Wichita Begins Weekend with Loss to Kansas City
February 2, 2024 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita Thunder's Xavier Pouliot versus Kansas City Mavericks' Justin Nachbaur
(Wichita Thunder)
WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita returned home on Friday to start a three-game series against Kansas City, losing 4-2 at INTRUST Bank Arena in front of 9,036.
Mitchell Russell recorded his first professional goal in the losing effort. Jack LaFontaine was terrific for Kansas City, stopping 45 shots.
The first period was quite eventful as the two teams combined for 38 penalty minutes and three separate altercations that resulted in a fight.
Nolan Walker was awarded a penalty shot at 18:02 when he was taken down near the edge of the right circle. Trevor Gorsuch came up big, making a stick save to prevent the goal.
Kansas City opened the scoring just 1:47 into the second. Jake Jaremko spun a backhand near the net that redirected off a Thunder defenseman's stick past Gorsuch to make it 1-0.
Kelly Bent tied it less than three minutes later. He pounced on a rebound off a shot from Quinn Preston and beat LaFontaine for his fourth of the year
The Mavericks answered quickly and re-took the lead. David Cotton found a loose puck in the crease after Gorsuch couldn't hold onto a shot from Jacob Hayhurst and made it 2-1.
At the 11-minute mark, Russell wired a shot past LaFontaine from the right circle and tied it at two.
In the third, Patrick Curry gave the Mavericks a 3-2 lead. Cade Borchardt found a loose puck behind the Thunder net. As Gorsuch pushed over to the right post, he knocked it off its pegs. Borchardt fed a pass in front to Curry and he fired it into the cage. The goal was reviewed and stood.
The Thunder lifted Gorsuch with a minute to go and called their timeout. Cotton recorded his second of the game with four seconds left into an empty net and the Mavericks escaped with a 4-2 win.
Wichita was 0-for-1 on the power play. Kansas City was 1-for-2 with the man advantage.
Russell has three points in his last two games. Bent tallied his first goal since Thanksgiving weekend. Preston has points in back-to-back games.
The two teams head to Independence, MO tomorrow night to play the second of a three-game set starting at 6:05 p.m.
Single game tickets are on sale now. Buy tickets for any game this season and come watch the 32nd year of Thunder hockey. Click here to purchase today.
Season tickets for the 2023-24 season are still on sale. Save money by reserving your seats for all the fast-paced, hard-hitting action of every game. Click here to learn more.
-Thunder-
Images from this story
 Wichita Thunder's Xavier Pouliot versus Kansas City Mavericks' Justin Nachbaur |
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from February 2, 2024
- Wichita Begins Weekend with Loss to Kansas City - Wichita Thunder
- Grizz Get a Standings Point in 3-2 OT Loss at Tulsa - Utah Grizzlies
- Gladiators Fall in Jacksonville - Atlanta Gladiators
- Gladiators Fall in Jacksonville - Atlanta Gladiators
- Royals Surrender Lead Late to Thunder, Fall in Overtime, 4-3 - Reading Royals
- Miura's Late Goal Gives Heartlanders 2-1 Win - Iowa Heartlanders
- Cincy Get Massive Win in Fort Wayne - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Swamp Rabbits Beat the Buzzer to Fourth Straight Win - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Stingrays Drop Heartbreaker in Greenville - South Carolina Stingrays
- K-Wings Fall in Defensive Struggle to Iowa 2-1 - Kalamazoo Wings
- Admirals Prevail in Wild Shootout Victory Against Walleye - Norfolk Admirals
- Walleye Comeback Falls Short in Shootout Loss to Norfolk - Toledo Walleye
- Nailers Return Home with Seventh Straight Victory - Wheeling Nailers
- Mariners Drop Weekend Opener to Rapid City - Maine Mariners
- Career Firsts Lead To Rush Win Over Maine - Rapid City Rush
- Thunder Force OT Late, Defeat Royals 4-3 - Adirondack Thunder
- Jenkins Hat Trick Topples Lions 6-2 - Worcester Railers HC
- Thunder Force OT Late; Stun Royals 4-3 - Adirondack Thunder
- Fuel Claim First Win in Newfoundland - Indy Fuel
- Growlers Fall 5-3 to Fuel - Newfoundland Growlers
- ECHL Transactions - February 2 - ECHL
- Kalamazoo Named Host City for 2025 Warrior/ECHL Hockey Heritage Weekend - Kalamazoo Wings
- Kalamazoo Named Host City for 2025 Warrior/ECHL Hockey Heritage Weekend - ECHL
- Admirals Sign Gehrett Sargis - Norfolk Admirals
- Shane Harper Named ECHL Player of the Month - Adirondack Thunder
- Game Day Preview: Americans at Idaho, 8:10 PM CST - Allen Americans
- Wichita Acquires Defenseman Favaro from Cincinnati - Wichita Thunder
- Adirondack's Harper Named Warrior Hockey/ECHL Player of the Month - ECHL
- Swamp Rabbits Gain Reinforcements from Ontario - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Greenville's Bednard Named Warrior Hockey/ECHL Goaltender of the Month - ECHL
- Ryan Bednard Named Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Month - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Thunder Returns Home to Face Rival Mavericks - Wichita Thunder
- Grizzlies Gameday: Groundhog Day in Tulsa - Utah Grizzlies
- Arvanitis Named ECHL Rookie of the Month - Maine Mariners
- Maine's Arvanitis Named Howies Hockey Tape/ECHL Rookie of the Month - ECHL
- Royals Announce Details for Battle of the Badges on March 2 - Reading Royals
- Gameday Preview: Tulsa Oilers vs Utah Grizzlies - February 2 - Tulsa Oilers
- Preview: Royals Open Three-Game Series with Thunder in Adirondack - Reading Royals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
