Skip to content

Thunder opens season with split

The Airdrie Techmation Thunder’s defence of its 2018-19 Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) title got off to a mixed start Sept. 20 and 21, with a weekend split.

The Thunder’s season opener at Ron Ebbesen Arena was a success, as the defending HJHL and junior B provincial champion scored two late goals to win 3-1 against the Medicine Hat Cubs.

“Overall, there are a lot of positives we can take away and build on,” said head coach Derek Stamp. “Friday’s [Sept. 20] game, we did a lot of things right in the defensive zone and we were able to generate some offensive chances – and our goaltending was outstanding.”

Veteran defenceman Kirkland Spencer opened scoring in the first period, capitalizing on a face-off win by fellow veteran forward Tristan Paquette and burying his shot.

Spencer’s tally stood as the game’s only goal until mid-way through the third period, when Mackenzie Fritzler tied it up for the Cubs.

Paquette then recorded his second point of the contest, scoring the winning goal with just two minutes left to play. Kyle Bracko added an empty-netter in the final minute, after Medicine Hat had pulled its goalie.

“[Paquette] had a really good game,” Stamp said. “He generated a lot of offensive chances.

“We’re definitely going to be leaning on him as one of the guys to generate our offence and drive where we go.”

Airdrie didn’t fare as well on the road the following evening, when the team suffered a 5-0 blanking by the Cochrane Generals. The defeat marked the Thunder’s first shutout loss in a remarkable run of 57 games.

“You have to give credit to Cochrane – they play on a small ice surface and they definitely had a specific game plan against us, to play physical and play fast,” Stamp said. “There might have been a little intimidation for some of our younger guys who are just getting exposed to this league, but it will be a learning experience and I’m sure we’ll be better for it.”

While second-year stalwart Jackson Little featured in net against the Cubs, the Thunder’s other goaltender, Justin Fedoruk, made his debut against Cochrane. The 19-year-old newcomer saved 41 of the 46 shots he faced.

“[Fedoruk] is an Airdrie kid,” Stamp said. “He played for me when I coached midget AA and spent the last two years playing junior B for a team in northern Alberta.

“We’re really excited about our goaltending – we feel they’re both very capable and that can be a strength of this team.”

While Airdrie started the 2018-19 season on a tear, winning its first 18 games, Stamp said early indications are this year will be more competitive for the Thunder.

The HJHL’s south division, in particular, boasts a handful of tough opponents, he added.

“Okotoks looks really loaded up, Coaldale is always good, we have first-hand experience with how big and fast Cochrane can play, and even the Medicine Hat team was solid on four lines and they played tough,” he said. “It was a grind of a game that we came out on top of.”

The Thunder will return to the Ron Ebbesen Arena Sept. 27 to wrestle with the Sylvan Lake Wranglers at 8 p.m. The Wranglers previously played in Blackfalds, but relocated this season.

“It’s another team we haven’t looked at too in-depth, but I know there are a handful of guys they brought back from last year’s Blackfalds team,” Stamp said. “I also think they’re a younger team that will have some rookies and guys coming out of minor hockey and the midget AA program in Sylvan.

“We’ll do our research and figure out a game plan against them during practice this week.”

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks