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Outback Thunder getting ready for playoffs

Carrot River Outback Thunder forward Chandler Ashcroft is excited to see what his team can do in the playoffs. The 20-year-old from Swan River, Man.
Outback Thunder

Carrot River Outback Thunder forward Chandler Ashcroft is excited to see what his team can do in the playoffs.

The 20-year-old from Swan River, Man. joined the Carrot River squad from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Swan Valley Stampeders in December. He had previously played with the Thunder in 2014-15.

“I'm looking forward to seeing how far we can go and see if we can make a run with the young team we have,” Ashcroft said.

The Thunder will tangle with the West Central Rage in a four versus five best-of-three Prairie Junior Hockey League North Division Survivor Series. The teams play in Kerrobert on Friday night and Sunday evening in Carrot River. The Thunder finished fifth in the PJHL’s North Division with a 17-16-7 record, while the Rage were fourth at 20-17-2.

“The big thing will be to try to minimize the scoring chances by their top line,” said Trevor Logan, the Thunder’s head coach. “They have some guys that have speed and skill and we need to try to get good match-ups and be aware when they are on the ice. Obviously, like any playoff series, we will need solid goaltending and to play physical, finishing our checks, but at the same time do that and stay out of the penalty box as much as possible.” 

Keegan Tiringer led the Rage with 41 points and 24 goals in 33 regular season games. Austin Linnen topped the Thunder with 44 points in 40 games. Drayden Ukrainetz had a team-high 24 goals for Carrot River.

The Thunder were pleased to have Ashcroft join them. With the team this season the 6-foot-1, 185-pound forward has 15 goals and 26 points in 18 games.

“Chandler is a 20-year-old with some Junior B and Junior A experience so to get him in our lineup was huge,” Logan said. “He has put up quite a few points since joining us, but also just gives us that experience factor for our other guys to draw from. Definitely made us a deeper team up front with his production and experience.”

Ashcroft, who played parts of two seasons with his hometown Junior A Stampeders, has liked playing in Carrot River.

“I just enjoyed having fun and playing hockey with the boys,” he said.

 

Byman back

Jonas Byman has rejoined the Thunder. The Wadena product was out from mid-November until Feb. 4 with a badly dislocated shoulder.

“It was tough knowing that I couldn’t help the team while being gone,” Byman said. “It's great to make road trips with the guys and be playing the games again.”

Logan said that Byman is “a solid kid that skates well.” Since returning to the Thunder, the defenceman has seen time at forward. In one of his first games back, Logan said that Byman was one of the Thunder’s best forwards on the ice at times “just due to pushing his pace and going to the net.” Byman has played 18 games this season.

 

Last week

The Thunder went 0-2 last week to cap the regular season. Carrot River fell 12-3 to the Saskatoon AGI Insurance Quakers on Friday and 5-3 to the Rage on Saturday.

On Friday, the Quakers led 6-0 after the first period. Ashcroft, Ukrainetz and Kyle Njaa scored for the Thunder. Kolton Holmen made 10 saves on 14 shots. Ben Gilbertson, who had 39 saves on 47 shots, relieved him.

The Rage led 2-0 and 5-1 at the intermissions on Saturday. Ashcroft, Njaa and Nick Peterson had Carrot River’s goals. Holmen stopped 33 of the 38 shots he faced.

“I thought we outplayed them for 30 minutes and had a chance to be in the game [Saturday] but weren't able to finish on a lot of our chances and they did,” Logan said of their playoff opponent. “So that said, we need to bear down and bury our chances and win the special teams battles.”