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CHL Wichita Thunder

Thunder playoff bound

March 15, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release


THUNDER END PLAYOFF DROUGHT- The Thunder went just 1-2-1 last week, but three points were more than enough, as the Thunder beat out the Memphis RiverKings for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Northern Conference. The defining moment of the season came on Saturday night at mighty Bossier-Shreveport, where the Thunder rallied from a 1-0 third period deficit for three unanswered goals. Rookie Darryl Green led the charge with a pair of power play goals, while veteran Travis Clayton added the insurance goal. That victory, coupled with Tulsa's win at Memphis on Sunday, gave the Thunder their first playoff berth since the 1999-2000 season.

STRONG FINISH- On Friday, December 19th, the Thunder dropped a 1-0 decision at home to the Colorado Eagles. The third consecutive loss put the Thunder 10 points out of a playoff spot, with a record of just 10-13-3, second worst in the Northern Conference. The Thunder would not lose three straight games again this season. The following night, the Thunder beat a very strong Bossier-Shreveport team, 5-4 in overtime, beginning the greatest second half surge in franchise history. The Thunder went 25-11-1 after December 19th and 21-9-1 in 2004. Only Laredo, Colorado and Bossier-Shreveport recorded a better winning percentage after January 1st, than Wichita's .693 mark.

OVERTIME DOMINATION OF RIVERKINGS THE DIFFERENCE- Undoubtedly, the Thunder were the CHL's best overtime team this season. Wichita went 8-1 in overtime, winning eight straight before last week's loss at Tulsa. However one game in particular literally put the Thunder in the playoffs. On Thursday, January 15th at Memphis, the RiverKings survived the overtime period with the Thunder. Unfortunately, the RiverKings had to face the Thunder in the shootout. In the extra frame, Nathan Grobins blanked the RiverKings 3-0, moving Wichita's all-time shootout record to a perfect 12-0 versus Memphis. The Thunder edged the RiverKings by that one point to make the postseason.

ROAD WARRIORS- Another key to Wichita's success was their ability to win on the road. The Thunder started the season a dismal 4-9-3 away from home, before going an unbelievable 12-3-1 in the final 16 road contests. With a record of 16-12-3, the Thunder finished the season with a winning road record for only the second time in franchise history. The 1994-95 Thunder team went 20-12-1.

GROBINS SETS SEVERAL THUNDER, CHL MARKS- Goaltender Nathan Grobins was named the 2004 Feist Publications / Wichita Thunder MVP yesterday and rightfully so. Grobins joined the 6-6-2 Thunder in late November and promptly went 28-14-2 in a Thunder uniform. He finished the season with a 2.49 goals against average, a .914 save percentage and three shutouts, all Thunder single-season records. Along the way, Grobins also put together a franchise-record streak of 14 consecutive starts. The winning goaltender in the 2004 Dodge CHL All-Star Game, Grobins finished the season with 33 total wins, tied with Colorado's Ryan Bach for the most in the CHL. Grobins also finished second in the CHL with 3140 minutes played.

CLAYTON, DUDA ENJOY ANOTHER STELLAR SEASON- The Thunder made the playoffs with a big stretch run, thanks in part to their two big guns, Travis Clayton and Jason Duda, who finished the season riding 12-game scoring streaks. Clayton, Wichita's all-time leader in assists (325), points (539) and games played (452) led the Thunder with 79 points, tied for sixth in the CHL. Despite missing nine games due to injury, Duda scored 66 points this season and is Wichita's franchise leader with 215 goals. Duda has enjoyed playing in the postseason, notching 15 goals and 40 points in 33 Thunder games. Meanwhile, their linemate Adam Calder finished the season riding a 10-game scoring streak. Calder led the Thunder with a career-high 37 goals and also put up a career-high 78 points. The threesome combined for 223 points, making them one of the CHL's most potent lines.

LEITER GOES OUT WITH A BANG- Playing in his fifth and last season for the Thunder, Jeff Leiter added to a few more records this season. The heart and soul of the team, Leiter was voted the 2004 Thunder Player's Player. He finishes his Thunder career as the all-time franchise leader with 1003 penalty minutes and 75 major penalties. Already with a Master's Degree in Biomechanics, Leiter will return to school to pursue a Doctorate in Anatomy at the University of Manitoba.

