Kansas.com: Wichita Thunder

Thunder hands back weekend momentum

KOLLEN LONG — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:45 CST

The Wichita Thunder continues to confuse, confound and frustrate.

After a huge upset of league-leading Colorado, a win that should have given the team a noticeable momentum boost, the Thunder was lifeless on Tuesday night and lost 4-2 to Arizona in the Kansas Coliseum.

By the time the Thunder showed any signs of energy, red-hot Arizona, the defending Central Hockey League champion, was in full command.

"I just don't think we were ready from the start," coach Brent Bilodeau said. "We got better, but against good teams, you have to be ready."

The score was already 3-0 in the second period before Troy Ofukany, the Thunder's rising rookie, scored his team-leading 11th goal. Ofukany, who added an assist later in the game, said there may have been a negative carryover from Saturday's 7-2 victory over Colorado.

Thunder close to finalizing Intrust Bank Arena deal

KOLLEN LONG — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:40 CST

The Wichita Thunder is close to signing a lease agreement with Intrust Bank Arena -- an impending deal that both sides agree is advantageous for the Central Hockey League team.

"The Thunder is the most important ingredient to the success of the facility," arena general manager Chris Presson said. "They would be our prime tenant. We're happy with it (the proposed contract), and I think the Thunder is happy with it too.

"We tried to do the right thing for a team that has been in this community for 16 years. We tried to show the importance they have by the deal we're placing before them."

Thunder general manager Joel Lomurno is pleased.

"It's a very good deal for us," he said.

ARIZONA AT THUNDER

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:39 CST

When: 7:05 tonight

Where: Kansas Coliseum

Records: Arizona 16-17-1, Thunder 11-18-2

Radio: 1410-AM KGSO

Thunder rips Eagles

BROOKS SEELEY — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

What a difference a night makes. Just 24 hours after being shutout by league-leading Colorado, the Thunder scored five goals in the second period on the way to a 7-2 victory over the Eagles Saturday night at the Kansas Coliseum.

"Work ethic and doing the little things and paying the price was the difference tonight," Thunder coach Brent Bilodeau said. "We finished some checks, we were willing to go into dirty areas and we drove the net. That was the biggest key, last night I don't think we drove to the net and tonight was reverse of last night."

The Thunder benefited in several ways from the change of attitude. Offensively, Wichita got good, close shots and was always in position for a rebound.

Defensively, Wichita disrupted the most potent offense in the league. Tim Boron, who saved 25 of 27 shots, stopped a penalty shot by Brett Hammond after Bryan Nathe got beat in the first period. And when the Thunder was up big in the third period, Boron had three great saves that kept Wichita's advantage.

The second period was the difference for the Thunder. Five goals, including a hat trick for Troy Ofukany, gave all the momentum to Wichita.

League-leading Eagles blank Thunder

KOLLEN LONG — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:38 CST

Referee Paul Mariconda tripped and fell to the ice during the third period of the Wichita Thunder game on Friday, and the cranky crowd vented some frustration with a loud, enthusiastic cheer.

For many fans, it was the highlight of the evening as the talent-rich Colorado Eagles dismantled the Thunder 4-0 in the Kansas Coliseum.

The result was hardly surprising, given that Colorado led the Central Hockey League with 47 points entering the game, and the Thunder, despite a three-game winning streak, had a division-low 22.

What seemed to stun and disappoint coach Brent Bilodeau, however, was the Thunder's lack of effort.

"Guys were scared," he said. "Guys didn't want to pay the price."

Thunder ready for big test

KOLLEN LONG — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:35 CST

The Colorado Eagles have five of the top 20 scorers in the Central Hockey League.

The Thunder has none.

Colorado has two of the top four point-producing defensemen in the CHL. The Thunder has no one in the top 10.

The Eagles are first in scoring at 4.45 goals a game, the Thunder last at 2.66.

And we could go on.

Thunder wins again

KOLLEN LONG — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:40 CST

The question tested Brad Thompson's memory.

Do you remember when you scored your last goal?

"No, and I'd rather not talk about it," he said with a grin.

For the record, the date was Nov. 28, meaning Thompson had gone 11 consecutive games without a goal entering the Wichita Thunder's game on Wednesday night.

But that lengthy slump was all but forgotten after the team captain scored twice as the Thunder, suddenly an offensive threat, whipped Tulsa 5-2 in the Kansas Coliseum.

