Thunder have one more shot at division title

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. » Brad Tapper has hoisted three championship trophies during his 20-year hockey career so he knows a thing or two about winning.

But this will be his first postseason as a pro head coach.

The Thunder clinched an ECHL playoff berth last week and still have a chance to capture the North Division crown by winning its last two games, starting Friday at home against first-place Manchester. To come out on top, Adirondack would also have to win Sunday’s regular-season finale at Brampton, and hope Manchester loses one of its last two contests on Saturday or Sunday.

Heading toward the playoffs, however, Tapper has something more important in mind -- a Kelly Cup championship.

“Now we want to make some noise,” he said. “Our work ethic has been outstanding all year. We worked our butts off. We deserve to be in the playoffs. We went through a lot of adversity this year. A lot of guys could have hung their heads on a 19-day road trip, with things like buses breaking down. Instead they were awe-

some. They fought through a lot of things. Their effort was outstanding throughout the entire season.”

The Thunder (39-24-34) trail Manchester (40-233-3) by one point heading into the last weekend before playoffs. The Monarchs are winless in their last four outings, while Adirondack is coming off a 4-1 Easter Sunday loss to Worcester, which followed a dominating 6-2 victory over Reading the night before.

If the Thunder win the division, they’ll start the postseason against Worcester or Wheeling. By finishing second, they’d take on Reading.

Tapper doesn’t care which opponent comes first.

“If you want to win a hockey game, you will win a hockey game,” he said. “You’ll do the dirty work, whatever it takes. Motivation goes a long way. I’m a motivational coach. Players listen to me because I’ve won three times in this business. This team has a lot of camaraderie and leadership. That’s how you create a winning team, with guys that buy in.”