Mitch Calvert
When Kalib Thunderchief is throwing his fists in the air celebrating goals rather than trying to land one against an opponent’s face, you know a win probably is soon to follow for the Fort Frances Jr. Sabres.
The six-foot, 210-pound forward did exactly that in a 5-0 win against the Sioux Lookout Flyers back on Dec. 6—and has fit in with the Sabres since being acquired from the Kindersley Klippers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in late November.
The 19-year-old Lethbridge, Alta. resident scored again this past weekend versus the Schreiber Diesels, but a conspiracy prevented it from showing up on the scoresheet.
“I scored in Schreiber, too, but they disallowed it,” Thunderchief noted. “I guess the ref was too slow in coming back and didn’t see it go in, and the goal judge, being from Schreiber, I guess, missed it.”
All kidding aside, Thunderchief has made an immediate impact on the ice in a number of key facets of the game—bringing a physical presence necessary in a league known for its tough play.
“I see myself as a power forward, but if I have to drop the mitts I will for my teammates,” stressed Thunderchief, who already has amassed 28 penalty minutes in five games.
“It’s not something I go out looking for,” he remarked. “The main goal each night is getting the two points out of every game, and I just try to work hard, get some goals, and do my job.”
Thunderchief models himself after current Detroit Red Wing Darren McCarty (currently on injured reserve), but also said he plays like a Sean Avery, agitator-type. Though he was careful not to use any of Avery’s second-hand language, which is probably a good thing.
After the Sabres host the Dryden Ice Dogs this Saturday (Dec. 20), Thunderchief will be heading home the next day to spend Christmas with the family in Lethbridge.
What would be his ideal Christmas gift? Nothing too major, he said.
“Maybe just something for my truck [’05 Dodge Ram 1500], but I’ll let my parents surprise me,” he added. “I wish I could have it out here, but a bit too long a distance to drive.”
Thunderchief said he’s got some gifts in store for his parents, sending some fairly high-profile hockey collectibles their way.
“I got jerseys from some friends who play in the NHL and the European leagues, and I’ll get them autographed and give them to my dad,” he enthused.
Those friends include current San Jose Shark Devin Setoguchi, NHL rookie-of-the-year candidate Kris Versteeg of the Chicago Blackhawks, Judd Blackwater (Fresno Falcons of the ECHL), and Colton Yellow Horn (a former WHL’er now playing in Austria).
“They are all from the Lethbridge area, and I was friends with them growing up, while Judd is my cousin,” Thunderchief noted.
He has another year of junior eligibility after this season, and likes the spot he’s established with the Sabres so far.
“I plan to be coming back [next year], so hopefully I don’t get traded or anything,” he said with a laugh.
“I’m just playing for a scholarship right now, and will hopefully get the education out of the way after, but I want to win some games here.”
