WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita Thunder may not be playing this weekend (thanks COVID,) but that doesn’t mean there isn’t news.
This afternoon, the team announced the third segment of the 2020-21 schedule, which includes another 27 games, 13 of them played at INTRUST Bank Arena. With the postponement of the weekend three-game set against Allen, Wichita will continue their eight-game homestand against the Kansas City Mavericks on Thursday night. As of Friday afternoon, the league has not announced makeup dates for the series against Allen.
The next Wichita Thunder road game will not be until February 3, when they travel to Allen for a pair against the Americans.
In the third window of games, Thunder will head to Utah for the first time this season. Wichita will be on the road for five-straight from February 12 to February 23. Following that, the Thunder will play their longest homestand to date (9 games) from February 26 to March 13. Wichita will also play on St. Patrick’s Day, hosting the Indy Fuel on Wednesday, March 17. For the first time ever, the Thunder will travel to Wheeling to play the Nailers, and former head coach Mark French, in a three-game set from March 19 to 21.
Below is a full list of games in the second part of the schedule (Home games in bold):
February
Friday, February 12 at Utah
Saturday, February 13 at Utah
Sunday, February 14 at Utah
Friday, February 19 at Tulsa
Saturday, February 20 at Tulsa
Sunday, February 21 vs. Kansas City
Tuesday, February 23 at Kansas City
Friday, February 26 vs. Rapid City
Saturday, February 27 vs. Rapid City
Sunday, February 28 vs. Rapid City
March
Tuesday, March 2 vs. Rapid City
Friday, March 5 vs. Utah
Saturday, March 6 vs. Utah
Wednesday, March 10 vs. Tulsa
Friday, March 12 vs. Tulsa
Saturday, March 13 vs. Tulsa
Sunday, March 14 at Tulsa
Wednesday, March 17 vs. Indy
Friday, March 19 at Wheeling
Saturday, March 20 at Wheeling
Sunday, March 21 at Wheeling
Wednesday, March 24 vs Kansas City
Friday, March 26 vs. Kansas City
Saturday, March 27 at Kansas City
Sunday, March 28 at Kansas City
April
Friday, April 2 at Rapid City
Saturday, April 3 at Rapid City
In other news, the ECHL revealed the conference breakdown for the remainder of the season:
EAST: Florida Everblades, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Indy Fuel, Jacksonville Icemen, Orlando Solar Bears, South Carolina Stingrays, and Wheeling Nailers
WEST: Allen Americans, Fort Wayne Komets (start playing on 2/12), Kansas City Mavericks, Rapid City Rush, Tulsa Oilers, Utah Grizzlies, and Wichita Thunder
The final portion of the 2020-21 schedule, as well as the format for the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs will be released at a later date.
Matthew Harding and Matthew Will cover the Wichita Thunder for The Sin Bin. Follow and interact with them @SinBinThunder.
