Wichita Thunder Hockey News

Injury adds to Duda's frustration

BY KOLLEN LONG The Wichita Eagle- Medical experts would use more technical terms, of course, but here is Jason Duda's simple description of how doctors treated his gruesome injury on Friday night."They basically put my finger back together," the Thunder captain said. "Took 20 stitches to do it."Ugh.The ring finger on Duda's left… Read More

Thunder back in the basement

BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle- fernando salazar If you think the fiery Mike Batovanja is intense on the ice, you should have seen him in the hallway outside the Thunder's locker room on Friday night.The rookie forward slammed his hand against the wall, paced, muttered something under his breath, yelled something unintelligible.His anger was… Read More

Thunder getting a change of pace

BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle- In his first home game as the Thunder's coach, Rob Weingartner had some choice words for his counterpart from Odessa as the two men were leaving the ice at intermission.In home game No. 2, Weingartner and Rocky Mountain coach Tracy Egeland might have gotten physical, if not for the glass that separates the team's… Read More

Wichita's Travis Clayton Enters the CHL Chat Room

12/26/2007 12:23 PM- Wichita's Travis Clayton has three goals and an assist in his last two games and with his recent frequency of finding the back of the net, the veteran has passed Paul Jackson into the number two spot on the CHL's all-time goal scoring list.  Clayton has jumped into the CHL Chat Room.Check it out… Read More

D'Amour scores in overtime for Thunder's 2nd straight win

BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle- We don't normally expect effective similes from hockey players, but Daniel Tetrault certainly provided one on Wednesday night. The Thunder defenseman delivered a huge, open-ice hit in overtime -- a blow that would have been memorable under any circumstances but one that took on added importance because it helped… Read More

Wingnuts Skipper's father passes away

By BARRY LEWIS Tulsa World- Grove native and former Tulsa Oilers outfielder Jim Beauchamp, who won the Texas League's 1963 Player of the Year award before a long career in the major leagues, died of leukemia on Tuesday at a hospice in Union City, Ga., just outside of Atlanta. He was 68. Beauchamp played for the Oilers from 1959-61, 1963 and in… Read More

Colorado dumps Thunder

Eagle news services- Colorado scored two goals just over three minutes apart late in the second period, breaking open a tie game and sending the Thunder to its sixth loss in seven games, beating Wichita 4-2.Ed McGrane scored at 16:02 of the second, putting the Eagles ahead 2-1. A goal by Dave Iannazzo at 19:22 put Colorado ahead 3-1.McGrane scored… Read More

Laplante's status uncertain

BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle-  Thunder coach Rob Weingartner isn't optimistic that goaltender Sebastien Laplante, sidelined by a sore back, will be able to come off injured reserve this weekend."He's not moving as well I would like to see him moving," Weingartner said Tuesday afternoon. "He hasn't practiced, so it doesn't… Read More

Thunder slips against Rage

BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle- The Wichita Thunder's Tyler Hanchuck, a muscular 6-foot-3, 235-pounder, is one tough customer. Of that there is no debate.There was plenty of disagreement, however, over the manner in which his latest fight ended.Hanchuck was whistled for slew-footing -- the act of a player using his leg or foot to knock an… Read More

Goupil scores OT winner

BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle- The Thunder plays the 1,000th game in franchise history tonight. For drama, it will be difficult to top No. 999.Tyler Hanchuck scored the tying goal late in the third period, and Alex Goupil provided the game-winner in overtime as the Thunder rallied past Odessa 3-2 on Friday night at the Kansas Coliseum.New coach… Read More

Thunder's Weingartner succeeds with hard work and grit

BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle- In the news release announcing that he was the new coach of the team, former Wichita Thunder forward Rob Weingartner was described as a "star" player -- a flattering description that he may have greatly appreciated.And perhaps been a little embarrassed by.Because the modest Weingartner used decidedly… Read More

Thunder blanked in Weingartner's debut

Eagle staff- The Mississippi RiverKings scored three first-period goals and spoiled the coaching debut of Wichita's Rob Weingartner, beating the Thunder 4-0 on Tuesday in Southaven, Miss.A common Thunder problem continued -- Memphis held a 37-21 edge in shots, forcing Jon Horrell to make 33 saves.Rick Kozak had two of the RiverKings' first-period… Read More

Weingartner named new head coach

BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle- About two weeks ago, Thunder coach Mark French said that he believed in holding his players accountable for their performance."And I know," he quickly added, "that at some point in time I'll be held accountable as well."That time came Sunday when French was fired as coach of the struggling… Read More

Weingartner news videos

Click on the following link to see KAKE TV-10 video of the Thunder coaching change on Sunday:

http://www.kake.com/sports/headlines/12293311.html

Team captain Jason Duda discusses the coaching change here:

http://www.kake.com/sports/headlines/12293311.html#

Thunder makes coaching change

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder, off to the slowest start in franchise history, dismissed third-year head coach Mark French today and named former Thunder star Rob Weingartner as interim head coach.A native of Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, Weingartner (pronounced WINE-gart-ner) began his pro career as a member of the inaugural Thunder team in… Read More

Slumping Thunder falls

Eagle staff- Rocky Mountain scored three unaswered goals in the third period and beat the Thunder 5-2 on Saturday in Broomfield, Colo. --the Thunder's third straight loss and eighth loss in its last 10 games.Rocky Mountain scored first, a shorthanded goal by Tyler Butler at 6:08 of the first period.The Thunder pulled even 59 seconds later when Todd… Read More

Third period flurry knocks out Thunder

Eagle staff- Colorado broke a third-period tie with two goals in 1 minute, 23 seconds and went on to beat the Thunder 5-3 on Friday night in Loveland, Colo.The Thunder led 1-0 after the first period, scoing on a Bruce Richardson power-play goal.Colorado took a 2-1 lead in the second period, but Tyler Liebel tied the score with a goal in the final… Read More

Rage blitzes Thunder

BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle-  Thunder defenseman Daniel Tetrault limped out of the locker room with an ice bag wrapped securely around his left ankle."Just blocked a shot," he said. "It's fine."The ankle was OK, but Tetrault's pride was clearly hurting.In what may mark the low point of an already disappointing season,… Read More

Duda's return delayed

The Thunder is in dire need of an offensive spark, but the team will have to wait longer than expected for contributions from captain Jason Duda, who hasn't played since the season opener because of a knee injury.The Thunder, 4-10 after Saturday's victory over Oklahoma City, had targeted this weekend's games for Duda's return. However, coach Mark… Read More

Four "original" CHL teams to celebrate 1000th game

The Central Hockey League (CHL) is proud to have four member teams on the doorstep of reaching a historic milestone within the next two weeks.  The Oklahoma City Blazers, Mississippi RiverKings, Wichita Thunder and Tulsa Oilers will all be playing in their 1000th CHL game over the next 10 days.  Each of the four teams started in the CHL… Read More

Three-goal third halts Thunder skid

BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle- The hit was pleasing enough -- that much was clear by the roar of the crowd after Wichita Thunder forward Kyle Bruce plowed an Oklahoma City Blazer into the wall.It was simply a welcome bonus that the big check, thanks to a friendly bounce, led to the game-winning goal.Desperate for a victory, the Thunder beat the… Read More

Thunder looks for home help

BY KOLLEN LONG, The Wichita Eagle- At least it only lasted two games.That's the good news to come from the Wichita Thunder's recently completed road trip - a two-game swing during which the Thunder went 0-2 and scored one goal.The Thunder will attempt to recover from the losses, which dropped the team to 3-10, this evening when rival Oklahoma City… Read More