Thunder Announces 20th Anniversary Schedule
August 15, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita, KS- The Wichita Thunder today released their schedule for the 2011-12 Central Hockey League (CHL) season.
The Thunder, under new local ownership and coming off an impressive 34-win season, will begin their run toward the CHL Playoffs with a pair of home games on opening weekend. Wichita will host the Rapid City Rush on Friday, October 21 and the Allen Americans on Saturday, October 22.
With Wichita's move to the Berry (South) Conference, the Thunder will see more games versus their new division opponents: Allen, the Texas Brahmas, Laredo Bucks, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and Arizona Sundogs. A familiar foe, The Tulsa Oilers, will also play in the Berry Conference and will face the Thunder 11 times. Wichita and Tulsa are both entering their 20th CHL season and are the sixth oldest franchises in all of minor league hockey.
Though the Thunder are no longer in the same conference as their newest rival the Missouri Mavericks, the two teams will meet nine times this season. The first rematch of their 2011 CHL playoffs match-up will take place the first weekend of November with a home-and-home-series that brings the Mavericks to Wichita on Friday, November 4.
The Thunder home schedule will feature 21 weekend games, including 11 Saturdays. The Thunder will also host six Sunday games, as well as home games on the night before Thanksgiving, the Tuesday after Christmas, Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.
New Thunder franchise owner Rodney Steven II said, "We are looking forward to beginning the season and will bring some fresh new excitement to the home game atmosphere at INTRUST Bank Arena. We hope to see everyone there!"
The Thunder will have the opportunity to get off to a fast start, playing 11 of their first 17 games at INTRUST Bank Arena. The Thunder will also host four games over the final two weekend of the season in March. Of the 66 total games, Wichita will face all but two teams at least once with the exception being the Bloomington Blaze and the Dayton Gems.
The CHL playoffs this season will feature eight teams and three rounds, all of which will be a best-of -seven format.
Individual tickets for all home games will go on sale in September. For season ticket information call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit us online at www.wichitathunder.com .
Central Hockey League Stories from August 15, 2011
- 2011-12 IceMen Schedule Announced - Evansville IceMen
- Thunder Announces 20th Anniversary Schedule - Wichita Thunder
- Rush Announce 2011-12 Season Schedule - Rapid City Rush
- IceMen Sign Right Wing Sean O'Connor - Evansville IceMen
- Komets Announce 60th Anniversary Schedule; Home Opener October 22 - Fort Wayne Komets
- Oilers 2011-12 Schedule Announced - Tulsa Oilers
- Mallards Open 2011-12 Season at Home October 22 - Quad City Mallards
- Dayton Gems Officially Release 2011-2012 Regular Season Schedule - Dayton Gems
- Bloomington Blaze Announces 2011-12 Game Schedule - Bloomington Blaze
- Bucks Announcee 2011-2012 Schedule: Home Opener October 28th - Laredo Bucks
- Mavericks Announce 2011-12 Season Schedule - Kansas City Mavericks
- Killer Bees Annouce Schedule for 2011-12 Season - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- CHL 2011-12 Regular Season Schedule Unveiled - CHL
- Sundogs 2011-12 Regular Season Schedule Released - Arizona Sundogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
