Thunder tops at first pre-season tourney

The Borderland Thunder certainly have gotten their inaugural Superior International Junior Hockey League season off to a great start.
The Thunder posted comeback victories in each of their five games to capture first place at the SIJHL’s “showcase” pre-season tournament in Thunder over the weekend.
After trailing 3-2 with eight minutes to go in the final yesterday against the Iron Range Yellow Jackets (Grand Rapids, Mn.), the Thunder netted two goals in less than 40 seconds.
Right-winger Steven King found himself one-on-one with Yellow Jackets goalie Rick Schwiderski on a pretty tip pass from Matt Johnson to tie the game.
King then returned the favour to Johnson on a three-on-two rush to give the Thunder the lead for good.
Cole Hayward and Johnson, scoring an empty-netter, added insurance markers in the last two minutes to make the final score 6-3.
“I’m very surprised for them to be behind in every third period and then to just totally take over each game. It’s just great and excellent for them,” said Thunder head coach Wayne Strachan.
“They played well and showed what they could do, not only to the coaching staff, but to the people around the league,” he added. “They did an excellent job.”
The Yellow Jackets jumped on the Thunder early on goals by forwards Craig Hartz and Derek Bendell within a minute.
Thunder defenceman Terry Pepisian put his team on the board halfway through the second period on a shot from the face-off circle. Then fellow defenceman Marty Hanson sneaked in from the point and scored with less than a minute to go before intermission.
Derek Zemanovic wristed a bouncing puck from just inside the blueline that fooled Borderland goalie Jason Flatt to give the Jackets a 3-2 lead in the third.
Flatt wound up stopping 30 shots to earn the win, his second of the tournament. Fellow goalies Tom Iwaniec (two) and Chris Cain (one) also came through with winning performances.
The Thunder had opened action Friday morning with a 7-4 win over the Feathermen Hawks, then beat the Yellow Jackets 4-2 on Friday night, Dryden 8-3 on Saturday afternoon, and the Northwest Wisconsin Knights (Spooner) 6-5.
Defenceman Jay Philips was the hero against the Knights, netting the game-winner with just 15 seconds to play.
Twenty-four players made the trip to Thunder Bay and Strachan now faces the difficult task of paring his roster to 20 skaters.
The Thunder open their 48-game regular season Sept. 28-30 in Thunder Bay with a game against the Thunder Bay Bulldogs and two versus the Thunder Bay Wolves.
Their home opener is slated Oct. 12 against the Bulldogs.