwise you’re going to find yourself out of a job or you’re not even going to win a game.”

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 10:47 PM with the headline "Thunder drops home finale to Tulsa."