RECRUITER OF THE YEAR- If there was an award given out to the best recruiter of young talent, it would probably go to Thunder head coach Derek Laxdal this season. The Thunder finished the season with six rookies on the roster, four on defense, all of whom made huge contributions. Darryl Green led all Thunder defensemen with nine goals and 30 points, earning the 2004 Thunder Rookie of the Year Award. Green also chipped in four game-winning goals, including two goals this season as time expired. Les Hrapchak earned the 2004 Thunder Defenseman of the Year Award, leading the entire team with a plus/minus rating of +14. Earlier this season, Hrapchak set a franchise-record, going 20 straight games without a negative plus/minus rating. Defenseman Peter Runkel missed well over a month due to injury but still finished the season with 23 points and a +5 rating, while defenseman Ryan Olynyk finished second in the CHL with 31 major penalties and earned the 2004 Thunder Fan favorite Award. Forward Tye Korbl enjoyed success as one of the best checking line centers in the CHL, while goaltender Mark Cairns rounded out the rookie crop, going 1-1-0 in three starts for the Thunder.

TRADE OF THE DECADE- Was there a better trade in the CHL this season than the one that brought Center Joe Blaznek to Wichita? Blaznek came to the Thunder at the CHL All-Star Break in exchange for talented rookie Anders Strome and Alex Todd, and without him, the Thunder may not have made the postseason. Blaznek picked up 10 goals and 16 points in 24 Thunder games, but it was his late game heroics that were the talk of the CHL. Of Blaznek's 10 Thunder goals, three were third period game-winners, one came in overtime and two were the third period game-tiers. Thanks to Blaznek, the Thunder won eight games when trailing after two periods, by far the most comeback wins in the CHL. Amazingly, all eight wins came after January 9th.

BRING ON THE EAGLES- In eight games versus Colorado this season, the Thunder went 3-4-1 and were only outscored by the Eagles 25-23. Two of Colorado's seven home losses this season came to the Thunder, who went an impressive 2-1-1 at the Budweiser Events Center. Travis Clayton led the Thunder with 10 points versus the Eagles, while Greg Pankewicz notched 11 points versus the Thunder. Wichita did an amazing job at slowing down the Eagles top line of Pankewicz, Riley Nelson and Ryan Tobler, holding them to just 10 goals and 20 points in eight games. The threesome tormented the rest of the CHL, combining for 109 goals and 256 points. Tobler, currently up with the AHL's Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins, is questionable for the series. Goaltender Ryan Bach went 4-3-0 versus Wichita, while Nathan Grobins went 3-3-0 versus the Eagles. Colorado's back-up goaltender Gian Baldrica shutout the Thunder, 1-0, in his only appearance. Baldrica, a rookie, led the CHL with a 2.05 goals against average.

AROUND THE CHL- Bossier-Shreveport hosts Indianapolis in the other Northern Conference Playoff Series. In the Southern Conference, Laredo hosts Rio Grande Valley and San Angelo hosts Amarillo. Ironically the top two teams in each division qualified for the playoffs and will play each other in the first round.

THUNDERBOLTS- Playing in probably the CHL's toughest division, the Thunder went 19-10-4 versus Northwest Division foes...The Thunder were undefeated (6-0-0) at home versus rival Tulsa for the first time in franchise history...The Thunder finished the season winning five straight over rival Oklahoma City, the longest winning streak over the Blazers in franchise history...The Thunder finished fourth in the CHL with 86 major penalties...The Thunder outshot their opponents 2013-1813 for the first time in four years...Wichita allowed just 28.33 shots per game, second best in the CHL...The Thunder were a CHL-best 23-9-5 in one-goal games...Forward Ryan McLean was named the 2004 Lewis Street Glass Rattler of the Year...Director of Corporate Sales and Game Operations Matt Brokaw was named the 2004 Thunder Employee of the Year.

THUNDER FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:

Friday, March 19- Wichita at Colorado 8:05 PM AM 1070
Saturday, March 20- Wichita at Colorado 8:05 PM AM 1070
Friday, March 26- Colorado at Wichita 7:30 PM AM 1070
*Saturday, March 27- Colorado at Wichita 7:30 PM AM 1070
*Monday, March 29- Wichita at Colorado 8:05 PM AM 1070
(Best-of-five series *If Necessary All Times Central)

PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

Tuesday-Wednesday Ice Sports Wichita 10:00 AM

Thursday TBA TBA

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2004


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