WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder announced their first player acquisitions for the 2009-2010 season, re-signing Captain Brad Thompson and right wing Mike Batovanja, and signing right wing Brent Ottmann.
Heading into his sixth professional season, Thompson scored 11 goals and picked up 22 assists last season. His 33 points were the second-most in his career, right behind the 35 he notched during the 2005-06 season. Thompson had six point streaks of three or more games, as well as three multi-goal games. The Brooklyn Park, MN native scored 23 points in the Thunder's final 23 games, and the team was 6-2 in games in which Thompson scored a goal. Thompson, a natural center, has played defense at various points for Wichita over the last two years. His team-first attitude earned him the Thunder's annual "Unsung Hero Award" prior to Wichita's final 2009 home game.
Batovanja's entire professional career has been spent in a Thunder uniform. Following his final year at Michigan Tech University, the Hinton, Alberta native made his pro debut during the 2007-08 season, scoring 10 points and racking up 143 penalty minutes in just 46 games. The third-year pro collected 15 fighting majors in his rookie season, including three in one game on January 4th, 2008 versus Texas.
Batovanja's toughness and all-out style of play not only garnered him Wichita's annual "Unsung Hero Award" in 2008, but also earned him Team Captain honors at the start of the 2008-09 season. Batovanja suffered a season-ending knee injury during the Thunder's 2008 home opener versus Oklahoma City, but is expected to be ready for the start of this coming season.
Ottmann, a 21-year old right wing from Martensville, Saskatchewan, recently finished his junior career with the SJHL's Nipawin Hawks. Ottmann appeared in 26 games last season, scoring 12 goals, assisting on 19 others, and notching 49 penalty minutes.
The dual threat had a monster season for Nipawin in 2007-08, scoring a career-high 58 points in 54 games and totaling 146 penalty minutes. Ottman began his junior career in the WHL, spending four seasons with the Prince Albert Raiders in which he scored 42 points in 144 games.
The signings mark the first three players officially under contract for the 2009-10 season. CHL teams can carry up to 28 players in training camp, which begins in early October.
The Thunder opens their 18th season on the road on October 16th with their final home opener at the Kansas Coliseum scheduled for the following night. The Thunder will move downtown to the new Intrust Bank Arena in January of 2010. Season tickets and ticket packages are available now. For more information, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.
-Thunder-
