Thunder Announces 2025 Kelly Cup Playoff Roster

WICHITA, Kan. (April 15) – The Wichita Thunder, ECHL affiliate of the NHL's San Jose Sharks, AHL's San Jose Barracuda and powered by Toyota, announced today the team's 2025 Kelly Cup Playoff Roster ahead of their opening-round matchup against the Tahoe Knight Monsters. 

The roster consists of 20 players that includes five defenseman, 13 forwards and two goaltenders. Two players have been placed on reserve. The Thunder have seven players on a playoff eligible list (players who are unavailable due to loan/recall to the AHL).

Games 1 and 2 are set for this Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20 at INTRUST Bank Arena. Faceoff drops at 6:05 p.m. for both contests. 

Defense (5): Reid Irwin, Tyler Jette, Nolan Kneen, T.J. Lloyd, Nico Somerville

Forwards (13): Peter Bates, Spencer Blackwell, Dillon Boucher, Nolan Burke, Joe Carroll, Jay Dickman, Luke Grainger, Mitchell Russell, Declan Smith, Michal Stinil, Jake Wahlin, Kobe Walker, Will Zapernick

Goaltenders (2): Trevor Gorsuch, Roddy Ross

Reserve (2): Dominic Dockery, Ryan Finnegan

Playoff Eligible (6): Jeremie Bucheler, Gabriel Carriere, Aaron Dell, John Gormley, Artem Guryev, Braden Hache

Per the ECHL, Playoff Roster information is listed below:

Playoff Rosters consist of a maximum of 24 Players – a 20-man active roster and a four-man reserve list. Upon submission of its Playoff Roster, each Member is required to include:

1. a minimum of 17 active, available (i.e. not injured or on recall) skaters to its Active Roster, and at least two (2) eligible goaltenders to its initial Playoff Roster.

2. a list of all other Players who meet the Playoff Roster Eligibility requirements, but who are unavailable at the time that Playoff Rosters are due to the League Office due to recall to the AHL or NHL. The Playoff Eligible List may only list Players who are unavailable due to recall. All other players (i.e. injured Players) must be listed on a Member’s initial Playoff Roster (active roster or reserve list) in order to participate in the Playoffs.

Throughout the Playoffs, but prior to the start of the Kelly Cup Finals, as the recalled Players listed on a Member’s Playoff Eligible List become available (due to assignment, release from PTO or their respective AHL teams’ seasons having ended), Members shall be permitted to supplement their initial Playoff Rosters with Players listed on their Playoff Eligible Lists, up to a maximum of 24 Players total. Once a Member has named a total of 24 Players to its Playoff Roster, or the Kelly Cup Finals have begun (whichever comes first), the Member’s Playoff Roster shall be fixed for the duration of the Playoffs (barring emergency conditions).

A Player who has finished the Regular Season on Injured Reserve may still be named to a Member’s 24-man Playoff Roster and will be eligible to participate in the Playoffs once his full IR time has been completed (provided all other playoff eligibility requirements have been satisfied). Once a Player has fully completed his remaining IR time, he may be activated and placed on the Member’s Active Roster.

Emergency conditions shall be established when the playing strength of the Member, by reason of injury, illness, recall or suspension by the League, is reduced below two (2) goalkeepers and sixteen (16) skaters. However, should a Member release a Player(s) from its Playoff Roster, its emergency conditions will drop by the same number as the Players they release. Only amateur Players may be signed and added to the Active Roster under emergency conditions. 

Playoff tickets are on sale now. Games 1 and 2 are available for purchase as we host the Tahoe Knight Monsters. Game 1 is Saturday, April 19 and Game 2 is Sunday, April 20, both games starting at 6:05 p.m. Click HERE to purchase!

Season tickets are now on sale for the 2025-26 season. Lock in your seats and catch all the high paced, hard-hitting action at INTRUST Bank Arena. Click HERE now to learn how you can get your seats reserved and start paying now.