Perth Thunder

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Perth Thunder
2020 AIHL season
Perth Thunder Logo.png
CityPerth, Western Australia
LeagueAustralian Ice Hockey League
Founded2010 (12 years ago) (2010)
Operated2010–present
Home arenaPerth Ice Arena
ColoursBlue, white, red
General managerAustralia Stan Scott
Head coachBen Breault
CaptainJamie Woodman
WebsitePerththunder.com.au
Franchise history
2010–presentPerth Thunder
Championships
H Newman Reid Trophies0
Goodall Cups0

The Perth Thunder is an Australian semi-professional ice hockey team from Perth, Western Australia. Founded in 2010, the Thunder have been a member of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) since 2012. The Thunder are based at the Perth Ice Arena, located in the suburb of Malaga. Perth are one time Goodall Cup runners-up and two time H Newman Reid Trophy runners-up.

History[]

Foundation blocks[]

The concept of a Perth based Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) team began in 2007. Englishman Stan Scott, a former four time national champion in the 1980s, began a conversation about the idea due to local state hockey becoming predictable and boring. The need for a new challenge and a pathway for local Western Australian talent was the driving force that propelled the idea into action and eventually a team.[1]

The blueprint was simple, take the crop of young talent in Western Australian junior ranks and develop it into the backbone of an AIHL team. Add serious imported talent to the mix and a strong team is organised that is both capable of challenging short term, developing medium term and dominating long term.[1]

Stan's first proposal in 2007 was to invite an AIHL team over to Perth to play in a ‘challenge series’ to test the competitiveness of local talent. The idea was knocked back and Stan Scott was told ‘it could not be done’. In 2009, the campaign to enter the AIHL began to pick up pace. A sustainable business plan was developed, sponsorship and community support was sought and acquired, and plans were drawn up for inviting interstate teams to play matches in WA and for a team to travel interstate to Eastern Australia. Once these key objectives were met, the state would then be in a position to establish a team and apply for an AIHL licence.[1]

Establishment[]

Having met their establishment goals, the Perth Thunder was finally established in 2010 by Stan Scott and John Del Basso. Stan Scott was immediately appointed Thunder general manager (GM). In 2010, through a working contact, Paul Watson (Melbourne Ice head coach), Stan Scott was able to secure the first AIHL opposition for exhibition matches against the Thunder.[1] The Thunder, known at that time under the working title of "Western Thunder", travelled to Melbourne to take on the Melbourne Ice and fellow AIHL aspirant, Mustangs Ice Hockey Club.[2] The Ice also travelled to Perth. After all the exhibition matches had been played and proved successful, it was clear the team was ready to apply for entry into the AIHL.[1] In November 2010, the Thunder was granted a provisional licence for 2011, with a view for the team to enter the league for the 2012 season as the ninth team.[3][4]

In 2011, the Thunder worked with the AIHL to find solutions to predicted problems arising from a team in Western Australian joining a league predominantly located in Eastern Australia. Issues such as higher operating costs, extra demands on players and staff, travelling and match scheduling. The Thunder provided their business case to cover these issues and to showcase to the AIHL the benefits Perth and Western Australia could bring to the AIHL. Stan Scott completed his level 3 coaching qualifications to ensure the team would have an appropriately qualified coach at the outset and the team organised more exhibition matches.[1] The Thunder travelled to Adelaide in May to play the Adelaide Adrenaline twice. Grabbing a tie and win from those matches.[5] In June, the Melbourne Ice travelled to Perth for a two game series at Cockburn Ice Arena. The Ice and Thunder split the series one-all.[6][7] In September, the Thunder welcomed the Newcastle North Stars to Perth for a two game series.[8] The Thunder won both matches 4–2 to complete a successful season of exhibition games.[9] On 22 October 2011, at the AIHL annual general meeting (AGM), the Thunder was officially granted their full licence and joined the AIHL. The team immediately set about preparing for the 2012 AIHL season.[10]

AIHL era[]

In the Thunder's inaugural season in 2012, the team set lofty objectives for itself. The goal was to make finals in their first season.[1] The introduction of the Thunder to the league saw the AIHL adopt a conference format for the first time.[11] The Thunder was placed in the Easton Conference along with Melbourne Ice, Melbourne Mustangs, Adelaide Adrenaline and Gold Coast Blue Tongues. The top two teams from each of the two conferences qualified for finals. The Thunder enjoyed an up and down first season. Their form was inconsistent. It took some time for the Thunder to settle on consistent first and second lines. However, Perth was one of the few teams in the league in 2012 that implemented a full third line, helping the team towards the end of the season.[12] By season's conclusion, the Thunder had won ten from twenty-four matches. They placed fourth in their conference, missing out on finals.[13][14] 30 August 2012, Perth held their first ever awards night at the Rosemount Hotel. Canadian import Ken Rolph was named the team's inaugural MVP. Rolph racked up 21 goals and 26 assists during the season to win the award. Best defenceman went to Aaron Wilson, Samuel Wilson was named best local player, while David Kudla took out the most improved award.[15]

