Arizona Sundogs

The Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League announced Tuesday the call-up of goaltender Scott Darling from the Mississippi RiverKings of the SPHL. The Lemont, IL native will be in the line-up Wednesday night when the Thunder take on the Arizona Sundogs. Darling (6-6, 230-lbs) was a sixth round draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2007, taken 153rd overall. The second-year pro appeared in 18 games for Mississippi, going 7-10-1 with a 3.25 GAA and a save percentage of .892. Darling has won his last three starts, compiling a 2.60 goals against and a .909 save percentage.

Wichita Thunder defenseman Steven Kaunisto has been named the Oakley CHL Player of the Week. Kaunisto (pronounced kuh-NEESE-toh) scored a goal and assisted on three others in three games last weekend in which the Thunder was 3-0-0.  The 24-year old blue liner was also a staggering +10, including a +5 finish on Sunday during the Thunder's 8-0 shutout at Tulsa. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, MI, Kaunisto has five points in five games this season and currently leads the CHL in plus/minus.

Brett Hemingway, Thomas Beauregard and Matt Robinson all scored in a shoot-out as the Wichita Thunder beat the Arizona Sundogs 2-1 on Wednesday night. Beauregard put the Thunder in the lead in the second period as he scored on a power play to make it 1-0 Wichita.  Arizona's Daymen Rycroft tied the game at 1 mid-way through the third period and a scoreless overtime forced the shoot-out. Arizona went first in the shoot-out and missed their first three attempts while the Thunder made all three of theirs.  Goaltender Adam Russo finished with a whopping 47 saves for Wichita in the victory.

Behind two first period goals for the second straight game, Texas (19-14-7) was able to knock off Wichita (24-11-2) 3-2 Sunday afternoon at INTRUST Bank Arena in front of 8,761 fans. Wichita erased a two-goal lead late in the game, but couldn't get one past Brahmas goaltender Steve Silverthorn. The Thunder remain in first place by one point in the Berry Conference. For the second straight game, Texas scored twice in the first period. T.J. Fox scored to make it 1-0 off a bad bounce that caught Thunder netminder Adam Russo out of the net. With four minutes to go in the period, Jacques Perreault made it 2-0 on the power play.

The Central Hockey League announced Wednesday that Wichita Thunder defenseman Andrew Martens has been selected as a starter to the 2012 CHL All-Star team. The Friendswood, TX native has been a model of consistency for Wichita this season and was the top vote getter as he appeared on 35 ballots. Martens is tied for the lead in scoring by defensemen (8g, 14a=22) and leads the league in plus/minus (+20). Martens has collected five points in his last five games including a two-goal performance against Quad City this past Friday.

The Wichita Thunder defeated the Arizona Sundogs 6-3 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Saturday night. Matt Robinson scored two goals while Aaron Davis and Lance Galbraith each had three points. The Thunder, who has won six of their last nine games, took three of four on their homestand heading into Monday's game at Quad City. With the Thunder keading 3-2 in the third, Robinson scored his second of the night at 7:28, slipping the puck through the five-hole of Sundogs' goaltender Doug Groenestege.

The Wichita Thunder lost 4-3 to the Texas Brahmas at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Friday night. Mick Lawrence snapped a 3-3 tie at 13:37 in the third period to provide the final margin. Wichita had several opportunities with an extra attacker in the final 1:43, but Brahmas' goaltender Wayne Savage prevented the Thunder from tying the game. Trailing 3-2 after two periods, Lance Galbraith tied the game at 6:40 in the third, winning a scrum in front of the net. It was the third time Wichita battled back to even the contest.

The Wichita Thunder whitewashed the Tulsa Oilers 8-0 at the BOK Center on Sunday afternoon. Chris Moran scored the first two goals of his professional career while 21-year old goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas completed a 23-save shutout in his Thunder debut.  The eight goals were the most by the Thunder since December 8th, 2006. For a second straight game, the Thunder built a two-goal lead in the first period.  At 2:55, Chris Schwab knocked a second rebound past the right of Oilers' goaltender Tyler Sims for the early Thunder advantage.

The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today that Wichita Thunder Head Coach Kevin McClelland has been selected the recipient of the 2011-12 Central Hockey League Coach of the Year award following balloting among all 14 CHL head coaches. McClelland becomes just the second coach to win the distinguished award twice in the CHL joining David Lohrei, current Arizona Sundogs head coach, who earned the honor in 1998 with Nashville and 2000 with Fayetteville. McClelland previously was named the CHL Coach of the Year in 2007 with the Memphis RiverKings.

