CHL Wichita Thunder

Thunder entertains largest crowd in franchise history

Published on March 20, 2006 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release


VOLP, THUNDER SHUT DOWN "˜BUGS- Rookie Jon Volp stymied the Mudbugs on Friday night in Louisiana, making 43 saves in a 2-1 Thunder victory. Wichita's four veterans scored all the points. Joe Blaznek had a goal and an assist, Jason Duda had two assists, Travis Clayton scored a goal and Daniel Tetrault chipped in an assist. The Thunder finished the regular season 3-1-1 versus Bossier-Shreveport and an amazing 14-2-3 against the Northeast Division.

BLAZERS SHOCK THUNDER, SELLOUT CROWD- Michel Beausoleil tied the game as time expired, then scored the game-winner in overtime, leading Oklahoma City to a 4-3 win over the Thunder on Saturday, before a stunned sellout crowd of 9,728 fans. Daniel Tetrault, Joe Blaznek and Tab Lardner scored the Thunder goals.

DUDA DOES IT TO OILERS- Veteran Jason Duda scored four goals, including the game-winner just 24 seconds into overtime, leading the Thunder to a 5-4 home win over Tulsa on Sunday. Duda's big night included his fourth career four-goal game, his 10th career hat trick and his eighth career overtime game-winner, all franchise records. Davis Lizotte scored Wichita's other goal and Sebastien Laplante made 41 saves to record the victory.

ATTENDANCE KEEPS RISING- With two home games remaining, the Thunder is averaging 5,625 fans per game, the third highest attendance in the CHL and the third highest single-season attendance in Wichita's 14-year history. Saturday's sellout crowd of 9,728 fans was the 12th sellout and the largest crowd in Thunder history.

THUNDER, BLAZERS GOING DOWN TO THE WIRE- With just six days to go in the regular season, the Thunder now lead the Oklahoma City Blazers by three points in the battle for second place in the Northwest Division and the number three seed in the Northern Conference playoffs. Wichita's magic number to clinch the number three seed and a playoff date with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, is five points. The race could come down to the final game of the regular season this Sunday, when the Thunder will host the Blazers.

BEST GOALTENDING DUO EVER?- Through 60 games, the Thunder goaltending duo of Sebastien Laplante and Jon Volp has put up impressive numbers. Laplante ranks fourth among CHL goaltenders with 25 wins, while Volp is an impressive 9-3-2 in his first pro season. Perhaps most impressive about the duo is the fact that both Laplante (.915) and Volp (.916) currently hold single-season Thunder records for save percentage. Nathan Grobins recorded a .914 save percentage during the 2003-04 season.

THUNDERBOLTS- Joe Blaznek ranks third in the CHL with 41 goals and 93 points...Blaznek leads the CHL with 20 power play goals, nine game-winning goals and 343 shots on goal...Jason Duda is fifth in the CHL with 85 points...Daniel Tetrault tied Paul Esdale's Thunder record for most power play goals in a season by a defenseman (12)...Tetrault, who is riding a six-game scoring streak, ranks second among CHL defensemen with 57 points...Wichita leads the CHL with 89 power play goals and ranks second with 15 shorthanded goals.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:

Friday, March 17- Wichita 2 at Bossier-Shreveport 1 Win

Saturday, March 18- Oklahoma City 4 at Wichita 3 Loss (OT)

Sunday, March 19- Tulsa 4 at Wichita 5 Win (OT)

THIS WEEK'S GAMES:

Wednesday, March 22- Lubbock at Wichita 7:05 PM

Friday, March 24- Wichita at Colorado 8:05 PM

Saturday, March 25- Wichita at Colorado 8:05 PM

Sunday, March 26- Oklahoma City at Wichita 5:15 PM

PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

Tuesday-Wednesday Kansas Coliseum 10:00 AM

Check out the Wichita Thunder Statistics

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2006


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