Thunder take big step towards playoffs with two home games this weekend
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. » The Thunder take their next big step toward a possible playoff berth when hosting the Reading Royals in a two-game set this Friday and Saturday.
With 15 regular-season games left, the Thunder need to close an eight-point gap to earn a postseason spot in the
ECHL’s North Division.
Aside from the pride of winning, there’s a great deal at stake for each player’s future in the game.
“If you don’t make the playoffs it’s a long off-season,” forward James Phelan said. “That’s the first thing. But that’s also where you make your money. If you’re a winner and have a long playoff push, that’s where you get recognized. Organizations want to win, they want winners.”
“So that’s where guys make a name for themselves and earn contracts for next year,” he said. “It’s not only huge for the Thunder and the city, it’s huge for us personally.”
Sidelined by a hand injury, Phelan hopes to return soon and contribute to Adirondack’s postseason quest.
“Once you’re in, anything can happen,” he said. “At this point, I think it’s all about who wants it more; who’s willing to prepare the best to do so. Everybody can beat everybody else in this league. It’s all about making a push and getting wins against division rivals.”
The fifth-place Thunder (21-23-8-5) are coming off a 5-2 home win over secondplace Reading (32-16-5-0) on Sunday, but the Royals didn’t arrive in Glens Falls until 3 a.m., and are 8-2 in their last 10 games.
“So we’re going to have to be ready for a better team,” Adirondack coach Alex Loh said.
“They’ll be fired up and ready to play us,” forward John Edwardh said. “We’ll have to match that.”
This weekend’s contests are the last in a five-game Adirondack homestand.
A native of Laval, near Montreal, Phelan was surprised at the level of fan passion for hockey when playing for the Texas Stars, of the AHL, in Austin last year.
“I was actually amazed how many fans we got every night,” he said. “For being that close to the Mexican border, I was surprised how much people in the community were involved with hockey. It’s the type of place you want to spend your whole career. You’re living down South where the temperature’s great and the fans are awesome. The city is A-1.”
He attributes hockey’s uniqueness to the sport’s popularity in Southern states.
“It’s just such an interesting sport,” Phelan said. “It’s always fast-paced. Anything can happen. On every shift there can be a fight, a big hit, a nice passing play, a goal. People are discovering the sport. It’s good for everyone.”
NOTES: Defenseman Kelly Summers has been called up to the Thunder’s AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators. The 23-year-old appeared in nine games and scored a goal during his call-up in December. Summers has 22 points (8 goals, 14 assists) in 46 games with the Thunder this season.