Thunder extend Laxdal's contract
Published on April 25, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder, at a press conference today, announced that they have extended the contract of head coach and director of hockey operations Derek Laxdal through 2006-07 with an option for the 2007-08 season.
The runner-up for the 2005 CHL Coach of the Year Award, Laxdal has brought the Thunder from doormat to one of the CHL's most elite teams, guiding the Thunder to the Northern Conference Finals in each of his two full seasons behind the bench.
The seventh coach in franchise history, Laxdal took over the 9-19-7 Thunder in January of 2003 and guided the Thunder to 12 wins in the final two months of the season. He led the Thunder to a record of 35-24-5 in 2003-04, his first full season as a head coach and their first playoff berth since the 2000 season. Following a first round upset of the top-seeded Colorado Eagles, the Thunder fell to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, just three wins shy of the 2004 CHL Finals.
This past season, Laxdal and the Thunder exploded out of the gates, winning their first eight games for the first time in franchise history. The Thunder finished the season with a record of 40-17-3, the second best mark in the CHL and the second best overall record in Thunder history. More importantly, the Thunder advanced to the CHL playoffs for the second straight season.
Following a dramatic seven-game, first round victory over Bossier-Shreveport, the Thunder again pushed the top seeded Colorado Eagles to the brink, before eventually falling just two victories shy of the 2005 CHL Finals. In 153 games, Laxdal has guided the Thunder to a record of 87-58-8 and 10 playoff victories.
Laxdal will have plenty of help in his quest for the 2006 CHL Title, as the Thunder also announced today that high-scoring veteran forwards Jason Duda and Travis Clayton will both return to the Thunder for yet another season.
The all-time leading scorer in Thunder postseason history, Duda will return to the Thunder for a 10th straight season. Getting better with age, Duda is coming off an amazing season in which he led the CHL with a career-high 66 assists and 96 points in just 59 games.
A native of Sexsmith, Alberta, Duda ranks among the top eight in CHL history with 247 goals, 379 assists and 626 points in 515 games played. He is the all-time Thunder playoff leader with 42 assists, 64 points and 55 games played.
A 2005 CHL All-Star, Duda earned Oakley CHL Player of the Week honors once this season, was named the Thunder Most Valuable Player and was one of six finalists for the 2005 CHL MVP Award. Duda resides in Wichita year-round with his wife, Deah.
Clayton, meanwhile, will return to the Thunder for a ninth consecutive season. He too is coming off a tremendous season in which he finished second in the CHL with a career-high 93 points and led the CHL with a plus/minus rating of +38. He registered a CHL-best 20-game scoring streak this season, as well as a CHL-best 10-game goal-scoring streak, tying Brent Sapergia's 10-year old Thunder record.
A native of Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan, Clayton is the all-time Thunder leader in every offensive category and ranks among the top seven in CHL history with 253 assists, 380 goals and 633 points in 512 games played.
A 2005 CHL All-Star, Clayton was named Oakley CHL Player of the Week twice this season, was named the Sherwood CHL Player of the Month for December and was selected to the first ever All-CHL Team. He resides in Wichita with his fiancée Toby.
Season tickets and corporate packages for the 2005-06 season are on sale now. To order your tickets or for more information, call the Thunder office at 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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