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 1992. Known as a gritty, hard-working player, Weingartner was a key member of both the 1994 and 1995 CHL Champion Thunder teams, compiling 36 goals, 66 points and 424 penalty minutes, while playing under head coach Doug Shedden.
“Rob played the game as it should have been played and has stayed close to the game since his retirement. He is a fierce competitor, who was a proven commodity on the ice”, said Wichita Thunder President Chris Presson. “Rob helped begin a tradition of winning ways in Wichita through his presence on both Thunder Championship teams. We hope that mentality transcends to his coaching style and lends itself nicely to winning games.”
Following Wichita’s second CHL Title, Weingartner was one of just three players who chose to stay with the Thunder in 1995-96. He served as team captain until he was traded to San Antonio for Dave Shute, and came within one game of a third straight CHL Title with the Iguanas. Ironically, the Thunder traded Shute the following season to Oklahoma City for current team captain Jason Duda.
Weingartner spent most of the remainder of his career playing under Shedden with the ECHL’s Louisiana IceGators, before retiring following the 1999-2000 season. Over his eight-year playing career, the hard-nosed forward amassed 308 points and 1726 penalty minutes in 447 games. He served as an assistant coach for the Thunder last season.
“I am both thrilled and thankful for this great opportunity”, said Weingartner. “I enjoyed my time here as a player and hope that I can help the Thunder return to being one of the elite teams in the CHL.”
Weingartner is the ninth head coach in franchise history and the third to take over midseason. Shedden took the helm of a 6-20-2 team in 1992-93 and compiled an impressive 19-13-2 record. In 2002-03, Derek Laxdal stepped in for an 8-19-7 club and went 12-17-0. The following seasons both Shedden and Laxdal had a playoff team.
Weingartner resides in Goddard, Kansas, with his wife Renee and their three children. He will make his head coaching debut in Mississippi on Tuesday, when the Thunder face the RiverKings at 7:05 p.m.
French was let go by the Thunder after compiling a record of 70-59-16. He guided the Thunder to a 38-win season in his first year, followed by a .500 record last season. This season, the Thunder currently has the worst record in the CHL, at just 4-13-0. The Thunder also dismissed second-year assistant coach Ben Murphy.
“Mark has been a consummate professional and he put everything he had into his job, while trying harder than anyone I know. We both wish it would have translated into more wins on the ice. Unfortunately, it did not”, said Presson. “Thankfully, it is not a reflection of his character, but only a bump in the road. We wish him the very best.”
Weingartner, Presson and the rest of the Thunder team will be available for interviews with the media today at 4:30 p.m. at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.
The Thunder will return home this weekend, hosting the Odessa Jackalopes on Friday and the Rocky Mountain Rage on Saturday. Both games will face-off at 7:05 p.m. at the Kansas Coliseum. For more information or to order tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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WICHITA, KS- The Lampton Welding Supply Lightning Dance Team pounded the T-95 Rock Squad Girls today in the T-95 Dodgeball 9 Tournament at the Wichita Ice Center.
The Lightning were led by Jessica, Stacia, Meeghan, Savouen, Sidney and Stephanie T. All six girls were still standing at the end of the game.
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WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder at a press conference today, introduced Brent Bilodeau as the ninth head coach in franchise history.
A former first round draft choice (17th overall) of the Montreal Canadiens in the 1991 NHL Draft, Bilodeau (pronounced BILL-uh-doh) enjoyed a 12-year pro playing career, the last six of which he spent as a player/assistant with the ECHL’s Johnstown Chiefs. Upon his retirement in 2005, Bilodeau was named assistant coach for the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers, where he has spent the past three seasons.
“While this will be Brent’s first head coaching job, he is by no means inexperienced”, said Thunder general manager Joel T. Lomurno. “Las Vegas, year after year, is one of the most successful teams in minor league hockey - a great deal of that success is owed to Brent.”
During Brent’s three seasons in Las Vegas - where he also served as assistant general manager - the Wranglers compiled an amazing record of 146-38-32 (.750), including a 26-20 post season mark. In his first two seasons, the Wranglers piled up 53 and 46 wins respectively, advancing to the conference finals each season.
This past season, Las Vegas went 47-13-12 and came within two wins of the ECHL Title. During his tenure, Las Vegas won two division titles, two regular season conference titles, one post season conference championship, one Brabham Cup and made one Kelly Cup Finals appearance. In each of those three seasons, the Wranglers averaged less than 2.60 goals against.
