Thunder to host Hawks for weekend set

Of all the things the Borderland Thunder need to worry about this weekend, conditioning should be the last of their concerns.
The defending SIJHL champions (1-2-0-0) will lace up the blades for their first competitive action in 10 days, and only the second time in the last 20, when they hit the Ice for Kids Arena tonight at 7:30 to face the K&A Variety Golden Hawks (1-4-2-0).
The teams will hook up here again tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
The weekend series will mark the end of a five-game homestand to start the season for the Thunder, who will play their next five on the road.
Borderland should benefit from the fact the Hawks will have to endure a stretch of three games in three nights by the time the weekend is over.
But K&A has found its feet after starting the season with a six-game winless streak.
Sparked by a head coaching change earlier this week that saw Rick Baraniuk take over after the resignation of Brian Vescio, the Hawks downed the Thunder Bay KC Bulldogs 7-5 last night for their first win.
Vince Kurzewski (12 points), Jarris Blacksmith (10), and Eric Robin (nine) have powered the K&A attack so far this season while Carter Hutton (1-1-2, 4.93 goals against average) has established himself as the team’s top goalie.
The Thunder, coming off a 4-3 defeat here against the Dryden Ice Dogs on Sept. 30, have received impressive starts from Kevin Webb (team-high four points) and former Hawks’ forward Dennis Morrison (two goals in three games).
Veteran goalie Dan Hoehne will be looking to post his first win after making his season debut in the loss to the Ice Dogs.