If the Carrot River Outback Thunder’s season is still alive when you read this, it will be because of a total team effort and doing the little things.
In their Prairie Junior Hockey League Survivor Series, the Bob Dybvig Division No. 5–seeded Outback Thunder fell 5-2 on the road to the No. 4-seeded Saskatoon Westleys in Game 1. The Outback Thunder rebounded for a 4-2 victory at home. The third and deciding game of the series was slated for Wednesday, after the Review’s deadline, in Saskatoon.
“I know we have the skill in our room to be successful, but we need everyone in our lineup to push their pace and get in hard on the forecheck, finish out checks, put pucks on net and get traffic in the dirty areas,” said Trevor Logan, Carrot River’s head coach. “We did those things [Sunday] night and failed to do them on [Friday] and that’s the difference.”
The Outback Thunder bench boss is looking for contributions from the whole lineup.
“We need all 18 guys to be going and can’t look to one or two or even a handful of our guys to get the job done by themselves,” Logan said. “[Sunday] night we got a goal from [veteran defenceman] Layne Cay and a huge goal for Kieran Dayson to give us the two-goal lead. It’s those plays and those guys chipping in that brings a team together to rally behind one another.”
Game 1
Heading into the final period in Saskatoon on Feb. 23, Carrot River trailed the host Westleys, 3-2. Saskatoon was able to stretch its lead to two goals with a power-play marker and then close things out with an empty net goal to hand the Outback Thunder a 5-2 loss.
“We failed to put that extra in and played perimeter hockey,” Logan said. “That doesn’t work this time of year.”
The game was tied at 1-1 after the first period. Jordan Borstmayer scored both of Carrot River’s goals. Outback Thunder goalie Kolton Holmen made 26 saves on 30 shots. Carson Bogdan of the Westleys had 30 saves.
Game 2
Carrot River led 1-0 and 3-1 at the intermissions on Feb. 25 en route to a 4-2 win to tie the series at one game apiece.
“We played with drive and desperation last night, got to the dirty areas and played physical,” Logan said.
Devin Gerwing, Connor Tuffs, Cay and Dayson scored for the Outback Thunder. Holmen had 29 saves, while Bogdan made 44.
Carrot River players Gerwing, Austin Linnen and Terrell Draude each had two points. It was the first action with the Outback Thunder for Draude, who played in the Western Hockey League. Borstmayer, who did not play Sunday, also suited up in the WHL ranks.
“Obviously when they are in the lineup it adds a presence and confidence in our group,” Logan said.
Borstmayer, an engineering student at the University of Saskatchewan, has had fun playing a few Junior B games this winter.
“The thing I have enjoyed most about playing with the Thunder is being able to once again play hockey with some of my childhood friends.”
Catching up
Zach Garrett, Tyrell Pompu,Logan Robinson, Colin van Kommer andConnor Slipp have all played roles for the Dakota College at Bottineau (N.D.) men’s hockey team.
“We are fortunate to have these guys on our team,” said Travis Rybchinski, Dakota College’s head coach. “Each of them bring different elements to our team and they all contribute in their own way.”
All of the players suited up for at least four games for the Outback Thunder or its previous iteration as the Tri-Town Thunder.
Creighton’s Garrett was tied for the Lumberjacks lead in scoring with 31 points in 22. Pompu, who is from Carrot River, was one spot behind with 23 points. Minnedosa’s Robinson posted eight points and a team-high 45 penalty minutes. Van Kommer, a defeceman from Carberry, earned a spot in all 22 regular season games. Calgary’s Slipp served as the team’s primary backup goalie.
Rybchinski praised all of the players for being good people and being good on campus and in the community. He is pleased to have more former Outback Thunder players on the team.
“We are really glad to get some more players from that area,” Rybchinsk said. “Leo Leblanc has been really good at getting our story out there and I think I need to give him some credit for getting all our former Thunder players.”