An hour after being named a starter to the 2012 CHL All-Star team, the Wichita Thunder announced that defenseman Andrew Martens has been called-up to the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons.  Martens will be in uniform tonight when the Barons host the Rochester Americans.   The Friendswood, TX native has been a model of consistency for Wichita this season and was the top vote getter as he appeared on 35 ballots.  Martens is tied for the lead in scoring by defensemen (8g, 14a=22)

The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today that Wichita Thunder Head Coach Kevin McClelland has been selected the recipient of the 2011-12 Central Hockey League Coach of the Year award following balloting among all 14 CHL head coaches. McClelland becomes just the second coach to win the distinguished award twice in the CHL joining David Lohrei, current Arizona Sundogs head coach, who earned the honor in 1998 with Nashville and 2000 with Fayetteville. McClelland previously was named the CHL Coach of the Year in 2007 with the Memphis RiverKings.

Wichita (25-11-2) exploded for its highest scoring output of the season, winning 8-4 over the Arizona Sundogs (12-21-7) Wednesday night at INTRUST Bank Arena. Kevin Seibel recorded his first professional hat trick and Matt Summers added four assists to pace the Thunder. Wichita jumps ahead of Allen by one point for first place as the two teams will meet this Friday in Allen. The Thunder got off to a quick start, scoring three times in the first period. Kevin Seibel (2) scored first for Wichita at 6:43 on the power play.

Behind two first period goals for the second straight game, Texas (19-14-7) was able to knock off Wichita (24-11-2) 3-2 Sunday afternoon at INTRUST Bank Arena in front of 8,761 fans. Wichita erased a two-goal lead late in the game, but couldn't get one past Brahmas goaltender Steve Silverthorn. The Thunder remain in first place by one point in the Berry Conference. For the second straight game, Texas scored twice in the first period. T.J. Fox scored to make it 1-0 off a bad bounce that caught Thunder netminder Adam Russo out of the net. With four minutes to go in the period, Jacques Perreault made it 2-0 on the power play.

Brett Hemingway, Thomas Beauregard and Matt Robinson all scored in a shoot-out as the Wichita Thunder beat the Arizona Sundogs 2-1 on Wednesday night. Beauregard put the Thunder in the lead in the second period as he scored on a power play to make it 1-0 Wichita.  Arizona's Daymen Rycroft tied the game at 1 mid-way through the third period and a scoreless overtime forced the shoot-out. Arizona went first in the shoot-out and missed their first three attempts while the Thunder made all three of theirs.  Goaltender Adam Russo finished with a whopping 47 saves for Wichita in the victory.

The Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League announced Tuesday the call-up of goaltender Scott Darling from the Mississippi RiverKings of the SPHL. The Lemont, IL native will be in the line-up Wednesday night when the Thunder take on the Arizona Sundogs. Darling (6-6, 230-lbs) was a sixth round draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2007, taken 153rd overall. The second-year pro appeared in 18 games for Mississippi, going 7-10-1 with a 3.25 GAA and a save percentage of .892. Darling has won his last three starts, compiling a 2.60 goals against and a .909 save percentage.

The Central Hockey League announced Wednesday that Wichita Thunder defenseman Andrew Martens has been selected as a starter to the 2012 CHL All-Star team. The Friendswood, TX native has been a model of consistency for Wichita this season and was the top vote getter as he appeared on 35 ballots. Martens is tied for the lead in scoring by defensemen (8g, 14a=22) and leads the league in plus/minus (+20). Martens has collected five points in his last five games including a two-goal performance against Quad City this past Friday.

An hour after being named a starter to the 2012 CHL All-Star team, the Wichita Thunder announced that defenseman Andrew Martens has been called-up to the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons.  Martens will be in uniform tonight when the Barons host the Rochester Americans.   The Friendswood, TX native has been a model of consistency for Wichita this season and was the top vote getter as he appeared on 35 ballots.  Martens is tied for the lead in scoring by defensemen (8g, 14a=22)

The Wichita Thunder defeated the Arizona Sundogs 6-3 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Saturday night. Matt Robinson scored two goals while Aaron Davis and Lance Galbraith each had three points. The Thunder, who has won six of their last nine games, took three of four on their homestand heading into Monday's game at Quad City. With the Thunder keading 3-2 in the third, Robinson scored his second of the night at 7:28, slipping the puck through the five-hole of Sundogs' goaltender Doug Groenestege.

The Wichita Thunder lost 4-3 to the Texas Brahmas at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Friday night. Mick Lawrence snapped a 3-3 tie at 13:37 in the third period to provide the final margin. Wichita had several opportunities with an extra attacker in the final 1:43, but Brahmas' goaltender Wayne Savage prevented the Thunder from tying the game. Trailing 3-2 after two periods, Lance Galbraith tied the game at 6:40 in the third, winning a scrum in front of the net. It was the third time Wichita battled back to even the contest.

Wichita Thunder defenseman Steven Kaunisto has been named the Oakley CHL Player of the Week. Kaunisto (pronounced kuh-NEESE-toh) scored a goal and assisted on three others in three games last weekend in which the Thunder was 3-0-0.  The 24-year old blue liner was also a staggering +10, including a +5 finish on Sunday during the Thunder's 8-0 shutout at Tulsa. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, MI, Kaunisto has five points in five games this season and currently leads the CHL in plus/minus.