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CHL Wichita Thunder

Thunder Weekly Update

January 5, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release


Thunder Takes Four of Six for Second Straight Week

The Wichita Thunder took four points last week, winning two of three games at the Kansas Coliseum. Wichita defeated the Tulsa Oilers 5-2 on Wednesday night, marking the third consecutive game that the Thunder scored five-plus goals. Three different players had multiple points. Brad Thompson scored twice and added an assist, Jason Duda scored a goal and three assists, and Joel Hanson picked up a goal and an assist. Wichita held Tulsa to 18 shots on goal, the fewest shots against for the Thunder this year. Krister Toews made 16 saves to earn the win. Connor MacDonald notched two fighting majors, both against Tulsa's Jake Riddle, while Troy Ofukany bouted with Kevin Hansen. The win was the Thunder's third in a row.

Wichita saw its winning streak come to an end on Friday, suffering a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Eagles. It was the fourth time this year that Wichita had been shutout. Konrad Reeder scored a goal and two assists, while Greg Pankewicz tallied three assists. Tim Boron took the loss, saving 34 of 38 shots.

The Thunder bounced back on Saturday, beating the Eagles 7-2. Troy Ofukany led the offense, scoring a hat trick and two assists. Jason Duda finished with two goals and two assists. Both Ofukany and Duda were +4 at the end of the night. The Thunder was a combined +20 as a team. Joel Hanson had a season-high four points with a goal and three assists, while Curtiss Patrick contributed three assists. Jordan Hack had two assists and delivered one of the season's biggest hits when he checked Colorado's Jay Birnie in the third period. Tim Boron saved 25 of 27 for the win. The game featured three fights, as Jonathan Bernier, Connor MacDonald, and Stan Yanchishyn all earned fighting majors. Wichita's five second period goals were the most in one period this season.

Offense Going Strong

Despite being shutout 4-0 on Friday, Wichita's offense is still clicking at its best rate this season. The Thunder has won four of its last five games, while scoring 23 goals during that stretch (4.6 goals per game). Wichita has scored at least five goals in each of the four wins. Many Thunder players have been a part of the scoring surge. Jason Duda has nine points in his last four games, including two four-point games. Jason Tessier has eight points in his last six games, including a hat trick on December 26th at Tulsa. Brad Thompson has six points in his last five contests. Troy Ofukany has 10 points and is +7 in his last six games. Jordan Hack has six points in his last six games. Joel Hanson has seven points in his last five games.

Boron Steady as Ever

Tim Boron earned his fourth win of the season on Saturday versus Colorado, beating his former team 7-2. Boron is third in the CHL with a .925 save percentage and ninth with a 2.58 goals against average. Boron has allowed three or fewer goals in 11 of 14 games this season, while allowing no more than four goals in the other three.

Duda Reaches Major Milestone

Jason Duda reached another milestone in his long career on Saturday, tying CHL great Joe Burton for second place on the league's all-time games played list. Both Duda and Burton have now appeared in 708 CHL games. Duda should pass Burton on Tuesday night versus Arizona for sole possession of second place. Former Thunder forward Travis Clayton ranks first with 727 games played.

Other Milestones Approaching

Jason Duda is also close to breaking two major Thunder records. Already the franchise leader in assists (515) and points (840), Duda's next goal will be his 326th as a member of the Thunder which will tie him with Travis Clayton for most in franchise history. Duda's 692 games played is also four away from tying Clayton for most in Thunder history, a record expected to be broken on Friday January 16th at Rocky Mountain.

Nathe Having Career Season

Defenseman Bryan Nathe has already set a new high for points in a season with 19. His previous high had been 17 with the ECHL's Dayton Bombers in 2005-06. Nathe's presence on the ice has made an impact, indicated by his +6 +/- rating in his last seven games. Nathe finished a season-high +3 in Saturday's win over Colorado, and has finished at least +1 in six of his last seven games.

Another Hat Trick

Troy Ofukany's hat trick on Saturday was the fourth by a Thunder player this season. Chris Shudo, Scott Rozendal, and Jason Tessier have also potted three goals in one game. The most hat tricks in one season for the Thunder came in 1993-94 when the eventual CHL Champions scored 19 hat tricks.

Road Trip Looming

After Tuesday, Wichita plays six consecutive games on the road, their longest stretch away from the Coliseum this season. The Thunder is 5-9-0 on the road.

Up Next

The Thunder concludes its five-game homestand Tuesday night against the defending champion Arizona Sundogs. The Thunder is hosting "Pay What You Weigh Night", where fans can gain admission to the upper level at a rate of one penny per one pound. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Coliseum. For tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.

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