A native of Clyde, Alberta, Brent and his wife Cass, a former WNBA player, have twin sons Tyler and Jacob and are expecting a new baby daughter in August.
“My family and I are thrilled to be coming to such a great organization”, said Bilodeau. “The Wichita Thunder has a long-standing hockey tradition with tremendous fan support and I look forward to putting an equally good and exciting product on the ice.”
The Thunder will drop the puck on their 17th CHL season with a road game on Friday, October 17th and their home opener slated for the following night. For more information or to order season tickets, please call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder announced today that President Chris Presson has resigned to pursue other opportunities and promoted Senior Vice President Joel T. Lomurno to General Manager of the club.
Lomurno, in his 16th season with the organization, will handle the day-to-day operations of the Thunder, including the search for a new head coach.
“I am thrilled with this opportunity and grateful to Chris Presson for everything he did to bring our organization to where we are now”, said Lomurno. “My sole priority is to hire a head coach in the immediate future and will devote 100% of my efforts toward ensuring the continued success of the Thunder here in Wichita.”
Josh Robertson will continue his role as general manager of the Wichita Wingnuts. The Wingnuts continue their six-game home stand tonight, when they host the Lincoln Saltdogs at 7:05 p.m.
The Thunder will drop the puck on their 17th CHL season on Friday, October 17th. For information on season tickets, please call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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WICHITA, KS- Thunder head coach Rob Weingartner made his first trade today, dealing forward Tyler Liebel to the Arizona Sundogs in exchange for forward Chris Greene.
A third-year pro out of Massena, New York, Greene notched three goals and 21 points in 28 games with Arizona this season. He also chipped in six multiple-point games and 27 penalty minutes.
Before turning pro, Greene played two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Erie Otters, picking up 19 goals, 67 points and 304 penalty minutes in 129 games. Greene attended training camp in 2005 with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. He turned pro in spring of 2006, notching four assists in nine games with the ECHL’s Reading Royals.
A 6-2, 191-pound center, Greene spent his first full pro season last year with Arizona, amassing five goals and 25 points, including 10 special teams points. He also finished second on the Sundogs with 182 penalty minutes in 63 games.
A fourth-year pro, Liebel had spent three of his four seasons with the Thunder, compiling 91 points and 402 penalty minutes in 128 games. This season, Liebel had five goals, 11 points and 79 penalty minutes in 25 games.
Greene is expected to make his Thunder debut this weekend, when Wichita hosts the Texas Brahmas on Friday and the Rocky Mountain Rage on Saturday. Both games will face-off at 7:05 p.m. at the Kansas Coliseum. For more information or to order tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder returns to action this weekend with a pair of home games and a couple of interesting promotions.
Friday is the first ever “Awful Night” when the Thunder plays host to the Texas Brahmas. The first 2,461 fans in attendance will win a truly awful prize, including fish flavored gum, black tube socks and an autographed photo copy of Senior Vice President Joel T. Lomurno’s 1996 Thunder hockey card. Thunder staff members will be dressed for the occasion in home made T-shirts.
Throughout the evening fans will be treated to awful music, can try and catch a pair of underwear during the intermission tighty whitey launch and can participate in the mustard flavored sardine eating contest. The Thunder will also have a non-celebrity signing booth, featuring no one important autographing toilet paper and urge fans to stick around for a terribly awful laser light show following the game.
On Saturday, the Thunder will celebrate Sonic Thunderdog’s 15th Birthday Party and all of your favorite mascots will be in attendance for the annual intermission mascot broom ball contest. It is also “Guaranteed Win Night”. If the Thunder loses to the Rocky Mountain Rage all fans in attendance will receive free tickets to Tuesday’s home game versus the Mississippi RiverKings. If the Thunder wins, all fans will still receive buy-one-get-one-free tickets to Tuesday’s game. Fans must bring Saturday’s ticket stub to the Thunder office or the Kansas Coliseum box office on game night to receive this discount.
All three games will face-off at 7:05 p.m. at the Kansas Coliseum. For more information or to order tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder today, shorthanded three players, signed local native Sean Roulston to the roster.
The son of former Wichita Wind and Thunder star Tom Roulston, Sean will make his pro debut tonight, when the Thunder hosts the Rocky Mountain Rage at 7:05 p.m. at the Kansas Coliseum. A 6-2, 215-pound forward, Sean attended training camp with the Thunder in 2005-06. The prior season he played for the Grand Forks Border Bruins of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, scoring 17 goals and 38 points in 49 games.
