Thunder host Golden Hawks

The Borderland Thunder will be looking to improve their best start in franchise history when the host the K&A Variety Golden Hawks tonight and tomorrow at the Ice for Kids Arena.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
“I thought we could do this, but we still haven’t played the top team in the league again yet,” Thunder captain Josh McAndrew about the team’s 11-game unbeaten string to start the SIJHL season.
“We’ve been playing the middle and the lower teams so far, so I mean our record is not really accurate because we’ve only played the [Fort William] North Stars once,” he added.
The Thunder (10-0-1) faced the North Stars (6-0-1) in their season-opener and battled to a 1-1 overtime tie—even though Fort William outshot them 32-22.
Although Borderland has done well of late, outscoring their opponents 53-17 over the first 11 games, head coach Dave Allison isn’t counting out the teams that have gotten off to slow starts.
“Larry Wintoneak [Dryden Ice Dogs] is a good coach. Alex Dampier [Thunder Bay Bulldogs] is an outstanding coach with all kinds of experience, and Rick Baraniuk [Golden Hawks] has a full year with the group.
“All of them are good teachers, and they coach for teams for a lot of the right reasons, so consequently they will get better,” Allison added.
But while the Thunder have enjoyed being on the winning side of things, Allison believes the team hasn’t had trouble getting “fired up” for games against the lower teams in the league.
Dryden sit in third place with a record of 4-9 while the Golden Hawks are fourth at 3-7-1. The Bulldogs are in last place (0-7-1).
“If you’re going to play, then play well. If you’re going to play, you never know who’s out there,” Allison stressed. “There might be a game that there are scouts, or family and friends, and I think the biggest thing is that you don’t embarrass yourself.
“You’ve got to have that common sense and character to just say that, ‘I’m going to go out there and do my best regardless.’
“We never concern ourselves with winning. We figure that if we do enough good things, that in the long run we’ll be successful,” Allison reasoned. “And as long as we get effort, and we play with good habits, we’re not displeased with the outcome.”