Hockey’s back. The Drayton Valley Thunder will be kicking off their Alberta Junior Hockey League season on September 17 against the Grande Prairie Storm.
Coach Eric Thurston says the team is excited to play in front of fans again this year.
“I think it shows with our pre-season results. We’ve had an excellent pre-season,” says Thurston.
He says the pre-season, which saw the team win seven games with just one loss, just illustrates the level of enthusiasm the players are feeling about playing again. “Everybody is just over the moon to have our fans back,” says Thurston.
With 25 players on the roster, Thurston says they have a good mix of veterans and rookie players. He says they were able to pick young guys whose skills complemented the returning players.
“It’s a real positive mix of a group of guys that all bring a different dimension to the team,” he says. “They’re just happy to be playing hockey and happy to be kids again.”
Thurston says he’s really pleased with the team dynamic this year, starting with the goaltenders all the way up to the starting line.
“I really like the depth of our team,” he says.
He says this year there were a couple of billet families that were unable to house players, but others in the community stepped forward to fill the void.
“That’s one of the strengths of this community,” says Thurston. “I am truly in awe with how phenomenal our billet families are here in Drayton Valley.”
Thurston says in regards to the pandemic this year they are working within the restrictions. Most of the players are vaccinated, but he says it’s not mandatory. However, they are still wearing masks when on the bus or in the arena.
“It’s just something we have to learn to adjust to,” he says. “These young guys, I’m just really impressed with how resilient they are with all of this going on.”
He says despite the restrictions he can see that the players are just excited to get back to doing something they love, and he hopes the momentum carries on to their first game.
The first regular season game of the year starts at 7 p.m. at the Omniplex. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets can contact Leah Emmett at 780-542-7845.
