The Airdrie Thunder are looking like they have a good shot at defending their Heritage Junior Hockey League championship title this year.

It’s halfway through the season and the Thunder have a 17-4-0 record. The first few games of the season were a bit inconsistent for the team splitting their first four games with two wins and two losses.

Since then the team has really started to grow and are sitting atop the HJHL north division with a very comfortable 10 point lead over Sylvan Lake.

Despite the improvement, head coach Derek Stamp says there is still some work that needs to happen.

“There’s some fine details we’re going to continue to work on, just mostly structure stuff, making sure we’re in the right spot when we don’t have the puck and what we want to do in terms of quick transition when we do get it back,” Stamp explained.

“We have been improving consistently and seeing our guys understand and find the commitment to the details and structure that they need to be successful,” said Stamp. “But, we know the second half gets tougher and we know that building towards success in the playoffs is the end result.”

Two of the Thunder’s top scorers will return to the lineup for their game Friday night against Lomond. Jordan McConnell and Tristan Paquette were handed a one game suspension after a fight broke out late in the third period against the Mountainview Colts. It was their second of three games this past weekend and left the pair benched for the next day’s match-up against the High River Flyers.

In their last 14 games, the Thunder have lost only twice to arguably their biggest rival this season the Okotoks Bisons.

The Bisons lost their first game of the season against Ponoka a couple of weeks ago, but have won 22 other games this season.

Stamp says it will take more work for the Thunder to get where they need to be to defeat the Bisons, but he believes they will do well in the second half of the season and into playoffs.

“Our power play has been a key for us offensively, out penalty kill has been fantastic, all of those elements have been good we’re going to continue to try and make them better,” said Stamp. “We look forward to a good second half and think that we should be able to build towards success in the playoffs.”

Airdrie is currently on a six-game winning streak as they head into Friday’s match-up against the Lomond Lakers. The game is scheduled for 8:00 P.M. in the Ron Ebbesen Arena.

 

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