The Carrot River Outback Thunder love playing in front of a loud home crowd.
“Crowds help us out so much! After a big play or big save, a loud crowd can give you energy and momentum to help push for a goal,” said Ben Gilbertson, an Outback Thunder goalie.
The Outback Thunder play their first home games of the season this weekend. The team hosts the Saskatoon Royals on Friday at the Carrot River Arena and on Sunday the Assiniboia Rebels come to play.
“It’s nice to play in a smaller rink like that,” said Outback Thunder defenceman Kaden Opp, a Nipawin product who played often in Carrot River while growing up. “It doesn’t take many people to make it loud in there.”
Outback Thunder fans will notice a new look to the Carrot River Arena this winter as extensive work has been done. Utilizing the Co-op Paint program through the Carrot River Co-op, the bleachers and the hallway outside under the bleachers have been painted. Insulation has been blown into the ceiling and foam sprayed on the west wall and under the heated seats, thanks to the Heat the Rink program headed by Amanda Schmidt.
A major renovation of the rink was possible due to a Canada 150 grant from the federal government. The old Zamboni room was removed, including the cement around it. New cement was poured and a water pit created. A new Zamboni room was built. It can be driven right through and a workroom was added. An office and lunchroom are being constructed above the new Zamboni dwelling.
Last week the Outback Thunder fell 6-5 to the Southern Rebels in overtime on Saturday and lost 4-2 to the Traveland RV Storm on Sunday. Carrot River is now 1-1-2 on the season and, as of Sunday, were fifth in the Prairie Junior Hockey League’s North Division. Last weekend the Outback Thunder had slow starts in both games.
“We were definitely better in the second and third period both nights and it’s good to get a point Saturday night, but we were looking for two and we need to have better starts,” said Trevor Logan, Carrot River’s head coach.
Rebels 6, Outback Thunder 5 OT
On Oct. 14 in Assiniboia, the Outback Thunder demonstrated their ability to fight back but fell 6-5 in an extra session. The Southern Rebels jumped out to a 3-1 lead and were up 3-2 after the first period. The game was tied 4-4 at the second intermission. The Rebels went up 5-4 early in the third period, but Tate Steiestol netted his second goal of the night by scoring on the power-play to send the game to overtime. Dakota Helland had the OT winner.
Opp, Grady Genaille and Justin Cay also scored for Carrot River. Outback Thunder goalie Kolton Holmen stopped 28 of the 34 shots he faced.
Helland ended the night with a hat trick. Resse Rutko,Carson Cayer and Alex Hicks also had goals for the Rebels. Kade Smith recorded 23 saves.
Storm 4, Thunder 2
In Pilot Butte, the Storm jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Oct. 15. The Outback Thunder were able to get one goal back as Grady Genaille scored to make the score 3-1 before the end of the first period. The two teams traded goals in the second session with Nick Peterson scoring for the Outback Thunder. Neither team scored in the third period.
“I thought we played a better overall game Sunday, but they won more battles in front of our net and their’s than we did. That’s all it came down to,” Logan said.
Gilbertson had 40 saves on 44 shots. The Storm’s Tyler Szturm made 32 saves. Scoring for Traveland RV were Carter Armstrong, Taylor Schmidt, Will Jordan and Ryatt Bayne.
Thunder notes
Kyle Njaaleads the Thunder with three goals and five points. Steiestol, a 20-year-old rookie, and second-year man Austin Linnen each have four points. Gilbertson is fourth in the PJHL with a 2.50 goals against average and third with a .931 save percentage. Drew Warkentine is now playing for the Melfort Mustangs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Warkentine played two games for the Thunder after starting this hockey season with Prince Albert in the Western Hockey League.
