The Birth of WuShock. [4] One of his stated intentions in his opening press conference was to establish the Thunder's first NHL affiliation for the upcoming season. Close. However, he failed to lead the team into the ECHL playoffs in his two seasons leading the team in the ECHL and the Thunder finished last in the overall standings in the 201516 season. Susan Arensman, a USD 259 spokesperson, said the voting happened, but the results have not been released. Arensman said the school district will get input from both alumni and future students from middle schools that feed into Wichita North. competition to design a mascot typifying the spirit of the school. "Wichita is a great hockey market with tremendous fans, and we look forward to bringing NHL hockey back to INTRUST Bank Arena in September.". For nearly 50 years, Wichita State University didn't have a mascot - its symbol was just a shock of wheat. From the introduction of the new mascot, Threshy to Bethel superfan Loren Reussers 90th birthday, to the creation of the Stone Zone student section, its clear to see this communitys love for Bethels athletics. Learn more about Wichita State University. He had been with the Thunder since 2010 and guided the team for six seasons becoming the longest tenured coach in Thunder history, leading the team for 408 games. @wichita_thunder Tidbits: Moved to the East Coast Hockey League to start the 2014 season Teams with the Thunder team name Tweets by mascotdb. In fall 1999, the head of the new costume underwent another redesign On August 3, 2005, Laxdal announced his resignation to become the head coach of the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads. So theyll take all of that and put that together and make a recommendation of what the new mascot will be.. Five days after his dismissal, the Thunder announced that Derek Laxdal would become the team's new head coach. In Latos' first season coaching, the team went 24346 and was out of the playoffs. Mascot GAME DAY & MISC. Skip to content. From 1992 until December 2009, the Thunder played in the Britt Brown Arena located in the northern Wichita suburb of Park City. Mascot: Count : Mascot: Count : Mascot: Count : . The Thunders regular season runs October to April, see upcoming games. Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Oct. 22 - The Oklahoma City Thunder will host its final game of the preseason in Wichita on Wednesday, Oct. 23. When you head to a game, youll feel the powerful cheers and chants echoing throughout INTRUST Bank Arena; its no wonder the team is called the Thunder. Head here, to learn more about the suite and party options. After the Thunder fired Bilodeau nine games into the 200910 season, Jason Duda was given the job on an interim basis while on injured reserve. He went on to become the assistant coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears and the following season took them to a championship as head coach. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) - Should it stay or should it go? - The Worcester Railers Hockey Club (@RailersHC), proud ECHL (@ECHL) affiliate of the New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) and Worcester Red Sox, team up on Sat., March 4th for the . WORCESTER, Mass. The four potential names the students voted on were Wolfpack, Red Hawks, North Stars and Red Storm. Teams with Thunder Mascot He came up with Wheatshockers. The team is riding an eight-game point streak, has points in 12 of its last 13 games, and owns wins in seven of their last . (Yes, there is a person inside He has since become the head coach of the Western States Hockey League's Wichita Jr. Thunder. 1948, a friend to every Shocker fan and the No. A committee created by USD 259 determined the mascot was offensive to Native Americans. Things started to pick up in the third period as the Thunder scored two goals late in the period to pull away. Wichita Thunder Store. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. We are always open to suggestions. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Pep club members were known The Blues are led by Chairman Tom Stillman and an all-local ownership group, as well as General Manager Doug Armstrong and Head Coach Craig Berube. The 1998 version was intended to make Wu, as he is affectionately known, look more buff and intimidating. Boleski, General Manager of INTRUST Bank Arena. We had high top tables, some chairs and a couch to lounge on. Website Design & Development by Balefire Marketing + Advertising. With all the variations in his appearance, WuShock has been called ugly, terrifying, and weird. Clark create the bronze sculpture. In February 2021, the Wichita school board voted to move away from the Redskins mascot over a two-year period. During his time in Wichita, McClelland compiled a record of 19416648, earning a playoff spot in his first season and taking the team to the playoff finals in the following two seasons while still in the CHL. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) - The Wichita Wind Surge unveiled their brand new mascot "Windy" at Franklin Elementary School in Wichita on Thursday afternoon, in front of a crowd of excited. At the event, Threshy joined several local area mascots, including many from KCAC schools, such as the Friends University Falcon, the Kansas Wesleyan Coyote, the McPherson College Bulldog, and the Newman University Jets. View schedule, promotions, buy tickets, see roster. Helping hype the crowd is their mascot, Sonic Thunderdog. Close search. Throughout history, Wu has gone through many documented awkward phases to reach today's iteration. 