Jr. Thunder Hockey team takes home three championships in a row
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Wichita Jr. Thunder High School Team are Mid America High School Hockey League Champions for the third year in a row.
“I’m really proud of them,” coach Devon Smith said.
“Obviously, three championships over the past three years, which is pretty good for, you know, being from Wichita,” player Lucas Marks said. “So I think you can really attribute that success obviously to coach Mike and coach Devon. But really, the team chemistry, I think, is what pushes us over the edge with a lot of teams.”
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The Jr. Thunder Team is made up of kids from Wichita-area schools, including Campus, Valley Center, Goddard, Andover, Derby, Northwest, Bishop Carroll, and more. They play teams from all around the country.
Most of the boys have played together for 10 years.
“The simplest way I can put it is these guys, these guys are my brothers,” Marks said. “I go to war with these guys every single day, compete with these guys every single day, outside of hockey, we hang out every like every time we can. It’s just the best environment to be in, and I’m very thankful for that.”
“There’s something different about, like, the community and like how everyone’s just united and together,” player Nathan Zane said.
“I’ve known all these guys since I was little. They’re like my best friends,” player Aiden Fyffe said.
Marks says it means a lot to have a team that acts as a family traveling along with him.
“Just having that support system … because you have your family obviously at home, but to have a family when you’re in Jefferson City or when you’re in any of these other places, it’s just an incredible feeling, and you feel very supported, and this is awesome. Seeing these guys every single day that I come to the rink and every single day outside the rink, it’s just the most motivating thing to me, and I think a lot of us, so it’s awesome.”
Although they say Kansas isn’t known as a hockey state, the sport still means the world.
“I played basketball, I played football, I played all the sports, and this one is just it hits different,” Zane said.
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“It’s the best sport,” Marks said. “It doesn’t get much exposure, especially in this part of the country, so it’s just awesome, teaches you great character, strength, how to be a teammate, and the people here are just awesome.”
Many of the players plan on trying out for collegiate teams, and five players made all-conference.
“That’s pretty impressive, and most people don’t even know we exist,” parent Rose Inkelaar said. “These kids put in hours and hours at the rink. The bond that they have with each other and these coaches, they help really pull these kids together.”
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