Thunder adds to roster

{WICHITA, Kan.) — The Wichita Thunder added muscle to their lineup on Thursday, signing defensemen Ryan Hand and Peter Stevens, as well as right wing Adam Knight.

Hand split time in the ECHL last season with Utah and Reading, totaling 80 PIM in only 26 games played.  The 25-year old spent 2008-09 in the CHL with Laredo and Rapid City, posting 125 PIM in 38 contests.  A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Hand played four years in the Major Juniors with the QMJHL's Baie-Comeau Drakkar from 2002-2006.  The six-foot one scrapper collected 642 PIM in 152 career games at the junior level.

Stevens is a true rookie who just finished a four-year Major Junior career in the OHL.  The six-foot three, 215 pound Stevens appeared in 60 games last season for the Sarnia Sting and Ottawa 67's contributing five points and 117 PIM.  The 21-year old eclipsed 120 PIM in each of his first three seasons in the OHL, playing mostly with the Kingston Frontenacs.  The Chester, NJ native's toughness earned him a spot on the Allen Americans' playoff roster last April.

Knight played under Kevin McClelland in 2008-09 with Colorad while also spending part of that season with the New Mexico Scorpions.  The Mile House, Alberta native tallied 153 PIM in 58 games as a true rookie that season after playing four years of collegiate hockey at the South Alberta Institute of Technology.  The six-foot two, 205 pounder had a college career-best 132 PIM in just 16 games played during his senior season in 2007-08.

The Thunder opens the 2010-2011 season on October 15th at Tulsa.  Wichita's home opener is on Saturday, October 16th versus the Oilers at 7:05 p.m.