Wichita Opens Kelly Cup Playoffs Tonight vs. Tahoe

WICHITA, Kan. (April 19) – The Wichita Thunder, ECHL affiliate of the NHL's San Jose Sharks, AHL's San Jose Barracuda and powered by Toyota, opens its first-round matchup tonight at 6:05 p.m. against Tahoe at INTRUST Bank Arena.

Tonight is the first-ever meeting between the two teams in the postseason. Wichita won the regular season series, going 5-1-0 against Tahoe. 

The Thunder are making their first visit to the playoffs since the 2020-21 season. Tonight is also the first home playoff game at INTRUST Bank Arena since 2018 when the Thunder lost in six games to Colorado. 

This is just the third time since joining the ECHL that Wichita has made the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Thunder won 11 of their last 15 games, including closing the regular season on a four-game winning streak to take the #2 seed in the Mountain Division. 

Tahoe is making its first playoff appearance in franchise history. The Knight Monsters joined the ECHL this season, finishing in third place in the Mountain Division with a 41-25-4-2 record and went 20-15-1-0 on the road this year. 

Wichita and Tahoe played in some high-scoring games during the regular season. Tahoe finished second in the Mountain with 255 goals scored and third in the league in goals for per game (3.54). Wichita finished seventh in that category, recording 3.44 goals for per game and tallying 248 goals overall. 

THUNDERBOLTS...Michal Stinil finished the regular season tied for second with 52 assists...Jay Dickman finished the regular season tied for second with 12 power play goals...Dillon Boucher was second in the league with 10 major penalties...Wichita is second to last in penalty minutes per game (9.51)...Wichita is 29-7-2 when scoring first...Wichita is 19-4-2 when leading after one...Wichita is 27-3-2 when leading after two...Wichita is 16-7-0 in games decided by three or more goals...Wichita is 15-10-1-1 when tied after one...

TAHOE NOTES – Sloan Stanick finished the regular season in second with 79 points and third in shots (252)...Simon Pinard was third with 33 goals...Jesper Vikman was tied for second in the league with 24 wins, fourth in saves (1,153) and third in minutes played (2,503)...Tahoe is last in the league in average PIM (8.94)...Tahoe is 26-9-2-0 when scoring first...Tahoe is tied for seventh with nine shorthanded goals and has given up 10...Tahoe is outscoring its opponent 87-71 in the third period...

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.