Sean’s father, Tom, was the star of the old CHL’s Wichita Wind from 1980-82, scoring 85 goals and 157 points in just 99 games. Tom spent the next five seasons in the NHL, notching 47 goals and 96 points in 195 games, split between the Edmonton Oilers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. After six years of retirement, Tom joined Rob Weingartner and the 1994-95 Thunder team. He put up 30 points in 23 regular season games, and then poured it on in the playoffs, piling up 13 goals and 24 points in just 11 games as the Thunder won their second straight CHL Title.
Roulston (pronounced ROLL-stin) will be in the lineup tonight, as the Thunder will be without injured forwards Jason Duda and Russell Spence, as well as defenseman Dominic D’Amour, who left the team today to play in Italy.
Tonight is Sonic Thunderdog’s 15th Birthday Party and all of your favorite mascots will be in attendance for the annual intermission mascot broom ball contest. It is also “Guaranteed Win Night”. If the Thunder loses to the Rocky Mountain Rage all fans in attendance will receive free tickets to Tuesday’s home game versus the Mississippi RiverKings. If the Thunder wins, all fans will receive buy-one-get-one-free tickets to Tuesday’s game. Fans must bring Saturday’s ticket stub to the Thunder office or the Kansas Coliseum box office on game night to receive this discount.
For more information or to order tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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For just $50, she will receive:
2 tickets to the game on Feb 15th
1 red rose
PA Announcement wishing her a Happy Valentine's Day
An autographed program
A visit from their favorite Thunder player!
A Picture of your player visit
For just $50 he will receive:
2 tickets to the game
1 red rose
PA Announcement wishing him a Happy Valentine's Day
An autographed program
A visit from their favorite member of the Lampton Lightning Dance Team!
A Picture of your visit
Call Josh Roehr for more information, at 264-4625!!
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder continued shaking up their roster today, trading goaltender Sebastien Laplante to the Colorado Eagles for goaltender Marco Emond, forward Mike Lukajic and future considerations.
Emond, a 10th-year pro out of Valleyfield, Quebec, brings impressive numbers to the Thunder, including a stellar 13-3-0 record this season. Emond (pronounced EE-mond) went 28-8-0 with a .919 save percentage last season, and then guided the Eagles to the 2007 CHL Title, notching nine postseason wins.
Emond began his pro career in 1998 with the CHL’s Topeka ScareCrows. He also enjoyed a stint with the CHL’s Laredo Bucks in 2003-04, going 22-4-3 with a 2.10 goals against average and guiding the Bucks to the 2004 CHL Title. Over his pro career, Emond has compiled an impressive mark of 158-83-16.
A fourth-year pro out of Mississauga, Ontario, Lukajic (pronounced LOO-kuh-chick) broke into the CHL in impressive fashion, notching 33 goals and 53 points with the Topeka Tarantulas in 2004-05. In 21 games with the Eagles this season, he has notched seven goals and 11 points. For his pro career Lukajic has scored 61 goals in 147 games.
Laplante departs the Thunder after two-and-a-half seasons in which he compiled 52 wins in 108 appearances. This season, Laplante has gone 10-11-0 with a 3.13 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.
“Sebastien approached me asking for a trade and we did the best we could to accommodate his request”, said Thunder head coach Rob Weingartner. “It is a win-win situation for us, acquiring a goaltender with two CHL Titles under his belt, a player that has the ability to score some goals, as well as futures.”
The Thunder will return to action on Wednesday without Weingartner, who was suspended one game by the CHL for his actions on Sunday versus Tulsa. Injured forward Mike Batovanja (pronounced bat-uh-VAN-juh) will be behind the bench when the Thunder face the Austin Ice Bats at 7:38 p.m.
The Thunder will return home this weekend to host the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs on Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. For more information or to order tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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T-95’s Rev. Hank “The Mechanic” is once again spreading love all over the ice at the Kansas Coliseum this Friday night. “Love on Ice”, as it is affectionately called, is an opportunity for couples to get married in a non-traditional setting that will be a unique experience for them to remember for the rest of their lives. This is also a wonderful event to renew wedding vows as well, as several couples have done so in the past.
In addition to this year’s ceremony, a new aspect has been added to the festivities. During the ceremony there will be a special acoustic performance by Vinnie Mourning from local favorite’s “The Sleepy Truckers”.