In 2013, the Thunder, in only their second year in the competition, reached their first ever AIHL finals weekend after finishing third in the league standings for the season.[16] Their first finals opposition was the Newcastle North Stars in a semi-final held at the Melbourne Icehouse on 7 September 2013.[17] Jordan Kyros was the first Thunder player to score a goal in finals hockey but it proved a consolation goal as the Thunder lost the semi-final match 1–6 with Northstars Canadian import, Pier-Olivier Cotnoir, starting with a hat trick of goals.[18][19]

In 2014, prior to the start of the season, the Thunder welcomed a new investor in the team. Robert Cox became partner, director and board member in March 2014. Cox had followed the team since its inception.[20] In April, Stan Scott announced that he had stepped down as head coach to focus on the general manager operations of the club. Scott was replaced by Dylan Forsythe as head coach and but Scott remained on the coaching panel as an assistant.[21] After eight games into the 2014 season it was announced that Forsythe had stepped down as head coach with immediate effect for unknown reasons. Stan Scott agreed to take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.[22] The Thunder did not enjoy a good season on the ice in 2014. The team finished seventh in the league standings (second last), the lowest finish in Thunder history.[23]

Between 2015 and 2018, the Thunder enjoyed a period of consistency in the league. The team finished third or second each season but failed to win in four consecutive AIHL semi-finals. In 2019, the Thunder broke their finals curse by beating home team, the Newcastle Northstars 3–2 to reach their first ever Goodall Cup final.[24] In the final the Thunder came up against the Sydney Bears.[25] Perth took a quick 2–0 lead in the first period over the Bears thanks to goals to Louick Marcotte and Kieren Webster. However, the Bears fought back to score five unanswered goals to defeat the Thunder 5–2.[26][27]

Season-by-season results[]

Champions Runners-up Third place
Perth Thunder all-time record
Season Regular season Finals weekend Top points scorer
P W T L SW SL GF GA GD Pts Finish P W L GF GA Result Semi-final Goodall Cup final Name Points
2012 24 10 – 12 – 2 81 80 +1 32 4th, Easton – United States Phil Ginand 50
2013 28 17 – 9 1 1 127 114 +13 54 3rd 1 – 1 1 6 Semi-finalist Lost 1–6 (North Stars) – United States Michael Forney 47
2014 28 9 – 15 2 2 94 94 +0 33 7th – Canada Stuart Stefan 44
2015 28 14 – 9 1 4 125 104 +21 48 3rd 1 – 1 – 1 Semi-finalist Lost 0–1 (Ice) – Finland Toni Kluuskeri 37
2016 28 16 – 7 4 1 96 73 +23 57 2nd 1 – 1 2 3 Semi-finalist Lost 2–3 (OT) (North Stars) – Canada Benjamin Breault 52
2017 28 16 – 6 3 3 110 75 +35 57 2nd 1 – 1 2 6 Semi-finalist Lost 2–6 (Brave) – Canada Benjamin Breault 58
2018 28 12 – 10 4 2 111 100 +11 46 3rd 1 – 1 0 3 Semi-finalist Lost 0–3 (Bears) – Canada Pier-Olivier Grandmaison 67
2019 28 16 – 10 1 1 116 103 +13 51 3rd 1 1 – 3 2 Runner-up Won 3–2 (Northstars) Lost 2–5 (Bears) Canada Louick Marcotte 62

Championships[]

Champions (0):
Runners-up (1): 2019
Premiers (0):
Runner-up (2): 2016, 2017

Players[]

Current roster[]

Team roster for the 2019 AIHL season[28][29]

