Thunder finally gets a win — then a loss

FRIDAY? The Dunedin Thunder is in love with Friday.

But Saturday is best forgotten. The Thunder finally broke its duck for the New Zealand Ice Hockey League season when it beat the Botany Swarm 41 at the Dunedin Ice Stadium on Friday night.

A first win in nine games was regrettably not followed by a second, as the Swarm dominated the second leg of the doubleheader to win 70 on Saturday night.

Back to Friday, when the Thunder finally turned its gradual improvement into points to celebrate Regan Wilson reaching 150 games.

Noah Gregory scored the opening goal, and when the Swarm responded, it was 11 after the first period.

But it was all Thunder from there as Billy Sheard made it 21 near the end of the second period, and Jack Lewis scored two unanswered goals in the third.

They were the first goals in the NZIHL for Lewis, whose first came with four minutes left on the clock and second was an empty net goal.

Thunder goaltender Toby Shuck was immense between the sticks, saving 32 of 33 shots.

The Swarm — obviously stung, pardon the pun — replied in brutal fashion 24 hours later.

The Aucklanders scored three unanswered goals in each of the first and third periods, and one in the second, to make no race of it.

A road doubleheader against the West Auckland Admirals is the Thunder’s next assignment on August 2728.

The Admirals delivered the Southern Stampede its first outright loss on Saturday night, scoring two goals in the first period and holding on for a 21 win in Auckland. The sides were playing again last night.

In the women’s league, the Wakatipu Wild opened with a 50 win over the Canterbury Inferno.

The Dunedin Thunder, recognising Abbey Heale’s effort in reaching 50 games, led the Auckand Steel 53 at the end of the second period but faded to lose 75.