CHL Wichita Thunder

Thunder Weekly

February 24, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release


LAST WEEK'S GAMES -

Monday, February 17th

Wichita at Brampton, 4-2 W

-Matt Robinson scored a pair of goals including the game-winner with 13 minutes remaining as the Thunder defeated Brampton 4-2. Matt Summers added an insurance tally in the third to help the Thunder pull to 3-3-0 against the Beast.

Friday, February 21st

Allen at Wichita, 4-3 L

-Wichita and Allen traded goals as Ben Power and RG Flath each scored a pair before Matt Summers gave the Thunder a 3-2 lead. Spencer Asuchak tied the game with a shorthanded goal and the two teams entered the third period locked up at three. Brian McMillin tipped home a shot from the blue line, allowing the visitors to escape with a 4-3 win despite being outshot by a two-to-one margin.

Saturday, February 22nd

Quad City at Wichita, 4-1 L

- Quad City scored three times in the second and cruised to a 4-1 win. RG Flath cut the lead to two in the third, but the rally was short-lived as the Mallards tacked on an empty-netter to re-gain the three-goal advantage.

THIS WEEK'S GAMES -

Tuesday, February 25th

Arizona at Wichita, 7:05 p.m., 1550 KKLE

Friday, February 28th

Tulsa at Wichita, 7:05 p.m., 1550 KKLE

Saturday, March 1st

Wichita at Missouri, 7:05 p.m., 1550 KKLE

Sunday, March 2nd

Arizona at Wichita, 5:05 p.m., 92.7KWME, 1550 KKLE

(All times are central time zone)

Thunder Practice Schedule -

Wednesday-Thursday

INTRUST Bank Arena, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Please be at INTRUST Bank Arena before 10:45 if you are interested in any pre-game interviews

**Pre-game begins 20 minutes prior to start of all games. All games can be heard on www.wichitathunder.com or on your smart phone with the Tune-In Radio App using the keyword, Wichita Thunder**

HEAVY DOSE - Wichita has control of its playoff fate over the next month. The Thunder will play Tulsa and Arizona more than any of the other teams in the league down the stretch. Wichita has five games against the Sundogs left including two this week. T he Oilers come to town this Friday for the first of six meetings. Eleven of the next 16 games will be played against Tulsa and Arizona, which are all battling to get into the playoffs. The Thunder will face the Oilers five-out-of six games in mid-March and then close the season with three games in Prescott Valley against the Sundogs.

HOME-STAND - Wichita began its longest stretch of home games for the rest of the season with a pair of losses last weekend. In total, the Thunder will have played five out of the last six games at home with four-straight this week. Wichita's longest stretch after this week is three home games from March 9th to March 15th. The Thunder is 9-14-2 at home this season. Over the two previous seasons, the Thunder racked up 49 wins at INTRUST Bank Arena and led the league in that category both years.

FIRING GALLERY - Wichita had plenty of quality scoring chances Friday night against Allen, but couldn't get the equalizer past Pitton. The most shots on net for the Thunder in a single game this season came back on December 29th when Wichita unloaded 46 shots against St. Charles. Wichita limited Allen to just three shots in the third, tying the fewest shots against the Thunder in a period for the sixth time this year.

ANOTHER MILESTONE - Matt Robinson played in his 200th game in a Thunder uniform on Friday. He needs 13 more to move into an eighth place tie with current Thunder Assistant Coach Travis Wight, who played in 214 games in his Thunder career. Robinson leads Wichita in goals scored with 23 and needs seven more to reach 30 for the third time in his Thunder career.

CHEMISTY - RG Flath, Matt Summers, and Tomas Klempa continue to fill the scoresheet. Flath scored in back-to-back games this weekend and finished with three points on Friday. With one more tally, he will have reached 20 goals for the third-straight season in a Thunder uniform. Summers has points in his last three games including three on Friday night against Allen (1g, 2a). Klempa also has points in his last three games (3a) and is one goal shy of 10 for the second time in a Thunder uniform.

BLUE LINE IMPACT - Andrew Martens has a slim lead on Sean Erickson of Rapid City for first place in the defensive scoring race. Martens has 39 points (8g, 31a) and had a three-game assist streak snapped on Saturday night. Martens is eight points shy of tying Sean O'Reilly for third place all-time in a Thunder uniform for points scored by a blue liner. O'Reilly has 169 while Martens has 161. He also is nine goals shy of tying former Thunder defender and current Allen American Daniel Tetrault, who had 48 goals during his career in Wichita.

THUNDERBOLTS... Dustin Donaghy, Matt Robinson and Jon Booras are the only three players that have played in all 50 games this season...Booras is tied for 10th in the league with 53 points, tied for eighth in assists (38) and tied for 10th in power play assists (14)...Nick McParland is tied for 10th in rookie scoring with 19 points (6g, 13a)...Dudas is tied for seventh in power play goals (8)...Martens is tied for fourth in power play assists (18)...Wichita is second in shots allowed per game (29.34)...Wichita is averaging 14.78 PIM per game, which is second lowest in the league...Wichita is 9-5-0 when leading after one...Wichita is 11-4-1 when leading after two...Wichita is 3-1-0 when playing on a Tuesday this season...

Wichita gets back to action this coming Tuesday night against the Arizona Sundogs at 7:05 p.m. The Thunder then begin a three-in-three at home against the Tulsa Oilers at 7:05 p.m.

Individual game tickets are on sale now. Season tickets and mini plans are still available. Don't delay! Contact the Wichita Thunder Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (316) 264-4625. Stay up-to-date on all the news this season by visiting www.wichitathunder.com .

Check out the Wichita Thunder Statistics



Central Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2014


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