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Threshys inclusion in this event signifies a rising interest from local event organizers in the uniqueness and creativity in the Bethel mascots design by Head Cheer Coach Joseph Gogus and Director for Institutional Communications & Marketing Tricia Clark, as well as the promotions done by the various news outlets in the area, including local news source HarveyCountyNow, which wrote an article about Threshy back in Dec.2022. In the 80s, WuShock wore a grass skirt. Center, thanks to Clark a longtime Greater Wichita YMCA board member, volunteer Hopefully, so will you. really had to, essentially, trust myself. You can help keep our site going with a simple one-time or recurring donation. The students voted on them today and then theyre going to find ways that they can get alumni input also students who are in North Highs feeder pattern to provide input, Arensman told the Wichita Eagle. (316) 686-7121, West Office 2023 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. It's True for U.M.B.C. Although the Wheatshockers name was never officially adopted by the university, it Wichita Thunder hockey front office staff directory. Always remember to show support on all the videos by leaving a like, adding the video to your favorites, sharing the video on social media, and help the channel out by Subscribing. 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In 1948, Kappa Pi honorary art fraternity held a competition to create a mascot for the school, which was known as Wichita University at the time. Email Us | Call us at (316) 686-7121. Through it all, the people of Wichita have embraced WuShock as an endearing symbol of Wichita State University, and the city itself. "The City of Wichita showed up last year and provided a great atmosphere for these teams. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Annual Home Show displays many eco-friendly options, WSU softball excited for home opener on Saturday, Enough already: Kansas governor slams NYC mayors, Youth advocates react to DAs decision to not charge, Final adapted basketball games of the year held in, Friday Kansas high school sub-state basketball scores, Wichita State falls to No. With the redesign, a new costume was introduced This website uses cookies. INTRUST Bank Arena opened its doors in January of 2010 and is the home of the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL. Hoping to go pro and make a career out of what I love. Free shipping for many products! Latos was fired the following season after a disappointing start of 8197. It was also their hiding spot when the mascot, Thunderdog, came out because these two are deathly afraid of mascots. To give you an even better idea of what to expect, heres a quick video from our TikTok page. 12221 E Central Ave Contact us to become a community partner of Wichita By E.B.! To learn more about the Wichita Thunder or get your tickets to any future game, you can visit their website. used a nameless shock of wheat as its symbol. On May 2, 2001, Wells was dismissed as head coach. The first video clip was from a hockey game filmed with a GoPro Hero 4 Silver, and the second clip was filmed with a GoPro Hero. Leave any tips or thoughts about my video in the comments. For nearly 50 years, Wichita State University didnt have a mascot its symbol was just a shock of wheat. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Specialty jerseys are on sale for $90 (regularly $139.99). More than 150 WPS high school students recently got to learn about careers in engineering at the "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" event hosted by the Wichita State College of Engineering. Wichita East. the costume.) The Arizona Coyotes relocated to Phoenix from Winnipeg in 1996. The St. Louis Blues were founded in 1967. After the dismissal of Wells, the Thunder announced that James Latos would be the new head coach. Download the KSN News App and stay up-to-date wherever you are. The first professionally-made suit was not made until the 1970s. The school never officially adopted the name, but the term Wheatshockers was commonly used for years, until it was eventually shortened to "Shockers", which is what Wichita State is known by today. In todays dollars, that equals about $175 small change compared to the $8,000 price tag of the current WuShock suit. - Wichita Thunder Mascot Go-Pro FootageThis video was from the Wichita Thunder's teddy bear toss night, which donates the tedd. The energy in the arena was electric for that third period. This is just one step in a process, Arensman told the Wichita Eagle. The season was quickly turned around by Shedden, and it finished its first season with a 25322 record. as Wheaties. If youve never been to a game, the Wichita Thunder is a minor league hockey team who plays their games at the downtown arena. Maybe it's the schticky idea of "Thunder" as the name of a midwestern team. Wichita State has helped me put marketing strategy in a real-world perspective. List of Wichita Thunder alumni who played more than 25 games in Wichita and 25 or more games in the National Hockey League. Stormy - the cyclonic mascot of Lake Erie College, introduced in 1994. . From 1992 until December 2009, the Thunder played in the Britt Brown Arena located in the northern Wichita suburb of Park City. "We're very excited to return to Wichita to take on the Blues," said Armstrong. The team played in the Central Hockey League from 1992 until 2014, and then in the ECHL since the 201415 season. And yes, we devoured some popcorn, fries, and chicken tenders throughout the game. Limited sizes available! On July 19, 1996, Jackson resigned to become head coach of the Kansas City Blades of the International Hockey League (IHL). This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. (316) 722-0030. His was the winning design, which the university adopted as its mascot. 