Thunder To Face Former Coach In Preseason
Published on August 1, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League (CHL) today announced they will play three exhibition games, including a pair of games versus former head coach Derek Laxdal and the ECHL Champion Idaho Steelheads.
The Thunder will open training camp on their 16th CHL season on Monday, October 8th, and then quickly get into action with a home exhibition game on Tuesday, October 9th versus the Tulsa Oilers. Wichita's first home preseason game in three years will take place at 7:05 p.m. at the Wichita Ice Center. Ticket information will be released at a later date.
The Thunder will then fly to Idaho, where they will face the Steelheads on Friday and Saturday, October 12th and 13th, their first ever meeting with an ECHL opponent. Laxdal took over as Thunder head coach in January of 2003, guiding Wichita to a record of 87-58-8, before departing for Idaho in August of 2005. Mark French replaced Laxdal at the Thunder helm, and has led the Thunder to a record of 66-46-16 in two seasons.
Wichita is 13-13-2 all-time in preseason games, including three meetings with non-CHL opponents. The Russian touring team Lada Togliatti defeated the Thunder in 1994, while the Corpus Christi Ice Rays - then with the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) - beat Wichita twice in 2000. The WPHL merged with the CHL in 2001.
The Thunder will begin the regular season with a home game on Saturday, October 20th. The full 2007-08 CHL schedule will be released on or about Friday, August 10th. For more information, please call the Thunder office at 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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