The Wichita Thunder had an early morning tilt with the Atlanta Gladiators Thursday, and looked like their alarm clocks did not wake them up early enough. The Thunder fell behind 2-0 into the second period but, for the third time this season, Wichita overcame an early deficit to come from behind to win. Chris Rumble’s goal just 25 seconds after the Wichita Thunder tied the score gave his team the lead and they would go onto win 4-2.

The Gladiators would take the lead just 4:22 into the contest. Tyler Shiplo controlled the puck inside the Thunder end and fired a shot that Scott Greenham made a save on. The puck came out on a rebound that A.J. White fired back on goal and into the net for his first goal of the season.

Coming out of the first period the shots were tied at 10, and the Thunder would come out fired up in the second period looking to take charge of the game. However, at the 4:03 mark Atlanta would extend their lead to two. Tyler Murovich fired a long wrist shot that Greenham could not glove to make it 4-2. That was Murovich’s fourth goal of the season.

The Thunder were dominating the game in every way but on the scoreboard, but at the 12:03 mark they would finally get on the board. Alex Krushelnyski passed to Louick Marcotte who was positioned in the left face-off circle. Marcotte fired a wrist shot that found the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

The game would head to the second break with the Wichita Thunder trailing 2-1. They outshot Atlanta 18-10 in the second period and the game really looked like the ice was slanted against the Gladiators. In the third period it would seem like an avalanche came their way.

Just 38 seconds into the period, Krushelnyski took a shot that Atlanta goalie Steve Racine made a nice play on, but Alexis Loiseau was Johnny on the spot. The forward had been knocked down in front of the net and, from his knees, fired the puck into the net for his second goal of the season. That tied the score.

Just 25 seconds after that the Wichita Thunder would take the lead. The Thunder entered the Atlanta end and Marcotte passed back to Rumble at the point. The defenseman fired the shot that got passed Racine to give Wichita their first lead of the game.

The Gladiators tried to take charge of the play looking to tie the score. They had a couple of nice chances but Greenham came up big in each case. Finally, his offense rewarded him at the 16:08 mark when Loiseau made a great pass to Gabriel Gagne that sent him on a breakaway. Gagne blasted a shot passed the Atlanta goalie and into the net to make it 4-2. That would be the final.

The Thunder outshot Atlanta in the contest 39-28. Rumble had a goal and was +3 for the contest. Gagne was also +3, adding a goal of his own. Loiseau had a goal and an assist for the Thunder as did Marcotte. Greenham (2-1-0-0) made 26-saves. White had a goal and an assist for the Gladiators.

The Thunder’s next contest will be Friday night in Greenville. Game time is 6 PM CST.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier