Thunder extend unbeaten string

The Borderland Thunder extended their SIJHL unbeaten string to eight games with convincing victories over the Thunder Bay Bulldogs here Friday and Saturday.
The Thunder outshot the winless Bulldogs 59-26 on Friday night en route to a 7-0 shutout.
“It was a pretty good game. No one skated overly hard, but we stuck to good habits,” said Thunder captain Josh McAndrew, who had two goals and an assist Friday.
“We made a few turnovers and they had a lot of odd-man rushes, so I mean there were a lot of positives but there were also a lot of negatives coming from a game like that,” he added.
Tim Higbee earned the shutout to give him three wins on the season.
Aaron Boyer added a goal and an assist, with Jared Wood, Tanner Kaemingh, P.J. Stodgell, and Scott Bridgeman netting the other Thunder goals.
Dennis Morrison added a pair of assists.
On Saturday, the Thunder (7-0-1) continued their dominating play with a 6-0 victory that saw them outshoot the Bulldogs 44-23.
Morrison had the hot hand for the Thunder in that one with two goals and an assist, giving him 12 points on the season—one behind McAndrew for the team lead.
He was happy with the team’s performance against the Bulldogs.
“I’m really pleased with the weekend and I think it went pretty good, but I think we need to start moving our legs more, though,” Morrison remarked.
Tyler Gordon got the shutout to give him four wins on the season.
Clayton Windigo had a goal and an assist for the Thunder on Saturday, with McAndrew, Tyler Barker, and Andrew Dault also tallying.
“We’re really pleased with the core forwards that we have from last year because they never stop skating,” said Thunder head coach Dave Allison.
“McAndrew, Dennis Morrison, Aaron Boyer, and Andrew Dault are four guys that have played here before, and their feet never stop moving,” he added.
And though the Thunder played down to the Bulldogs’ level at times, Allison was pleased with the team’s effort.
He also has been pleased with the team’s commitment to hard work and his top line of McAndrew, Morrison, and Boyer setting an example for their teammates to follow.
“Regardless of the opposition, you want to keep your standards high and you want to stay in good habits, and our first line did an excellent job of that,” said Allison.
“And when you have that, you’re creating something that other guys have to follow,” he added.
“They come and they enjoy working hard, and really that’s all that you can ask,” Allison remarked. “When you get kids that work hard and they’re able to grasp a little guidance and a little direction, it’s an enjoyable atmosphere to be around.
“The wins and losses will take care of themselves, but when you got kids who have some sort of common sense and some respect, and they come and work hard, it’s wonderful,” Allison stressed.
McAndrew and Morrison sit one-two atop the SIJHL scoring race while Gordon leads all goalies with four wins and a 1.18 goals against average.
The Thunder will try to add to their unblemished record this Friday and Saturday when they travel to Thunder Bay to face the Bulldogs once again.