“Love on Ice” started several years ago and has grown into a signature event in part with the Wichita Thunder and is enjoyed by all who have attended.
Location: Kansas Coliseum
Time: Immediately following The Wichita Thunder vs. Colorado Eagles game
Date: February 15, 2008
Contact: Hank the Mechanic – Direct: 316-655-4133
Mike Clopton (JBGW Promotions Assistant) – Direct: 316-821-2096
Manny Cowzinski (JBGW Promotions Director) - Direct: 316-821-2090,
Journal Broadcast Group owns and operates 35 radio stations and ten television stations in 12 states and operates two television stations under local marketing agreements. The broadcast business of Journal Communications Inc., Journal Broadcast Group is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Journal Communications is a diversified media company with operations in publishing, radio and television broadcasting, interactive media and printing services.
Thunder goaltender Bobby Desjardins, the 1993 CHL Rookie of the Year and the 1994 CHL MVP is on the ballot for nomination into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame. You can cast your vote here.
Bobby Desjardins played for the Thunder from 1992-94, helping the Thunder to the 1994 CHL Title. Desjardins is the winningest goalie in Thunder history with 58.
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder will host Fandemonium - and the Tulsa Oilers - in their season finale on Saturday at the Kansas Coliseum.
The Fandemonium tailgate party begins at 3:30 p.m. in front of the main entrance of the Coliseum and will be highlighted by the second annual celebrity hot dog eating contest, where former Thunder defenseman Sean O’Reilly will try and defend his crown. All fans will also receive free hot dogs courtesy of Indian Hills Meat and Poultry.
Other events will include a performance by the Lampton Welding Supply Lightning and a live concert from the band Signum. Their will also be inflatables for the kids, courtesy of Moonwalks For Fun and a Car Show on display. The party moves inside at 7:00 p.m. for the pre-game player intros and the 2008 Thunder team awards ceremony. Opening face-off is set for 7:15 p.m. Throughout the night fans will have the chance to win prizes from numerous Thunder sponsors.
The Thunder has one more game before Fandemonium, tonight at the Oklahoma City Blazers. Game time is 7:35 p.m. For more information or to order tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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The second annual local celebrity hot dog eating contest was held before the Thunder game on Saturday. Wichita State student Nick Bohanon was crowned champion after eating 8 hot dogs in 8 minutes.
Former Thunder player and defending champ Sean O'Reilly couldn't keep up with Bohanon, who has a history of competitive eating. Wichita Wingnuts General Manager Josh Robertson finished a close second by devouring 7 1/2 hot dogs. Robertson popped a button during dog number 6 and never recovered.
Other participants included Wingnuts GM of Corporate Sales Bob Flanagan, 93.1 FM's Bob Walker, and T-95's Matty High Five.
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The annual offseason Thunder jersey auction is now underway. Our current jerseys up for bid are forward #24 Mike Lukajic and #26 Bruce Richardson. Simply click on the link (below right) to place your bid.
The annual auction will run until September 8th. Please call Sally at the Thunder office with any questions, (316) 264-4625.
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WICHITA, KS- Wichita Thunder forward Jason Duda will try his hand at another sport when he attends tryout camp with the Wichita Wingnuts on Saturday.
A native of Sexsmith, Alberta and now Wichita resident, Duda has spent the last 12 seasons with the Thunder. He ranks second all-time in every Thunder offensive category and ranks among the top four in CHL history for goals (317), assists (501), points (818) and games played (682).
The Wingnuts second tryout camp begins with registration from 9:00-10:00 a.m. at the main gate. The cost is $50 per player and each attendee will receive an agenda for the day as well as an assigned number. Camp begins at 11:30 a.m. and the end time will be based on the number of participants.
There is no pre-registration and all players must bring their own gear. Water, bats and balls will be provided. The tryouts will cover hitting, pitching, defense, running and arm strength. The Wingnuts currently have 27 players on their roster.
Wichita’s newest baseball team will begin their inaugural season of play on May 7th, when they host the Sioux City Explorers for a three-game set at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. For more information or to order tickets, please call our office at 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.
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Wichita Pro Sports is looking for an electrician to do some part time work at Lawrence Dumont Stadium between April 18 and May 6.
Please call Chris Presson or Josh Robertson at 264-GOAL for more information.
Wichita Wingnuts will begin their inaugural season of play on May 7th, when they host the Sioux City Explorers for a three-game set at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. For more information or to order tickets, please call our office at 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.
