The experience of veteran players is paying major dividends for the Airdrie Techmation Thunder. Four games into the 2018-19 season, the Thunder boasts an undefeated record in the Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL). The Junior B team has gotten off to a roaring start, registering 37 goals while only conceding eight. While the early success has obviously been a team effort, much of the Thunder’s ability to run up the score has been due to a stellar forward line that includes Rylan Plante-Crough, Zach Dubois and team newcomer Jordan McConnell. The three players have shared 21 of the Thunder’s 37 goals thus far. The budding chemistry between McConnell and Plante-Crough, in particular, has been striking. Four games in, the two Airdrie stars top the HJHL scoring charts with 19 points apiece. “They’ve been great and they’ve clicked right off the bat,” said Thunder coach Derek Stamp. “If [McConnell] is scoring, [Plante-Crough] is setting him up and if [Plante-Crough] is scoring, [McConnell] is setting him up. “And Zach Dubois is fitting in great on that line, to give it a bit of balance and that little bit of extra toughness.” McConnell, who is finishing off his junior career in his hometown after three seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, said he’s enjoying playing with his new linemates. “[Plante-Crough] is pretty easy to play with,” he said. “He seems to find me whenever I’m open, and I feel like I can do the same when we’re on the ice together.” McConnell picked up four goals and four assists in Airdrie’s season-opener Sept. 21 against the Stettler Lightning, before notching another three goals and three assists the following night against the Coaldale Copperheads. The 14-point weekend earned McConnell the HJHL Player of the Week award. The 20-year-old centre followed up an excellent Thunder debut with another five points in Airdrie’s next two games. He bagged a goal and an assist against the Blackfalds Wranglers Sept. 28, before finding the net twice and chipping in with a helper in a 7-1 win against the High River Flyers Sept. 29. While he’s been used to a higher level of hockey, McConnell noted the HJHL is a tough league to play in. “There are still really good players here, obviously, and it’s still high-quality hockey,” he said. “You still have to work hard and prepare every night.” One player who is very familiar with the Junior B scene in Alberta is Plante-Crough, who is playing in his fourth season in the HJHL – his third with Airdrie. The Thunder vet registered four goals and four assists in the opening weekend, including a six-pointer against the Copperheads. But the 21-year-old left winger saved his best for Game 4, when he scored a third-period hat trick against the Flyers, while also picking up an assist. Like McConnell the week before, Plante-Crough's efforts earned him the league's Player of the Week award. “I have a lot more confidence, coming into my fourth year,” he said. “I know how people play. I keep putting the puck on the net and it keeps going in.” Stamp, who is in his second year behind the Thunder’s bench, said the collective playing experience of McConnell, Plante-Crough and other veterans has been useful in guiding the team’s rookies. “We do have a lot of 20-year-olds,” he said. “[But] there are a handful of guys who are in their first year [of junior] and just graduated out of midget and minor hockey. “That balance has been great and guys like [Plante-Crough] and Tristan Paquette have done a great job trying to mentor those guys and help put them in opportunities to succeed.” The Thunder continued its season Oct. 3 (after press time) against the Mountainview Colts. Airdrie will return to the Ron Ebbesen Arena Oct. 5, for a match-up with the Cochrane Generals. Puck drop is at 8 p.m.
