Thunder still at head of SIJHL class

Repeats are a tricky thing to predict at any time, but especially in team sports.
There’s an undeniable lure to throw one’s support behind the crew presently possessing the champion tag. They’ve proven their worth by showing they can handle the pressure cooker of the post-season—and put their pursuers in the position of having to figure out a way to make up the gap.
But a variety of intangibles can throw a monkey wrench into any dynasty plans. There is the well-worn philosophy of it being more difficult to stay on top of the mountain than getting there.
Injuries can derail title hopes faster than a jet-fuel powered NASCAR entry. Swelled heads can make a team lose the necessary focus that all winning squads must have on hand. And roster changes can foul up the chemistry of a successful organization if the right mix of players isn’t found.
The last factor certainly rings true as a dangerous possibility for this year’s edition of the Borderland Thunder, coming off their first SIJHL championship heading into the league’s third season.
But change is in vogue throughout the circuit, with no team exempt from player loss due to used-up eligibility or different hockey options in other ports of call.
That being said, here’s a closer look at the five teams that will duke it out for the right to be crowned champion next spring, with their regular season records and finish from last year denoted in brackets:
•Borderland Thunder (32-13-5-2, 1st)
Last season, it was the Thunder who were on the hunt after a heart-breaking sweep at the hands of the Dryden Ice Dogs in the augural final of the SIJHL.
Now, with a championship trophy of their own to protect, it is the Thunder who wear the neon bull’s eye on their backs.
With only Kevin Webb returning out of last year’s top five scorers, offence will have to come from other sources—both old and new.
Co-Rookie of the Year Josh McAndrew will have to avoid a sophomore slump, and rough-and-tumble Ian Lockman will need to avoid the undisciplined penalties that plague his game if he is to chip in at the 30-35 goal pace head coach Dave Allison expects from him.
Among the newcomers, Eric Schultz from Strasbourg, Sask. looks like he has speed to burn and scoring hands to go with it, while Calgary forward Aaron Boyer already has a game-winning goal to his credit.
On the blueline, Kurt Hogard will be counted on to continue his strong offensive (10 points to lead all Thunder playoff scorers last year) and defensive play as the leader of what will be a young corps that will feature the likes of local Kenora Stars Midget ‘AAA’ standout Andrew Perrault.
In the end, though, the Thunder only will ride as far as SIJHL Goalie of the Year Dan Hoehne (17-7-1 in the regular season and 8-1 in the playoffs last season) takes them.
Newcomers Ryan Crane, who picked up his first shutout here Saturday night, and International Falls Broncos graduate Jared Baldwin will compete for the back-up spot.
If the Thunder can find enough goal-scoring, and avoid the hangover from both the SIJHL title run and the near-miss at the Dudley Hewitt Cup here, they should be able to pull off the challenge of winning back-to-back titles.
Prediction: 1st.
•Fort William First Nation North Stars (23-19-5-5, 2nd)
Now that Fort William has settled on its team name (after two other incarnations of their moniker last year), they can set their sights on knocking the Thunder off their lofty perch.
Head coach Todd Howarth has a group that—at least on paper—threatens to cause some significant damage after losing in the semi-finals to the Thunder Bay KC Bulldogs last season.
The offence is propelled by last year’s scoring tandem of Spencer Bodnar and Steve Atkins, along with former SIJHL all-star Brent Greene.
Albert Kavanaugh—an all-star from a year ago—will team up with Trevor Abraham to provide a solid 1-2 punch on the blueline while the veteran duo of Jean Frederick Beaudoin and Daniel Beardy return between the pipes.
If the Thunder get too complacent, this is a group that has the potential to make it three different SIJHL title winners in three years.
Prediction: 2nd.
•Thunder Bay KC Bulldogs (31-15-3-3, 3rd)
The Bulldogs are begging to be unleashed into the new season, with thoughts of what might have been dogging them (pardon the pun) over the summer.
Losing in five games to the Thunder in the SIJHL final was bad enough, but then to have the Thunder knock them out of the Dudley Hewitt Cup had to be even more salt in the wound.
It’s not a good sign when a team loses its only formidable scoring line as the Bulldogs did now that SIJHL points leader Trevor Karasiewicz and mates Rylan Vesa and Brian Dzijak moved on.
But head coach Dave Vescio and the Bulldogs hope to make up for it with the likes of veterans Kris King and Brady Laskowski as well as newcomers Darryl Goulet, Tyler Trichillo, and Adam Sergerie pulling the trigger.
Co-Rookie of the Year Jamie Silverson is gone from the defensive corps, which will have to be guided by veteran Jesse Smith.
In goal, league save percentage leader Bill Gerry no longer is in the Bulldogs’ fold, leaving the netminding duties to U.S. import Joe Shannon and impressive 16-year-old rookie Channing MacDonald.
The Bulldogs are willing, but it remains to be seen if they are offensively able to redeem themselves from last year’s disappointing finish.
Prediction: 3rd.
•Dryden Ice Dogs (28-20-2-2, 4th)
From kings of the world in 2002 to drowning in a moat full of forfeited victories and a mid-season coaching change last season, the Ice Dogs will try to get themselves back on track after recharging their batteries in the off-season.
Bench boss Jason Tatarnic will turn to forwards Mike MacIntyre, Matt Tryhuba, and Jordan Sitar for offensive production, along with an old familiar face in Konrad Bruetsch, who rejoins the Ice Dogs after a year-long hiatus in southern Ontario.
The questions begin on the Ice Dogs’ half of the red line. On defence, they will have a noticeably Fort Frances feel, with local products Marty Hanson and Cody Mosbeck suiting up for Dryden this year, but not a great deal of depth.
With the departure of Ryan McGillis, the goaltending situation also is up for grabs between Liam Johnston, who was with the Owen Sound Greys last season, and Breton Lindoff, who split time between the Junior ‘B’ Red Deer Vipers and Junior ‘A’ Bonnyville Pontiacs in Alberta in 2002-03.
The Ice Dogs will be a feisty bunch, but will struggle to make up the ground they lost in the previous campaign.
Prediction: 4th.
•K&A Variety Golden Hawks (11-36-1, 5th)
It’s hard to imagine the Hawks (known as the Feathermen Hawks last year) having a more trying season than in 2002-03—unless you look at their roster this year.
With 14 first-year juniors, many of the Midget age level, and only three 20-year-olds on board, the growing pains will be frequent for a Hawks’ team which led the SIJHL in penalty minutes in 2002-03, but not much else.
The Hawks—and head coach Brian Vescio—will rest their hopes on last year’s leading scorer Travis Grant, forward Vince Kurszewski, and defenceman Jarris Blacksmith to light the lamp, while a solid performance from blueline newcomer Travis Linklater is anticipated.
It will be a case of trial by fire for the Hawks’ goaltending duo of Carter Hutton, the Most Valuable Player of the Thunder Bay Midget ‘AA’ League last season, and Quebec Midget ‘AAA’ product Darren Peace.
A few feathers in their cap may await this season, but these Hawks will have to accept being clay pigeons for the rest of the league—at least for the time being.
Prediction: 5th.