CHL Wichita Thunder

Thunder Looks For Three-Game Win Streak

Published on January 7, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release


THUNDER POUNDS BRAHMAS- The Thunder broke open a 1-1 game with three third period goals, rolling to a 4-1 home win on Friday over Texas. Travis Clayton and Kyle Bruce led the Thunder with a goal and an assist each, while Stan Yanchishyn and Todd Paul, playing in his 200th career pro game, also scored. Forward Mike Batovanja had a huge night, notching 25 penalty minutes for fighting Texas' two tough guys, Chris Mann and Robin Big Snake, a total of three times. Fellow grinder Kyle Bruce also took on Big Snake and notched Wichita's first Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist, fight) of the season.

THUNDER BEATS RAGE AGAIN- Bruce Richardson scored in overtime leading the Thunder to a 2-1 home win over Rocky Mountain on Saturday. Alex Goupil also scored for the Thunder. Wichita is now 2-1-0 under new head coach Rob Weingartner versus the CHL's best team and has outscored the Rage 9-6. In the three previous games versus Rocky Mountain, Wichita was 0-3-0 and had been outscored 16-5. It was Guaranteed Win Night, and since the Thunder won, all fans can get buy-one-get-one-free tickets for Tuesday's game (with ticket stub).

LAPLANTE NAMED SHERWOOD CHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK- Sebastien Laplante was red hot this weekend, starting with a 38-save performance in Friday's 4-1 win over Texas. On Saturday, he stymied Rocky Mountain, stopping 41 of 42 shots in a 2-1 overtime win. Laplante was amazing early and late, stopping all 20 first period shots. He then saved the game, while the Thunder was shorthanded for most of the final 3:45 of regulation, as well as the first 55 seconds of overtime (where he made five saves). In 122 minutes of action, he had a 0.98 goals against average and a .975 save percentage. Since coming off injured reserve on December 22nd, Laplante is 4-1-0 with a 2.36 goals against average. His next victory will his 100th pro career win.

FIVE IN TEN- After winning just four times in 17 games under Mark French, the Thunder have gone 5-5-0 in 10 games under Rob Weingartner. The Thunder has scored four goals three times in those 10 games, after scoring four goals just three times in their first 17 games. Defensively, Wichita has held opponents to two or less goals in half of Weingartner's 10 games, after doing so just three times in the first 17. The Thunder has two two-game win streaks and no losing streaks over two games under Weingartner. Before Weingartner, the Thunder had no two-game winning streaks and had three three-or-more game losing streaks. The Thunder will try for their first three-game win streak tomorrow since way back in March of 2006.

CLAYTON JOINS 800 CLUB- With an assist on Kyle Bruce's first period shorthanded goal on Friday, Travis Clayton became just the third player in CHL history to reach the 800-point plateau. Joe Burton is the all-time CHL leader with 985 points, followed by Doug Lawrence at 875.

POWER OUTAGE- The Thunder has struggled mightily on the power play this season and is ranked last in the CHL, at just 9.64%. Wichita has not scored in their last 33 power play opportunities and is just 1-42 over the last six games.

PENALTY KILLING PERFECTION- On the flip side, the Thunder penalty killing unit has not allowed a power play goal the last four games (24-24), and is 41-44 over the last six games. In that time the Thunder penalty killing unit has moved from last to 13th in the CHL, at 80.1%.

ROSTER MOVES- It was a busy week for the Thunder in the transaction department, beginning Wednesday with the trade of Tyler Liebel to Arizona for forward Chris Greene. On Saturday, defenseman Dominic D'Amour departed for Italy and the Thunder signed forward Sean Roulston. Sean is the son of former Wichita Wind, Edmonton Oiler, Pittsburgh Penguin and Wichita Thunder star forward Tom Roulston. The Thunder today sent Russell Spence back to the MAHL's Indiana Ice Miners. Spence never played a game for Wichita due to injury. Injured forward Jason Duda was cleared by team doctors today to return to the lineup on Friday.

THUNDERBOLTS- Wichita is 2-0-0 in 2008...Stan Yanchishyn has switched his jersey number from 12 to 16...Mike Batovanja (+6) and Yanchishyn (+5), Wichita's two rookies, lead the team in plus/minus...Wichita is 3-0 in overtime this season and has scored on their only overtime shot in each game...Wichita is the only team in the CHL yet to play a shootout this season...The Thunder ranks second in the CHL in attendance, averaging 5,967 fans per game...Kyle Bruce is fifth in the CHL with 12 majors...Mike Batovanja leads all CHL rookies with nine majors...Wichita is second in the CHL with 54 majors.

LAST WEEK'S GAMES:

Monday, December 31- Colorado 2 at Wichita 1 Loss

Friday, January 4- Texas 1 at Wichita 4 Win

Saturday, December 22- Rocky Mountain 1 at Wichita 2 Win (OT)

THIS WEEK'S GAMES:

Tuesday, January 8- Mississippi at Wichita 7:05 PM

Wednesday, January 9- Wichita at Colorado 8:05 PM 1410 AM

Friday, January 11- Wichita at Rocky Mountain 8:05 PM

Sunday, January 13- Wichita at Oklahoma City 6:05 PM 1410 AM

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2008


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