Back to the attack: Thunder's 11-goal weekend produces two victories

BROOKS SEELEY — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:01 CST

On consecutive nights, the Wichita Thunder found its offense.

The Thunder scored three goals in the second period on its way to a 5-2 victory over Rio Grande Valley on Saturday night at the Kansas Coliseum.

The victory gave Wichita its third winning streak of the season, and second win against Rio Grande.

The Thunder, which began the weekend averaging a league-low 2.35 goals, beat Tulsa 6-3 on Friday.

"We got pucks in the net and kind of found our scoring touch, so it was nice to see," Wichita coach Brent Bilodeau said. "It's been kind of one of those things where a little bit of luck and now some things are starting to change. It works hand-in-hand with the fact that the guys are working really hard."

Bilodeau: Thunder can score

KOLLEN LONG — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

There are theories.

• The Wichita Thunder is young, inexperienced.

• Injuries, especially ones to speedy rookie Chris Shudo and playmaker Jason Duda, have taken a toll.

• Players are pressing, leading to the commonly used explanation that they're "gripping their sticks too tight."

All of the above, and probably a few others, have been advanced as reasons why the Thunder has been embarrassingly bad on offense this season -- though the offense came to life Friday in a 6-3 victory over Tulsa in a meeting of the teams with the worst records in the Western Conference. Wichita's Jason Tessier had a pair of power-play goals in the second period and an empty-netter in the third.

MISSISSIPPI 8, WICHITA 3

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

The RiverKings scored five goals in the first 14 minutes, 10 seconds of Tuesday's game and sent the Thunder to another loss. Jeff Nelson had two goals during the run.

Just 43 seconds after the fifth goal, a fracas broke out, resulting in 60 penalty minutes and two game misconducts.

Chris Tarkir, Jordan Hack and Scott Rozendal scored the Thunder goals.

Wichita	0	1	2--3
Mississippi	5	2	1--8

First Period

Scoring--1, Miss, Smyth (Stoddard), 3:32. 2, Miss, Nelson (Larson, Summers), 9:54. 3, Miss, Dumont (Chaumont), 10:45. 4, Miss, Nelson (Pierce, Landmesser). 5, Miss, Bonello (Chaumont), 14:10. Penalties--Stoddard, Miss. (fighting major) 14:53; Landmesser Miss. (roughing double minor) 14:53; Smyth Miss. (roughing double minor) 14:53; Markusen Miss. (roughing double minor) 14:53; Landmesser Miss. (fighting major) 14:53; Stoddard Miss. (fighting secondary, game misconduct) 14:53; Hanson, Wich (fighting major) 14:53; Ofukany, Wich (fighting major) 14:53; Patrick, Wich (roughing double minor) 14:53; Ofukany, Wich (fighting secondary, game misconduct) 14:53; Greene, Wich (roughing double minor) 14:53; Rozendal, Wich (interference) 17:29.

PRODUCE OR ELSE

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

Coach Brent Bilodeau has been ultra patient with his young team, but his comments after a 2-1 loss to Rapid City on Saturday represented a clear shift in his attitude.

For the first time this season, the rookie coach threatened roster moves if his team doesn't improve.

"Time is running short," he said. "You can only give guys so many chances. They've got to produce. There will be changes if there's no production."

Entering Tuesday night's game at Mississippi, the Thunder was 7-16-2 and tied for fewest points in the league with 16.

Captain Brad Thompson described the team's mood as "frustrated" after the loss on Saturday. He said Bilodeau's threat was no surprise.

Life with interim coach was never boring

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:03 CST

Editor's note: "Best of 2008" spotlights standout moments in Kansas sports during the year.

Really?! All the cool kids seem to be saying that these days. Interestingly, it's not the inquisitive "really" of my youth but more of an incredulous "really" of a younger, hipper generation.

I bring it up because when the sports editor assigned me to write a year-end column about the best story on the Wichita Thunder beat during 2008, guess what popped into my head?

Really?!

The incredulous one.

Thunder offense sputters again

KOLLEN LONG — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

It was "Blame the GM Night" at the Wichita Thunder game on Saturday.

Here's an idea: How about a "Blame the Offense" promotion? It would certainly be applicable on most nights.

Continuing to show virtually no ability to put the puck in the net, the Thunder lost 2-1 to Rapid City in the Kansas Coliseum.

The Thunder, which dropped to 3-8-2 at home and 7-16-2 overall, has lost seven of its past eight games.

