Home Opener Preview
October 25, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
HEAD TO HEAD - This is the ninth and final meeting of the season between the Thunder and the Sun- dogs. Wichita is 4-3-1 on the road and 11-8-3 all-time against Arizona.
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW- The Thunder say goodbye to the Central Hockey League and hello to the ECHL. Tonight marks the first time in 22 seasons that the Thunder will be playing in a league other than the CHL. The fact that franchises have come and gone and Wichita was one of the two original teams left in the league is quite remarkable. The Thunder is tied for sixth with four other franchises that have been in existence for 22 years and starting their 23rd.
WINDS OF CHANGE- All seven of the expansion franchises that joined the ECHL had to juggle their rosters to become compliant with the roster regulations. Head Coach Kevin McClelland brought back just five players from a season ago. Mike Wilson, RG Flath, Ian Lowe, Erick Lizon and Jared Walker are the only remaining members of last year's squad that looks to rebound and return to the post-season.
WELCOME BACK- Several players return to the Air Capital for another round. Fan favorite Alex Bourret, who played in Wichita during the franchise's 2011-12 run to the CHL Finals, will begin his second stint for the Thunder. Jim Jorgensen also returns after spending the last few seasons overseas. Solidifying between pipes is Tim Boron, who spent the last four seasons in Rapid City.
THUNDERBOLTS- Wichita will only see two teams outside of its division this season, playing Evansville twice and the Elmira Jackals for the first time ever after the New Year...Wichita added Stephen Schultz off of waivers from Orlando and was added to the active roster earlier in the week...
AMERICANS NOTES- Former Thunder forward Greger Hanson returns to Allen after being acquired in a trade...Kevin Young, who won the Most Outstanding Defenseman Award in the CHL two years ago in Wichita, signed with the Americans in the off-season...Jamie Schaafsma was named team captain prior to Friday's tilt against the Oilers...Allen opened up at home last night and lost a high scoring affair, 9-6...
AROUND THE ECHL- There is a full slate of games around the ECHL tonight. Central Division opponents in action will see Missouri visiting Fort Wayne and Rapid City taking on Quad City. Other games look like this: Florida visits Orlando. Elmira takes on Reading. Greenville heads to Gwinnett. Wheeling plays at South Carolina. Kalamazoo travels to Cincinnati. Indy collides with Evansville. Idaho takes on Ontario. Utah faces Colorado. Alaska travels to Stockton.
UP NEXT- The Thunder hit the road for the first time this season to take on the Tulsa Oilers at the BOK Center. This is the first match-up in the StoneWolf Casino Cup Series. Game time is at 4 p.m. CST. Wichita returns home on Wednesday night to face the Oilers at 7:05.
TODAY: Today is the season and home opener for the Thunder. Allen opened last night against the Tulsa Oilers and lost a high scoring affair, 9-6. Greger Hanson recorded four points (3g, 1a) and had 11 shots on net for the home team. Tonight is also a rematch of the 2012-13 CHL Finals that went seven games. Allen is coming off of back-to-back titles while the Thunder look to return to the playoffs after just missing the cut last season. This is the Thunder's first game in a new league, entering the ECHL for the first time in the franchise's history.
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ECHL Stories from October 25, 2014
- Thunder Drop Home Opener 5-3 to Allen - Wichita Thunder
- Mallards Claim First ECHL Win in Shootout - Quad City Mallards
- Royals Take Home Opener over Elmira, 5-1 - Reading Royals
- Mavericks Burned by Komets in 6-2 Loss - Kansas City Mavericks
- Rush Fall 4-3 to Mallards - Rapid City Rush
- IceMen Edge Fuel 4-2 - Indy Fuel
- Wings Defeat Cyclones, 8-2 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Gladiators Tripped up by Road Warriors, 5-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Everblades Power Past Solar Bears 5-3 - Florida Everblades
- Nailers Spoil South Carolina's Party, 5-1 - Wheeling Nailers
- Stingrays Fall on Opening Night against Nailers - South Carolina Stingrays
- Boston's Named Official Watch Party Location of the Rush - Rapid City Rush
- Forward Matt Hatch Recalled from Reading to Lehigh Valley - Reading Royals
- Home Opener Preview - Wichita Thunder
- Nailers at Stingrays Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Transactions - October 25 - ECHL
- ECHL Announces Fine, Suspension - ECHL
- Game Preview - Ontario Reign vs. Idaho Steelheads - Ontario Reign
- Gameday Blog: Thunder Take on Alaska on Military Finale - Stockton Thunder
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati vs. Kalamazoo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Game Preview: Elmira Jackals at Reading Royals - Elmira Jackals
- Gladiators Game Preview: Road Warriors at Gladiators - Atlanta Gladiators
- Countdown to Face-Off: Kalamazoo Wings at Cincinnati Cyclones - Kalamazoo Wings
- Defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer Recalled to the Hershey Bears - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - October 25 - ECHL
- Aces rally from two goal deficits for first win of season - Alaska Aces
- Thunder Fall on First Military Game 6-4 - Stockton Thunder
- Jackals Mount Comeback But Fall In Shootout to Reading - Elmira Jackals
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