Strachan finds niche with Thunder Cats

After a roller-coaster season a year ago, which saw him suit up for several teams in different leagues, Wayne Strachan found himself playing in familiar surroundings this season.
Now back in Thunder Bay, where he once played during his minor hockey and junior career, the 26-year-old former Muskie helped the Thunder Cats to a 47-20-7 record and second place in the UHL’s Western Division. The Cats are currently in a quarter-final with Port Huron, down 3-2 with the final two games of the series played in Thunder Bay.
Strachan, a New York Ranger draft pick back in 1993, closed out the season with a league-leading 57 goals, and added 71 assists for 128 points.
He also tied for second in the UHL in power play goals with 18.
Not a bad turnaround for the talented right-winger who seemed to grow frustrated with the business of hockey last season.
After a dispute with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays after they failed to honour his current contract, Strachan suffered through an injury and then was traded to the New Orleans Brass.
He failed to report to his new team, was suspended, and then found himself with the ’Cats for a pair of games.
But after UHL commissioner Richard Brosal upheld his suspension in the ECHL, Strachan decided to return to the league and wound up in a Roanoke Express uniform.
“When I was injured, it was like I really didn’t have a chance to show what I could do,” Strachan said as the ’Cats squared off in their best-of-seven quarter-final series against Port Huron.
“When I got suspended [by New Orleans], it just wasn’t something that I felt comfortable with,” he added. “I look back and sometimes think I should have reported but I wasn’t comfortable with [the move].”
Given such a tumultuous season a year ago, Strachan wanted to find his niche with one team. And that’s just what he’s got with the Thunder Cats.
“You know, the last couple of years have been tough so I wanted to go to a place where I could play a lot and I think it worked out good,” said the 5’10, 190-pounder.
“I think it’s worked out well for myself, and I’m just trying to help this team win a championship,” he added.
“I had a lot of success here playing junior hockey and when I talked to [Thunder Cat GM] Gary Cook, I knew they would have a good team and it would be a good situation, which was definitely a factor with me signing,” he recalled.
“This is a great place to play hockey. There’s not always a good crowd but they understand the game,” he stressed.
Still, while Strachan loves the fact he’s spent the whole season with just one team, and had the chance to play in front of friends and family from time to time, he admitted he’s open to the thought of moving up in the hockey world.
Formerly with the Long Beach Ice Dogs and Manitoba Moose of the IHL, there’s no doubt Strachan can play at that level. He just needs the chance.
“For myself, I just wanted to have a chance this season and I hope this opens some doors for me,” he said. “I definitely set goals for myself before this season. I wanted to score 50 goals, and I got that, but I fell short of my points total.
“[But] I know I can play [in IHL] after the season I had,” he stressed.
Cook is realistic about the chances of having Strachan back in a Thunder Cat uniform next season.
“With the year he’s had with us, there’s definitely a good chance he’ll move on,” he admitted.
Strachan revealed he’s already attracted interest from a “couple” of teams but because nothing has been confirmed, he chose not to disclose when–or where–his next stop might take him.
Whatever the case, it would be hard to ignore the numbers he’s put up this season. Aside from being the league’s top goal scorer and second in total points behind linemate Jason Firth, Strachan was third in plus/minus (+56) and fourth in shots (308).
“I probably could have been called up but I didn’t want to go up there and sit out games,” he said. “But I think I have benefited from playing in one place.”
“With Wayne, we knew we were getting a good offensive player but he’s also a good two-way player who kills penalties,” noted Cook. “He basically took the place of Mike Figliomeni [offensively] and has played well with Jason [Firth].
“He’s such a great two-way player, there’s not too much more to say, he’s done everything we could ask from him,” he enthused.