# Nat Name Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
1 Australia Evan Bowater G 38 2018
36 Canada Benjamin Breault (A) F L 33 2016 Pembroke, Ontario, Canada
24 New Zealand Andrew Cox (A) F R 31 2012 Auckland, New Zealand
22 Canada Jake Gilmour F R 25 2019 Toronto, Canada
20 Australia Sean Hamilton F R 40 2019 Erin, Ontario, Canada
3 Australia Rob Haselhurst D R 29 2019 Perth, Western Australia
17 Australia Liam Jeffries F L 33 2012 Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada
8 Australia David Kudla D R 31 2012 Perth, Western Australia
23 Australia Jordan Kyros F R 29 2012 Perth, Western Australia
15 Australia Lyndon Lodge F R 24 2015 Perth, Western Australia
17 Australia Yannic Lodge F L 21 2019 Karrinyup, Western Australia
11 Canada Louick Marcotte F R 28 2019 Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
7 Australia Jaymie McDonnell F 29 2017
19 Australia Jason McMahon D L 28 2018
1 Australia Rhys Pelliccione G L 20 2018 Perth, Western Australia
25 Australia Alastair Punler D R 25 2015 Kallaroo, Western Australia
32 Australia Jake Ruck F L 24 2017 Langley, British Columbia, Canada
21 Australia Tomek Sak F R 26 2015 Canning Vale, Western Australia
14 Australia Shaun Tobin F R 27 2019 Perth, Western Australia
44 Canada Keven Veilleux F R 32 2019 Saint-René, Quebec, Canada
31 Finland Nico Vikstén G L 24 2019 Tampere, Finland
12 Australia Kieren Webster F R 24 2014 Perth, Western Australia
1 Australia Nicholas Windle G L 45 2018 Sydney, Australia
27 Australia Jamie Woodman (C) D R 27 2014 Kardinya, Western Australia

Former players[]

See also: List of Perth Thunder players

Player records[]

These are the top-ten all-time/career player records in franchise history, for the following categories: appearances,[30] goals,[31] assists,[32] points,[33] and penalty minutes[34]
(Current as of 2019 AIHL season; figures are updated after each completed AIHL regular season)

Appearances
# Name Pos MP
1 Australia Jordan Kyros F 206
2 New Zealand Andrew Cox F 200
3 Australia David Kudla D 193
4 Australia Jonathon Bremner F 163
5 Australia Jamie Woodman D 150
6 Australia Robert Haselhurst D 145
7 Australia Samuel Wilson F 139
8 Australia Kieran Webster F 135
9 Australia Tomas Sak F 127
10 Canada Ben Breault F 110
Goals
# Name Pos G
1 Canada Ben Breault F 82
2 New Zealand Andrew Cox F 68
3 Australia Jordan Kyros F 49
4 Canada Ken Rolph F 41
5 Canada Jessyko Bernard F 38
6 Australia Jonathon Bremner F 38
7 Australia Robert Haselhurst D 34
8 Australia Kieran Webster F 29
9 Canada Pier Grandmaison F 28
10 United States Phil Ginand F 26
Assists
# Name Pos A
1 Canada Ben Breault F 111
2 Australia Jordan Kyros F 98
3 New Zealand Andrew Cox F 84
4 Australia Robert Haselhurst D 78
5 Australia David Kudla D 55
6 Canada Ken Rolph F 52
7 Australia Samuel Wilson D 51
8 Canada Jessyko Bernard F 48
9 Australia Jonathon Bremner F 45
10 Australia Jamie Woodman D 42
Points
# Name Pos Pts
1 Canada Ben Breault F 193
2 New Zealand Andrew Cox F 152
3 Australia Jordan Kyros F 147
4 Australia Robert Haselhurst D 112
5 Canada Ken Rolph F 93
6 Canada Jessyko Bernard F 86
7 Australia Jonathon Bremner F 83
8 Australia Samuel Wilson F 72
9 Australia Kieran Webster F 68
10 Canada Pier Grandmaison F 67
Penalties in minutes (PIM)
# Name Pos PIM
1 Australia Bradley Young F 303
2 Australia Robert Haselhurst D 223
3 New Zealand Andrew Cox F 200
4 Australia Jonathon Bremner F 182
5 Australia Greg Hyde D 161
6 Sweden Daniel Göransson D 159
7 Australia Alastair Punler D 149
8 Australia Simon Kudla F 139
9 Australia Samuel Wilson D 131
10 Canada Keven Veilleux F 112

Team staff[]

Current as of 2019 AIHL season[28]

Perth Thunder Staff
Position Name
Head coach Australia David Ruck
Assistant coach Australia Chris Kostopoulos
Team manager Australia Richie Lamb
General manager Canada Stan Scott

Leaders[]

Team captains[]

The first captain of the Perth Thunder was Samuel Wilson, who remained captain of the Western Australian team for five consecutive AIHL seasons.

