CNP Minor Hockey the victor in 2013 Thunder Challenge

Kootenay ice vs Lethbridge Hurricanes at 2013 Thunder Challenge
C. Davis photos and video

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

The fifth annual thunder Challenge was held at the Coleman arena last weekend, featuring three games over the course of three days.  The Lethbridge Hurricanes, Kootenay Ice, and Calgary Hitmen played against each other to what could be seen as a draw, with each team winning one and losing one in this pre-season fundraising tournament.

"This is our major fundraiser for the year," explained Crowsnest Pass Minor Hockey Association President Lyle Douglas.  "We've been super fortunate to have all three teams come, this is the fifth year that they've come."  Douglas said the event raises enough funds each year to supply the financial needs of the association for the whole season.  "It's a great experience for us as an executive to do all that fundraising in one spot at one time, and it's great for the fan base.  Young kids get to see what they can one day aspire to in our own local community."


"It's a pretty great weekend."

Ice vs Hitmen

"We have all of our sponsorships from the community, and volunteers," Douglas continued.  We have a tremendous amount of volunteers outside of Minor Hockey helping out tonight. Hats off to the whole community. It's quite a bit of work, but after the fifth year, there are some things that come together a little quicker, but it's still a big lift."

The event doesn't happen without sacrifice, according to Douglas.  "It's hard with our group because you're doing that heavy lift in the summertime, when everybody is busy at the lake and nobody is thinking hockey.  Then our group is busy trying to get everything organized.  The teams themselves handle themselves, but the extra stuff, the fundraising, the 50/50 ticket sales, the raffle tables and the two events that we have between the first and second intermissions are a lot of work to get organized."

Those events included a soft-puck toss with the open sunroof of a vehicle as the target, a shooting competition, and various raffles and draws.  

"It's worth it. Our organization appreciates it.  It's this great big one weekend effort for all the fundraising, then we don't have to think about it. Years ago we had all those bingo's and weekend fundraisers.  It's a huge struggle to get volunteers, to get excitement.  It's easy for us to do it like this, and it's a great opportunity for our kids to see it."

Douglas said it was also education for the younger players to see how things like the score clock and the game sheets work "that aren't used in Minor Hockey".

Part of the proceeds from this year's Thunder Challenge will be used to pay for five sessions of power skating at the beginning of the 2013-2014 season.

Crowsnest Pass Minor Hockey will have Pre-Novice through Pee Wee teams this season, but no Bantam or Midget teams.  "We're probably going to contribute six or seven Midgets to Pincher Creek", Douglas said.

Coming up for Minor Hockey in the Crowsnest Pass:

1. Pre Season 3 on 3 Hockey Tournament September 20/21/22 featuring 4 Novice, 4 Atom and 4 Pee Wee teams.
2. Referee clinic Saturday September 28 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (12 and older). Sign up on the Hockey Alberta website, call Irene Fraser at 403-564-5176 or 403-563-7096 for more information. 

2013 Thunder Challenge - the games:

Rachel Park singing 'O Canada'

Crowsnest chanteuse Rachel Park performed a terrific rendition of 'O Canada' on Friday evening before the Hurricanes/Ice game.  A malfunctioning microphone didn't disguise the power of this young lady's voice, and the crowd did an admirable job helping her through the spots where the microphone kicked out.  The mark of a professional performer is the ability to carry on despite such technical difficulties, and Park proved herself more than able to meet the challenge.

Game 1: Lethbridge Hurricanes vs Kootenay Ice

The opening game of the 2013 Thunder Challenge started about 45 minutes late because the Lethbridge Hurricanes' bus broke down on the way to Coleman.  Organizers rallied their forces and got the team and their gear to the arena.

The Kootenay Ice may have been the official 'Home' team in this game, but it was obvious from the outset that many of the 450 or so hockey fans that gathered at the Coleman arena on Friday evening September 13 were solidly behind the Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes got off to a quick start, scoring two unanswered goals in the first period, the first goal coming from right winger Kolten Olynek at the 6:57 mark, assisted by Tyler Wong.   The second Hurricanes goal in the period came from Reid Duke at the 15:50 mark on a powerplay, assisted by Spencer Galbraith and Adam Henry.  The sole Kootenay Ice goal of the game came from Collin Shirley on a powerplay at 6:42 in the second, also the only goal of the period, which was considerably faster-paced compared to the first.  Shirley was assisted by Jagger Dirk and Sam Reinhart.   Giorgio Estephan scored for the Hurricanes at the 18:34 mark, assisted by Craig Leverton, after which the Ice pulled their goalie.  That didn't work out for them, as Tyler Wong took advantage of a clear shot at the empty Ice net to score the last goal of the game for the Hurricanes with only 37 seconds remaining, unassisted.  24 shots on net for the Hurricanes, 21 for the Ice.  Final score: 4-1 for the Hurricanes.

