Thunder look to collar Bulldogs

They’re not exactly nipping at the top dog’s heels, but the SIJHL’s second-place team certainly is within howling distance.
The Borderland Thunder get back to business tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. with a two-game showdown at the Ice for Kids Arena against the Thunder Bay KC Bulldogs, their closest pursuers in the race for first.
With a seven-point cushion and a game in hand, the Thunder (18-4-4-1) are safe on their leader’s perch for now.
But the Bulldogs (15-10-2-1), who have been responsible for three of the Thunder’s four defeats this season, could make the stretch run to the playoffs interesting if they repeat here their home ice feat of Oct. 25-26.
That weekend, the Bulldogs—who are tied with the Fort William Wolves at 33 points but hold three games in hand—dealt the Thunder their first two losses of the season after Borderland had started the campaign with a 10-game unbeaten streak.
The Bulldogs also were the last squad to beat the Thunder before the local team’s current five-game undefeated stretch, winning 4-2 in Thunder Bay on Nov. 29.
The Thunder still lead the season series with a 4-3-1 mark, including a 1-1 tie and a 7-3 win, respectively, during their last meetings Dec. 13-14 here.
The Bulldogs continue to be led offensively by the league’s third- and fourth-place point-getters, respectively, in Trevor Karasiewicz (17 goals/34 assists) and Rylan Vesa (21/29), the latter leading the SIJHL in power-play goals with eight.
Other legitimate threats include Brian Dzijak (22/14), third in the league in goals, and blueliners Trevor Abraham and Ryan Hladyniuk, who are tied for fifth in SIJHL scoring by defencemen with 14 points each.
The goaltending situation for Thunder Bay also is solid, with Keith Anderson possessing a league-high 10 wins while back-up Blake Carlson, a Fort Frances native, ranks fourth in the SIJHL with a .891 save percentage.
Meanwhile, the Thunder hope to have their main man behind the mask back in action tonight as goalie Dan Hoehne (with a league-best .905 save percentage) served in the back-up role the last four games because of headaches due to possible post-concussion syndrome.
Jamie Munro (7-1-1) filled in admirably between the pipes for the Thunder, who are crossing their fingers that forwards Kevin Webb (A-C joint in shoulder) and Aaron Grynol (rotator cuff) also will be ready to step into the line-up.
Matt Johnston (10/32) and red-hot A.J. Tucker (14/18) pace the offensive attack for the Thunder, who are a stellar 8-1-3-1 at home this season.
The Thunder next will head to Dryden to battle the Ice Dogs this coming Wednesday in a game rescheduled from Dec. 18 that was cancelled when Highway 502 was closed due to unsafe road conditions.