Hot Thunder sweep expansion teams
February 2, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
CAIRNS, THUNDER SHUT DOWN KILLER BEES- Goaltender Mark Cairns, making his Thunder debut, stopped 22 shots, leading the Thunder to a 3-1 win over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on Friday. The two teams, meeting for the first time ever, combined for 92 penalty minutes. Adam Calder, Travis Clayton and Jason Duda each scored goals and combined for seven points on the evening.
ROOKIE KORBL GIVES THUNDER WIN OVER EAGLES- Rookie Tye Korbl scored a shorthanded, breakaway goal with just over six minutes remaining, leading the Thunder to their first ever home victory over the Colorado Eagles on Saturday. Adam Calder scored two goals for the Thunder, while Mark Kolesar also chipped in a goal. Goaltender Nathan Grobins picked up his 15th Thunder win of the season.
BIG JANUARY PUTS THUNDER IN THICK OF PLAYOFF RACE- Eight points out of a playoff spot on January 1st, the Thunder went 9-4-0 over the last 31 days, pulling to within just three points of the New Mexico Scorpions for the Northern Conference's fourth and final playoff spot. The Thunder won at least nine games in January for just the fourth time in franchise history, despite playing just six of the 13 games at home. With a win on Wednesday over Oklahoma City, the Thunder will move ahead of the Blazers and can pull within just one point of a playoff spot. The Thunder have not been ahead of Oklahoma City in the standings in February, since back in 1999.
CALDER'S LINE LEADS THUNDER TO HUGE MONTH- Much of Wichita's January success was due in part to veteran forward Adam Calder, who scored a point in every game and led the Thunder with 23 points. Meanwhile, the line of Calder, Duda and Clayton combined for 25 goals and 62 points. Calder is currently riding a Thunder season-high 14-game scoring streak, while Duda has a point in his last 12 games.
STEADY LES- Rookie Les Hrapchak had a plus/minus rating of +2 on Saturday, extending his streak without a negative rating to a Thunder record 19 straight games. Hrapchak is +20 since December 17th versus Indianapolis, the last game in which he had a negative rating. Hrapchak leads the Thunder in total plus/minus, at +11.
INJURY REPORT- Rookie defenseman Peter Runkel and veteran forward Trevor Allman were activated from injured reserve this weekend, leaving only rookie defenseman Darryl Green on the 14-day IR. Green is expected to miss another 1-2 weeks. On the season, 15 different Thunder players have combined to miss a total of 117 games. Only Travis Clayton and Mark Kolesar have played in all 45 Thunder games.
THUNDERBOLTS- Goaltender Nathan Grobins had the night off on Friday, ending his streak of consecutive starts at a Thunder-record 14...Rookie Ryan Olynyk is tied for the CHL-lead with 24 major penalties...Adam Calder ranks second in the CHL with 12 power play goals...The Thunder are a very impressive 8-3-1 at home versus Northwest Division teams...The Thunder are tied for third in the CHL with seven shorthanded goals...Wichita is third in the CHL allowing just 29.09 shots per game...Wichita is 9-0-1 when leading after the first period.
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:
Friday, January 30- Rio Grande Valley 1 at Wichita 3 Win
Saturday, January 31- Colorado 3 at Wichita 4 Win
THIS WEEK'S GAMES:
Wednesday, February 4- Oklahoma City at Wichita 7:00 PM AM 1070
Friday, February 6- Wichita at Amarillo 7:10 PM AM 1070
Saturday, February 7- Wichita at New Mexico 7:05 PM AM 1070
Sunday, February 8- Wichita at San Angelo 5:05 PM AM 1070
PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Tuesday-Wednesday Kansas Coliseum 10:00 AM
Central Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2004
- Thrillers, Trades & Bees for Ice Bats - Austin Ice Bats
- Kings Host Miracle - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- Scorpions extend streak to five straight wins - New Mexico Scorpions
- Mudbugs Week in Review - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Beaudry Named CHL Goalie of the Week Again - New Mexico Scorpions
- Killer Bees Weekly Notes - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Dube Named Bauer / Nike CHL Player Of The Week - Laredo Bucks
- Blazers split weekend set - Oklahoma City Blazers
- Ice and Brahmas set for two-night rodeo this weekend - Indianapolis Ice
- Saints Week in Review - San Angelo Saints
- Laredo's Serge Dube, New Mexico's Miguel Beadry Earn Weekly Honors - CHL
- Hot Thunder sweep expansion teams - Wichita Thunder
- Mudbugs "Hockey 101" Radio Broadcast this Saturday - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Oilers Weekly - Tulsa Oilers
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