Game 2: Calgary Hitmen vs Lethbridge Hurricanes

The Hurricanes scored once in each period in this evening game on September 14.  The Hitmen scored once in the first, twice in the second, and once in the third to edge the Hurricanes 4-3, making this the closest game of this year's Thunder Challenge.

Reid Duke put the Hurricanes on the scoreboard at 13:48 in the first period, assisted by Joel Topping and Sam Mckechnie.  That was answered by Hitmen Zane Jones on a powerplay, assisted by Jesse Zgraggnen and Travis Sanheim - the first of three goals for Jones. Brady Ramsay (Hurricanes) and Josh Thrower (Hitmen) each get 5 and a game after a fight in the final moments of the period.  Tied 1-1 at the end of the first.  Russ Maxwell scored for the Hurricanes at 9:26 in the second, assisted by Joshua Derko and Kolten Olynek.  Zane Jones scored again for the Hitmen, tying it up 2-2 at 13:18, assisted by Ben Thomas and Jesse Zgraggnen.  A powerplay goal by Radel Fazleev of the Hitmen made it 3-2 in their favour.   Fazleev was assisted by Zane Jones.  That's where it stood at the end of the second.  Jones scored again for the Hitmen at 3:27 in the third, assisted by Fazleev.  Tyler Wong scored an unassisted goal at 4:15, the last goal of the game.  Pulling goalie Jonny Hogue late in the game proved to be unfruitful for the Hurricanes.

The Hitmen outshot the Hurricanes 30-27.  Final Score: 4-3 for the Hitmen, ultimately making this the closest game of the Thunder Challenge.  

Game 3: Kootenay Ice vs Calgary Hitmen

This final game of the 2013 Thunder Challenge appeared to be an even match in the first period, with the Ice and Hitmen tied 2-2 at the end of it, but the Hitmen let it slip away in the second and the slide continued in the third.

Ben Thomas got the Hitmen off to a good start 3:05 into the game with a powerplay goal, assisted by Calder Brooks and Chase Clayton.  Zane Jones scored 25 seconds later for the Hitmen, once again assisted by Raidel Fazleev and also by Jake Virtanen.  2-0 Hitmen at this point.  Then at 5:52 Matthew Alfaro scored for the Ice, assisted by Hudson Elynuik.  At 8:58 Luke Philp evened the score for the Ice, assisted by Tanner Faith.

Jaedon Descheneau's powerplay goal at 11:20 into the second period pulled the Ice ahead 3-2.  He was assisted by Sam Reinhart and Jagger Dirk.  The Hitmen tied it up again 3-3 with a goal by Brett Brooks, assisted by Matt Foster.  That was to be the last Hitmen goal of the game.  Jaedon Descheneau scored again for the Ice with only 23 seconds left in the period, this time assisted by Levi Cable and Sam Reinhart.  The period ended with the Ice up 4-3.

Sam Reinhart scored a quick one off the first faceoff in the the third period, only 24 seconds in.  Jagger Dirk and Levi Cable got the assists nod on that play.  Lots of back and forth ensued, long plays uninterrupted by excitement or major scoring attempts.  the boys looked tired out there, frankly.  Lots of silly rough stuff, but not quite rough enough to rouse the crowd from the same lethargy.  At 15;44 Collin scored one more for the Ice, unassisted, and that was pretty much it.   Final score: 6-3 for the Kootenay Ice.

Miscellany:
The Kootenay Ice made the #10 spot in the CHL Top 10 pre-season Rankings.  Reid Duke of the Hurricanes is currently in 5th place for Streaks.  The hitmen were sitting at the top of the preseason Eastern Conference standings as of September 14.

The regular WHL season begins on September 19.


Related links:
www.crowsnestpassminorhockey.com
www.hockeyalberta.ca
www.whl.ca
www.lethbridgehurricanes.com/
www.kootenayice.net/
www.hitmenhockey.com