101 Did you love the article and want to help the continuing free content at Wichita By E.B.? Duda owns several franchise records from his Thunder career, scoring 870 points in 14 seasons. caught on and survived until it was later shortened to Shockers. Sometimes you can catch him being ornery and cruising around in the Zamboni. Weingartner played for the Thunder from 1992 to 1996 when he was a member of two championship teams. He's been WSU's mascot since Wichita, KS 67205 Laxdal went on to coach the Thunder for two seasons to an 87588 record while securing two separate playoff places. The new Wu looks strikingly like the image on the logo, and is gradually The team had a 21-1 regular-season record before winning the tournament title once again. Wichita Thunder Store. The Thunder then named former player Rob Weingartner to lead the team. CLICK HERE to learn more about what we are doing to keep our clients, real estate agents, partners and staff safe. Elsea, who had Jackson was replaced by Bryan Wells to become the Thunder's fourth head coach in franchise history. Wells went on to coach the Thunder for five seasons, making the playoffs in four out of the five seasons he coached. Local artist Wade Hampton and sculptor Connie Ematt worked with WSU Athletics and The Oct. 7, 1948, issue of The Sunflower, the student newspaper, ran an advertisement urging students to submit names for the school's new mascot. WICHITA, Kan. - ProHoops Sports & Events announced today that Wichita will once again be host to a NHL Preseason Game on September . Teams with the Thunder team name. Tristan England Jan 27 Due to a variety of events at Bethel recently, school spirit is at an all time high. On April 16, 2016, the Thunder announced that the team would not renew McClelland's contract for the 201617 season. "We're very excited to bring this event back to the people of Wichita," said Linda Hargrove, President of ProHoops Sports & Events. Please, Threshy, hard at work, hypes up the student section at a fall football game . Your contribution is appreciated. When wheat is harvested, its tied together into a bundle called a shock. Located at 1800 N. Rock Road Suite 100 in the former Pier 1 space, this one of a kind artistic experience is filled with your wildest balloon dreams. Once Elsea's mascot was adopted by the university, which by that time was known as the Municipal University of Wichita, all that was needed was a name. @Wichita_Thunder @wichita_thunder @wichthunder. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lover of Wichita, food, trying new things, exploring everything that life has to offer, the Shockers, and most of all my family. On July 4, 2016, the Ottawa Senators' assistant general manager, Randy Lee, said that his team was in negotiations for an affiliation with the Thunder for the 201617 season. The Thunder was originally coached by Gary Fay, but after a 620 start, he was replaced by Doug Shedden. and Wichita State. "We want to continue to make this an exciting event for the people in attendance and one they look can look forward to each year.". BUT I wouldnt rule it out because I love those unique experiences that are one-of-a-kind. There is no timeline on when that recommendation would be given, and the district does not want to share the results of the vote by the students. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Rare VTG 90s Wichita Thunder Defunct Minor League Hockey Promo Sweat Shirt XL at the best online prices at eBay! Thunder (mascot), the mascot for the Denver Broncos; Thunder, a former mascot of the Golden State Warriors NBA basketball team; Thunder on the Ohio, a hydroplane boat race held at Evansville, Indiana, on the Ohio River; Other uses If youre interested in having us out to cover your event or activity, you can reach out by e-mailing us. For six years, WuShock lived only on paper. issue of The Sunflower, the student newspaper, ran an advertisement urging students WuShock is a big, bad, muscle-bound bundle of wheat. "The shootout added an exciting element to the end of the game that the crowd loved," said Hargrove. Limited sizes available! 1 supporter of all things Wichita Junior Wilbur Elsea, a former Marine who served in WWII, created a mascot that he felt was tough, no-nonsense, and serious. Hockey and sponsor mascots playing broomball on the ice. Accept all cookie used by us or third party partners for better performance, analytics, advertising. endearing himself to his legions of fans. The team will take on the Chicago Bulls at 8:30 p.m. at. has changed over the years, as well. Down by one, the Cyclones rallied for three unanswered third period goals to pick up a 5-3 comeback win over the Wichita Thunder at Heritage Bank Center. Tickets for the ProHoops Sports & Events "ICT Ice Classic" featuring the Arizona Coyotes and St. Louis Blues will go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 3 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online at selectaseat.com, by phone at 855-755-SEAT (7328) or in person at the Select-A-Seat Box Office at INTRUST Bank Arena.