Airdrie City View

Thunder back on track, win three straight

James Tarrant
Rocky View Publishing

With only three games to go in the Airdrie Thunder’s regular season, earning six points in a three-game weekend was just what the team needed.
Airdrie’s Junior B hockey club had an inconsistent January with five wins and five losses.
On Jan. 29, the Thunder returned to form when it pounded the Banff Academy Bears 10-0. Airdrie also won 5-1 in Banff’s barn, Jan. 30.
The most important game on the weekend was a 5-3 win over the Three Hills Thrashers, which is only a couple of points behind the Thunder in Heritage Junior Hockey League’s Division B standings.
“We managed the game well. They put a lot of pressure on us and we held our defensive zone. When we had our chance to push back, we did. The flow of the game we managed quite well and we didn’t let it hurt us, either side,” said Thunder head coach Mike Carlsen.
In the three Thunder wins, Alex Diduch led scoring with two goals and four assists, followed by Abdo Hamoud (4G-1A), Travis Wallan (2G-3A), Justin Rockafellow (2G-3A) and Patrick Coady (4G).
Carlsen said his team is winning at the right time, but he still has three tough teams to play.
“Getting these wins gives us a little breathing room. It is not over yet, of course, because Three Hills and Cochrane can still catch us.”
The lowlight of the weekend for Airdrie was the loss of Mark Pippard, whose jaw was injured in two places by a sucker punch from Banff forward Jordan McEown.
The punch earned McEown an instigator, fighting and game misconduct penalties, but no suspension because the incident was seen as a fight and a not an intent to injure.
“It was a cheap... move where McEown jumped him from behind. He punched him and broke his jaw in two places. It split him down between his two front teeth and on his left side,” said Carlsen.
“According to the league governor, there will be no suspension because fighting happens in hockey. I don’t agree because it was a definite intent to injure.”
Pippard’s scoring touch is an asset the Thunder could use in its next game against the Blackfalds Wranglers. On Jan. 2, the Wranglers shutout the Thunder 5-0, but Carlsen said the loss was based on his team’s turkey legs after the Christmas break.
“We have to be aware and ready to go off the bat. The last game, the time off after Christmas and lack of practice hurt us a little bit. Bringing that back and going into that game with more focus, not taking them lightly and knowing what we have to do is going to be a big deal,” said Carlsen.
The Thunder will host the Blackfalds Wranglers on Feb. 5.
Game time is 8 p.m. at the Ron Ebbesen Arena.
jtarrant@airdrie.greatwest.ca