Total scoring output during that stretch? Eight goals.

Thunder picks up much-needed win

KOLLEN LONG — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

Tim Boron was very good, but that has become a given.

The offense was good enough, and that was the surprise.

The Wichita Thunder finally won another hockey game, edging Mississippi 2-1 on Friday in the Kansas Coliseum to snap a six-game losing streak.

The Thunder picked up a rare victory at home (3-7-2 in the Coliseum) because Chris Greene and Troy Ofukany broke out of slumps, and Boron was typically outstanding in goal.

"We definitely needed a win," Greene said. "We just came out and kept it simple."

Early success for Nathe hard to emulate

KOLLEN LONG — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:39 CST

While defenseman Bryan Nathe has never been a prolific scorer, the points certainly came easy when he joined the Wichita Thunder in late October.

In his first six games, he had six points -- halfway to his total production in the East Coast Hockey League in 2007-08.

The adjustment to the Central Hockey League was easy. Perhaps too easy.

"It went to my head a little bit," he admitted.

The overconfidence, plus what he called the "downward spiral" of the struggling Thunder, caused Nathe's work habits to suffer. He had been staying after practice, getting some extra shooting in, working on "the little things."

CHL REPORT

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:40 CST

BORON STABLE IN GOAL

Tim Boron deserves better.

The Wichita Thunder goaltender is 1-6-1, an unsightly record, to be sure.

But his other numbers suggest that the Thunder has found a legitimate No. 1 goalie in Boron, who signed as a free agent after being released by Stockton of the East Coast Hockey League. The third-year pro is fifth in the Central Hockey League in goals-against average (2.37) and fifth in saves percentage (.927).

Boron is athletic, moves well, and he always seems to be in perfect position. Obviously, his record could be much better, but the nearly inept Thunder offense is failing to provide any support.

Offense fails again for Thunder

KOLLEN LONG — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:38 CST

The Thunder is the worst offensive team in the Central Hockey League. Rocky Mountain -- 13th in the 16-team league -- is only marginally better.

So no one expected an offensive showcase on Saturday night in the Kansas Coliseum.

And the teams provided no surprises as Rocky Mountain won 1-0 in a shootout.

The slumping Thunder suffered yet another shutout -- its third during the current six-game losing streak -- and, making matters worse, the latest blanking occurred on Teddy Bear Toss night.

Talk about spoiling a feel-good promotion.

Thunder skid continues

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:38 CST

The Thunder lost its fifth straight, falling 3-1 to the Blazers on Friday in Oklahoma City.

Wichita's scoring problems continued. The Thunder has two goals in its last four games. In five games this season against Oklahoma City -- all losses -- the Thunder has scored four times.

Wichita took a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal by Andrew Davis at 15:35 of the first period -- the first time the Thunder has led Oklahoma City this season.

The lead lasted into the second period, when the Blazers scored a pair of power-play goals of their own to take control. Bill Vandermeer scored his second goal of the night in the third period for the final margin.

Oklahoma City outshot Wichita 42-15. Thunder goalie Tim Boron made 39 saves.

Thunder keeps shooting

KOLLEN LONG — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:37 CST

Thunder coach Brent Bilodeau kept thinking of new ways to describe how close his team is to breaking out of a worrisome, season-threatening slump.

"We're on the cusp."

"We're right on the edge."

"We just have to get over that little hump."

You get his point. Although the Thunder offense has shown few signs of life recently, Bilodeau still believes his young team has the potential to recover and begin a stretch of hot play.

THE FUTURE OF NO. 38?

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:37 CST

Travis Clayton is one of the most popular and accomplished players in Wichita Thunder history, but it's no longer a given that he will have his jersey retired.

After spending 11 seasons in Wichita and becoming the team's career leader in virtually every offensive category, Clayton signed as a free agent with rival Bossier-Shreveport in the off season.

That move means that his No. 38 may not hang from the rafters of the Kansas Coliseum or the new downtown arena, general manager Joel Lomurno said Tuesday, a few days after Clayton made his first appearance in the Kansas Coliseum as a member of Bossier-Shreveport.

"He chose to leave," Lomurno said. "Had he stayed and finished his career, it's a no-brainer (to retire the jersey). As it stands now, we'll have to wait and see. It's certainly not anything I'm concerned about right now."

The Thunder has retired two jerseys: Bobby Desjardins' No. 35, and Ron Handy's No. 9.