Thunder anxious for start of new season Also looking forward to ‘showcase’ tourney

A wise man once said to never look too far ahead because you may miss the pretty girl that just passed you by.
This tidbit of wisdom could apply to the Borderland Thunder as they get ready to start another SIJHL season this weekend while also looking ahead to playing in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s “showcase” tournament early next month.
The Thunder open action Saturday on the road against the Fort William First Nation North Stars, the defending SIJHL champs, before playing their home-opener Friday, Oct. 1 versus the K&A Variety Golden Hawks of Thunder Bay.
They also will face two other league games before competing in the MJHL’s season-opening tournament Oct. 8-10.
“It’s an exciting proposition for everyone, and we want to be able to compete [at the ‘showcase’],” said Thunder head coach Dave Allison. “I mean, we want to go there and put on a show, and prove that we can play with all these teams in Canada.
“We feel confident that we can play with them, and I think the players are very much looking forward to it, but they also realize that these four games that we’re going to play before we go there are also important because it’s our regular season,” Allison added.
Games the Thunder play against their MJHL opponents will count in the standings there, but will be treated as exhibition matches as far as the SIJHL is concerned.
Third-year Thunder forward Josh McAndrew is looking forward to the start of the SIJHL season, admitting he and his teammates will be treating these early games as preparation for the highly-scouted MJHL “showcase.”
“With every Manitoba junior hockey league team at that tournament, there’s a good chance that there are going to be some quality players,” he said.
“We’re going to be playing four regular-season games by then, but it’s going to be a good measuring stick to see where we’re at in terms of the other teams in Canada.
“And for the 20-year-olds like myself, it’s going to be a good opportunity to show college scouts, semi, and pro scouts what we can do,” McAndrew added.
And while those first four regular-season games are important when it comes to a 48-game schedule, it’s difficult to focus on the now when the future is so close—and filled with so much pressure and opportunity.
“It’s our league versus theirs, so we’ve got to show that we can play with them,” said Aaron Boyer, entering his second year with the Thunder. “They’re good teams and we want to keep the games competitive and we want to obviously win.
“It’s a challenge and it’s fun, and we’ve got the SIJHL on our backs,” Boyer added.
In related news, season tickets for the Borderland Thunder continue to be for sale all this week from 6-8 p.m. at the Ice for Kids Arena
Costing $168 each for adults, seniors, and students, and $156 for children under 12, the package includes 24 home games, reserved seating, no waiting in lines, and first-priority for post-season tickets come playoff time.