Clayton, Duda will return for Thunder LMAO!!!

Clayton, Duda will return for Thunder
BY KOLLEN LONG
The Wichita Eagle
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One of the most-intriguing questions of the offseason for the Wichita Thunder has been answered: Travis Clayton and Jason Duda, cornerstones of the hockey franchise for years, will be back next season, new coach Brent Bilodeau said Tuesday.

Duda will play his 13th year in Wichita; Clayton his 12th.

In the past, the return of the team's most-recognizable players has virtually been a given. But after the long-time linemates suffered through disappointing seasons in 2007-08, their futures in Wichita seemed uncertain for the first time.

Duda, limited by injury, played in 42 games and scored 31 points, including a career-low 12 goals. Clayton played in 62 games, scoring a career-low 50 points.

Duda and Clayton, who between them hold nearly every career offensive record for the Thunder, didn't enjoy the benefit of being surrounded by much talent; the Thunder (20-42-2) sputtered to the worst season in the 16-year history of the franchise.

Bilodeau, a rookie coach who took over the Thunder on June 19, said the veterans are still capable of contributing to a winning team.

"Obviously, they're getting a little older," Bilodeau said. "I told them they have something to prove. I'm looking for big things from both -- they've got leadership qualities and they've been around -- and we'll see what happens.

"Will they log as many minutes? Maybe not. It's up to them. If they're ready to play and come to work every night, they'll play. They're not going to be given carte blanche just because they've been here a while. Everyone has to earn a spot."

More player news from Bilodeau:

• The Thunder will have a new goalie. Bilodeau said neither Bill Zaniboni (3.44 goals against average, .910 save percentage) nor Jon Horrell (4.23, .893) will return. Bilodeau said he is looking for "a couple of good first- or second-year goalies" who are willing to work hard.

"I'm not necessarily taking a chance on a 20-year-old," Bilodeau said. "I'm talking about an older kid out of college who has seen some rubber and wants to play."

• Forward Stan Yanchishyn, who had 15 points and 150 penalty minutes in 60 games, will return. "I like his work ethic," Bilodeau said. "He's got a little bit of skill, a little bit of grit."

• Bilodeau is having discussions with several other players off last year's roster, including Daniel Tetrault, Chris Greene, Tyler Hanchuck, Kyle Bruce and Brad Thompson. But their statuses remain uncertain.

The most praise was reserved for Bruce, a hard-nosed forward who might attend an American Hockey League camp, according to Bilodeau. "He's definitely a guy I'd like back," Bilodeau said. "He shows up every night and competes."

• He expects the Thunder to have a younger team than last year. "I'm not afraid to go with a young club," he said. "We might have some bumps and bruises at the beginning of the year. There's no question there will be some growing pains. But once we get rolling, we want teams that play Wichita to know they're in for a battle."

Quote:

"Will they log as many minutes? Maybe not. It's up to them. If they're ready to play and come to work every night, they'll play. They're not going to be given carte blanche just because they've been here a while. Everyone has to earn a spot."

I like hearing that. Let's just hope he sticks to it. Same for Tetrault if he comes back. Personally, I was really hoping for some new vets.

With Clayton/Duda back, he better be bringing in more than midgets to protect them... Particularly Duda. He gets hurt too easily.

I'm actually glad to see Yanchishyn back, and would like to see Hanchuck (if he's healthy), Bruce, and Greene back as well.

shaping up for another miserable ass season just like last year.

Batovanja, Duda, Clayton, Yanchisyn, and potentially... Hanchuck, Greene, Bruce, Tetrault, Thompson.

Thats potentially 9 guys coming back off of last years team? WTF!
For pete sakes START FRESH! This is getting ridiculous!

tetrault is the joke bringing him back or even talking to him. surely there is one dman out there with a vet status.


Plus younger netminders?? younger team??? woo hoo run out and buy up those tix GT

So they sign what may be the two oldest guys in the league and announce that the team will be younger. Uh, okay.

"I'm talking about an older kid out of college who has seen some rubber and wants to play." -- Is he talking about a hockey player or a porn star or a gigolo or a promiscuous gay guy or what?

not that i agree with some of the signings. But even though everyone is bitching on this site about stupid shit (what the hell is new) ...If the players you dont like are back next year, YOU WILL STILL BE BACK AT THE BARN NEXT YEAR AS WELL. cya there

Last edited by TakeEmOut33 on Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:04 am; edited 1 time in total

not everyone is bitching......ES is laughing his ass off at this moment. Ernie might have to give him a ride into the hospital to stop his laughter!!

oh the bitching has already began about if they would come back....give it a few hours... People will cry and argue like damn babies on this site which has been happening for the past month....

