CHL Wichita Thunder

Thunder Rumblings

Published on January 16, 2006 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release


LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Wednesday, January 11- Wichita 1 at Youngstown 3 Loss

Friday, January 13- Wichita 2 at Youngstown 0 Win

Saturday, January 14- Wichita 2 at Youngstown 1 Win

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: Wednesday, January 18- ObrA Homes CHL All-Star Game 7:35 PM *at Rio Grande Valley

Friday, January 20- Wichita at Corpus Christi 7:35 PM 98.7 FM/1240 AM

Saturday, January 21- Wichita at Austin 7:30 PM 98.7 FM/1240 AM

PRACTICE SCEHDULE: Tuesday-Wednesday Wichita Ice Center 10:00 AM

ROUND ONE- Tyler Liebel gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the game, but it was the only goal they would score, as Youngstown knocked off the Thunder 3-1 on Wednesday. Goaltender Sebastien Laplante suffered the loss, despite making 31 saves, as the two teams combined for 72 penalty minutes and 22 power plays.

ROUND TWO- Again the Thunder scored right off the bat, and this time Tab Lardner's goal was all they needed in a 2-0 victory on Friday. Rookie Jon Volp made 32 saves in recording his first pro shutout. Kris Wiebe also scored for the Thunder.

ROUND THREE- For the third straight game the Thunder scored an early first period goal, this time by Jason Duda, and the Thunder hung on for a 2-1 victory on Saturday. Wiebe again scored Wichita's second goal, helping Sebastien Laplante pick up the victory.

THUNDER SHAKES UP ROSTER- Hoping to improve their team defense, the Thunder made a handful of moves last week. The Thunder traded offensive defenseman Ryan Fairbarn to Fort Worth for stay at home defenseman Matt Coughlin on Monday, then shipped defenseman Matt Hanson to Youngstown on Wednesday, in order to make room for experienced defenseman Josh Barker. The Thunder also activated veteran forward Travis Clayton from injured reserve, giving them a full 18-man roster. Clayton had missed six games.

SMOOTHER ROAD- Wichita's seven-game road trip, the longest in franchise history, has gotten off to a great start. With a win in Tulsa and two out of three in Youngstown, the Thunder are 3-1-0 so far and have already won their most road games (3) in a single month this season. The Thunder are now 4-1-0 in their last five games overall and have allowed a total of just nine goals. The Thunder moved their overall road record to 6-9-2. Of their two road opponents this week, Wichita is 2-0-0 all-time in Corpus Christi (5-0-0 overall), however; the Thunder are 0-4-0 all-time in Austin (1-4-0 overall).

ALL-STAR BREAK- The CHL has reached the All-Star break, with the game set to take place on Wednesday at Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Thunder veterans Joe Blaznek, Travis Clayton and Jason Duda will all participate in the game. The skills competition will take place prior to the game and both Blaznek and Clayton will compete in the CHL's fastest skater competition, while Duda will take part in the Oakley Rapid Fire contest.

THUNDERBOLTS- Wichita leads the CHL with 57 power play goals and is second with 10 shorthanded goals...Joe Blaznek ranks second in the CHL with 27 goals...Blaznek and Jason Duda are tied for third overall with 51 points each...Daniel Tetrault ranks third among CHL defensemen with 35 points...Kris Wiebe is fifth among CHL rookies with 10 goals, despite missing 12 games...Sebastien Laplante is fifth in the CHL with 14 wins...Jon Volp ranks fifth in the CHL with a .921 save percentage...Chris Bain is tied for third in the CHL with 16 majors...Wichita is second in the CHL, averaging 33.17 penalty minutes per game...The Thunder are second in the CHL on the power play, at 19.1%.

Check out the Wichita Thunder Statistics

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2006


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