Thunder confident it has speed to defeat Admirals

THERE is plenty of belief within the Dunedin Thunder today.

The side is Aucklandbound this morning and will play its oneoff playoff match against the West Auckland Admirals tonight.

Its prize if successful will be a spot in the threematch finals series against the Queenstownbased Stampede.

The final is somewhere the side has been twice before, although it has never won.

Coach Jeff Avery said the Thunder was not looking beyond tonight just yet, although the side was in the mindset it could take the title in its 10th season.

‘‘They believe they can win it all,’’ he said.

‘‘We know we’re faster than this team. It’s a room full of belief. So we’re going in and laying it all out.

‘‘It’s going to be just a speedfest. I think if everything falls our way it should be a victory for us.’’

That speed will be import ant.

The Thunder has beaten the Admirals once in the four meetings between the teams this year, but Avery said if the team played its own game it would be fine.

‘‘They like to spread the puck out; they like to look for trailers,’’ he said of the Admirals.

‘‘They’re good at passing, but our game plan is to not give them any time.

‘‘When our guys are controlling the play, meaning dumping the puck in and staying on top of them and not giving them any time, it’s a different game.’’

He said while the side had an import on each line, it was the New Zealanders who were stepping up and making the team so tough to beat.

That had been recognised by Paris Heyd, Joe Orr, Tristan Darling and Benjamin Gavoille all being included in the latest Ice Blacks squad.

Alongside that group, Jacob Hurring had been in top form, he said.

Coming off a bye in the final round of the regular season, rust could be a concern.

However, Avery said the side had been training hard and doing plenty of aggressive practice.

That, alongside what is at stake, should be enough for the team to turn up ready to go.

‘‘We always worry about just getting off the plane and getting to the rink and being ready for that.

‘‘But we know it’s all on the line, so there’s no excuses.

‘‘It’s got to be right from the first puck drop away we go.’’

The puck drops at 5pm.