Like a stupid ass bet? Get over yourself and find something better to do. There is always bingo joints around this shitty city.

sounds to me you got up on the wrong side of the bed. relax and take a deep breath or drag. Folks on here bitch about what time the sun comes up or goes down when boredom sits in and there isn't any hockey going on. Everyone accepts and expects it......cept the noobs.

But alas, you are right could be the middle of the season undefeated and would still be things to bitch about.....like the craposeum, over priced beers, ushers.....and the list goes on and on. Enegizer has nothing on this site! lol

Which is why this site has died so much the past couple years...New THUNDER hockey fans come on here and get bashed....


BTW....be smart. rip a hole inside a shitty coat and fill it full of beer. screw those beers

TakeEmOut33 wrote:

...New THUNDER hockey fans come on here and get bashed....

Might as well start those "NEW" Blunder fans out right, bash'm here and ass pump'm in the Crapisuem!




.

TakeEmOut33 wrote:

Which is why this site has died so much the past couple years...New THUNDER hockey fans come on here and get bashed....

we all have dues to pay

Quote:

BTW....be smart. rip a hole inside a shitty coat and fill it full of beer. screw those beers

yep and that also works for snacks ... like a big mac, fries, and rum and coke (plain for myself)

With the mass exodus to Europe this season I think it would be VERY tough for any team to build a competitive roster from scratch. Expect to see a lot of old faces back on most teams. And a bunch of new ones that wouldn't necessarily have gotten the opportunity to play in the CHL in the past. Recruiting is going to be incredibly tough this year.

TakeEmOut33 wrote:

...New THUNDER hockey fans come on here and get bashed....

TakeEmOut33 wrote:

oh the bitching has already began about if they would come back....give it a few hours... People will cry and argue like damn babies on this site which has been happening for the past month.... Like a stupid ass bet? Get over yourself and find something better to do. There is always bingo joints around this shitty city.

Gee if someone else on here could do the same thing.....

I still think given the right supporting cast Clayt and Duda can still put up league top numbers.

I still wish "the great recruiter" would have started fresh though. The rest of them maybe Greene and Bruce I would take but the rest could go.

Tetrault is a little scary, if Bildo get some D help he can be good, French and Rob triple shifting him for 70 games wore the guy out, not an excuse he did play horrible at times but didn't have much help either.

Like it has been said talent will be at a premium this year. Hopefully he has his eyes on some rookies that can come in and score like a vet.


I can't see where ot why we would want over half the team back from last year.

TeamRoper wrote:

I still think given the right supporting cast Clayt and Duda can still put up league top numbers. I still wish "the great recruiter" would have started fresh though. The rest of them maybe Greene and Bruce I would take but the rest could go. Tetrault is a little scary, if Bildo get some D help he can be good, French and Rob triple shifting him for 70 games wore the guy out, not an excuse he did play horrible at times but didn't have much help either. Like it has been said talent will be at a premium this year. Hopefully he has his eyes on some rookies that can come in and score like a vet. I can't see where ot why we would want over half the team back from last year.

I just want it known that Roper posted this, not me. Plus he was the one dominating a heads up SNG last night.

No one is a great recruiter right now with the Euro teams flashing contracts left and right at ECHL, CHL, and NCAA kids. The main instructor at Alec's camp here plays in Europe and used to play in the CHL, he filled me in on who else might be coming over, Bossier is going to need a ton of players to replace the ones they're going to lose / not get back (Abbotts). Going to be an interesting early season for both the ECHL and CHL.

I'm not so sold on Greene, a feather knocks him off the puck. Tetrault getting less than 30 minutes a game could still be effective, 35 minutes a game will kill anyone. Bruce is at the top of my list, followed by Hanchuck, Thompson could be a decent third liner, he helped out on D last year when needed, plus was one of the few centers who won faceoffs regularly.

Al?

RLR

Glad you didn't watch the second one after your SNG was over.....easy come easy go...lol

TeamRoper wrote:

Glad you didn't watch the second one after your SNG was over.....easy come easy go...lol

I kept looking for you to jump in one so we could go head to head, must have missed you.

Al?

RLR

TakeEmOut33 wrote:

Which is why this site has died so much the past couple years

It is not people getting bashed that has caused this board to decline...