# Manager From To
1 Australia Samuel Wilson[35] 2012 2016
2 Australia Jamie Woodman[36] 2017 Present
Further information on team captains in ice hockey: Captain (ice hockey)

Head coaches[]

The first Head Coach for the Perth Thunder was Englishman Stan Scott.[37]

# Manager From To
1 United Kingdom Stan Scott[38] 2012 2013
2 Australia Dylan Forsythe[39] April 2014 23 May 2014
3 United Kingdom Stan Scott (interim)[22] 24 May 2014 1 September 2014
4 Australia Dave Kenway[40] 2015 2016
5 Australia Dave Ruck[41] 2017 2019
6 Canada Ben Breault[42] 2020 present
Further information on head coaches in ice hockey: Coach (ice hockey)

General managers[]

Perth Thunder's first and only general manager (GM) to date has been Stan Scott.[38]

# Manager From To
1 United Kingdom Stan Scott 2012 Present

Broadcasting[]

TV:
Fox Sports (2013–present) – Part of the entire AIHL TV deal with Fox Sports to show one game a round, normally on Thursday's at 4:30 pm or after NHL games during NHL season.[43]
Online audio streaming:
Self-broadcast (2016) – In 2016 the Perth Thunder have self-broadcast all home matches with an online audio stream utilising the platform.[44]
Online video streaming:
Self-broadcast (2017–present) – In 2017 Perth Thunder began live streaming home matches on Facebook.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Carpenter, Ross. "Scott, Stan ( – )". Legends of Australian Ice. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Melbourne Mustangs News". Melbourne Musttangs. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  3. ^ "About us". Perth Thunder. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  4. ^ "History of the Australian Ice Hockey League". Australian Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Latest News". Perth Thunder. Archived from the original on 29 May 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  6. ^ "Latest News". Perth Thunder. Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Thundering into the AIHL". Melbourne Ice. Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Game Times". Perth Thunder. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  9. ^ "Coaches Report Perth Thunder vs Newcastle". Perth Thunder. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  10. ^ Watts, Ellie-Marie (22 October 2011). "Thunder Rolls Into AIHL". Australian Ice Hockey League. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Changes aplenty at AIHL AGM". The Other Hewitt. 4 November 2011. Archived from the original on 18 December 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  12. ^ Rozleja, Michael (11 August 2012). "AIHL feature: Perth Thunder coach Stan Scott". www.prohockeynews.com. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  13. ^ "2011–2012 AIHL season standings". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  14. ^ "2012 Regular Season Standings". Australian Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 13 June 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  15. ^ Robinson, Chris (30 August 2012). "Ken Rolph named club MVP at Perth Thunder awards night". PerthNow. Archived from the original on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  16. ^ Meister, Chris (4 September 2013). "Perth To Thunder The Finals". Hewitt Sports Network. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  17. ^ Brodie, Will (5 September 2013). "Australian Ice Hockey League finals 2013: who will win and how". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  18. ^ "North Stars into AIHL grand final". Newcastle Herald. 7 September 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  19. ^ Tonks, Craig (8 September 2013). "Fire in the Sky". Hewitt Sports Network. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  20. ^ "Robert Cox Invests in Thunders Vision". Perth Thunder. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  21. ^ "Dylan Forsythe Replaces Stan Scott as Thunder Head Coach". Ice Hockey News Australia. 10 April 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  22. ^ a b "Perth Thunder coach steps down". On the Fly Hockey. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  23. ^ "2013–2014 AIHL standings". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  24. ^ "AIHL: Bittersweet feeling for Newcastle Northstars coach John Kennedy Jr". Newcastle Star. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  25. ^ Scardetta, Jordan (31 August 2019). "Thunder Progress to Goodall Cup Final". Perth Thunder. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  26. ^ "2019 AIHL Goodall Cup Final Boxscore". Australian Ice Hockey League. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  27. ^ Allen, Trevor (9 September 2019). "Bears shock rivals to claim Goodall Cup". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Perth Thunder". Australian Ice Hockey League. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Perth Thunder". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  30. ^ "Perth Thunder – All Time Regular Season Player Stats – GP". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  31. ^ "Perth Thunder – All Time Regular Season Player Stats – G". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  32. ^ "Perth Thunder – All Time Regular Season Player Stats – A". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  33. ^ "Perth Thunder – All Time Regular Season Player Stats – TP". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  34. ^ "Perth Thunder – All Time Regular Season Player Stats – PIM". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  35. ^ "Samuel Wilson". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  36. ^ "Jamie Woodman". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  37. ^ "Perth Thunder 2011–12 Season Roster". Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  38. ^ a b "Stan Scott". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  39. ^ "Dylan Forsythe". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  40. ^ Kenway, Dave (9 November 2016). "Statement: Dave Kenway". Perth Thunder. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  41. ^ "Club Statement: Dave Ruck". Perth Thunder. 15 November 2016. Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  42. ^ "Thunder appoint Breault as head coach". Ice Hockey News Australia. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  43. ^ Brodie, Will (17 April 2013). "Ice hockey gets pay TV boost". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  44. ^ "Perth Thunder Game Day Live". Perth Thunder. Retrieved 10 May 2018.

External links[]

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