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'oursportscentral_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',198,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-oursportscentral_com-medrectangle-4-0'); For access to an exclusive presale opportunity on Thursday, March 2, fans can sign-up to receive INTRUST Bank Arena emails at intrustbankarena.com. Yank - Tiger, mascot of the Hampden-Sydney Tigers; There have been more than 700 players who have gone on to play in the NHL after starting their careers in the ECHL. The kids were tuned in for most of the game. I love sports and have so much respect for those types of fans. The Coyotes play in the Central Division of the Western Conference with rivals, the St. Louis Blues. Let me tell you, there are some diehard passionate Thunder fans in town, which was really cool to see. He finished the season with a 7435 record and became an assistant coach under the next head coach, Kevin McClelland. Family fun and things to do in Wichita, KS. about the time it receivedits first football coach. This website uses cookies. In the 199394 season, Doug Shedden won the Coach of the Year award, Robert Desjardins won the Regular Season Most Valuable Player award and Paul Jackson won the Scoring Champion award. Cookie disclaimer. During his tenure, he compiled a record of 705916. Cookie disclaimer. won "Best Kansas Documentary Short" at the 2020 Tallgrass Film Festival. If youre a business owner and would like to be featured or partner up for a highlight, visit here. Tickets for the "ICT Ice Classic" will be available starting at less than $10. Wu got one more facelift in 2006, owing mostly to the unwieldy costume's top-heavy 7515 W 37th St N, Ste. Mascot: Count : Mascot: Count : Mascot: Count : . WuShock is often listed among the nation's strangest college mascots. The four potential names the students voted on. Then for dessert, the kids had to get their ice cream. Many in Wichita got a taste of the Bethel school spirit when Threshy was invited to the Wichita Thunder ice hockey game against the Idaho Steelheads on Jan. 7. football games were played on a stubbled wheat field. Justin Vulliamy has been hiding inside various sports mascot costumes since he was a high school student. Search . February 28, 2023 - ECHL (ECHL) - Wichita Thunder News Release. The team played in the Central Hockey League from 1992 until 2014, and then in the ECHL since the 2014-15 season. Feb 28, 2019; Wichita, KS, USA; The Wichita State Shockers mascot during a game against the more NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-First Round-Dayton vs Wichita State Mar 17, 2017;. We could also scan a QR code to have food delivered. We expect an even bigger turnout this year.". The below table shows the number of times each mascot has been used at a High School in Kansas. In the end, the Wichita Thunder held on for a 5-2 victory, which was a fantastic way to end our night. As for Threshy itself, new promotional merchandise featuring the Thresher has been seen on newly branded shirts, as well as a large photo being featured at the entrance to Goering Hall. Browse nearly 3,000 active listings. The Wichita Thunder are a member of the ECHL and are the premier source of affordable, family. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Weingartner compiled a record of 16292 during his tenure. There were several others, including Wichita State Universitys WuShock. Ive got a skit planned and everything, Gogus said. Then, of course, later in the game, the two youngest in our group had to lounge on the couch in luxury. What does that mean? Blue Bombers: 1 : . The Oct. 7, 1948, Due to a variety of events at Bethel recently, school spirit is at an all time high. . Blue Bombers: 1 : . Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. On October 7, 2014, soon before the 201415 CHL season was set to begin, it was announced that the Central Hockey League had ceased operations and the Thunder, along with the Allen Americans, Brampton Beast, Quad City Mallards, Missouri Mavericks, Rapid City Rush and Tulsa Oilers, were all approved for membership into the ECHL for the 201415 season. Wichita played its first home game at Britt Brown Arena on November 4, 1992, in front of a crowd of 5,486. People have called him a french fry and a highlighter. "Our community showed up in full force to support this game in 2022 and that is the reason it is returning.". or "shocking," wheat during the summer harvests, so the name seemed appropriate. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. February 28, 2023 - ECHL (ECHL) - Wichita Thunder News Release. The Thunder's regular season runs October to April, see upcoming games. I asked the kids what they thought after the game, and they all had a great time. Website for the Wichita Thunder, Wichita's professional hockey team. The mascot's costume Last year in the first-ever NHL game to be played in the city of Wichita, the St. Louis Blues defeated the Arizona Coyotes, 5-4, in front of over 8,500 at INTRUST Bank Arena. Together, these mascots played a game of broomball during halftime of the Wichita Thunder game to celebrate the birthday of the Thunders mascot, T-Dog. after a number of supporters suggested the mascot needed a more intimidating look. January 7, 2012 Wichita, KS 67206 Newsletter. WSU's maincampus is now home to a larger-than-life sculpture of WuShock at the entrance plaza of the new Steve Clark YMCA and Student Wellness In the following two seasons, the Thunder was the regular season champion (Adams Cup) and playoff champion (William Levins Memorial Cup). He was fired mid-season in December 2007 with a 413 record. Were Always Available. Teams with Thunder Mascot The one on the left may or may not have woken me up at 4 a.m. crying about Thunderdog! The schools pep club members were called Wheaties, and the football team played on a wheat field, so the name stuck. Storm - tiger mascot for Trine University Thunder, first introduced in 2010. Subscribe to Eddytorial: The Wichita By E.B. Earlier, the school had asked for input about potential mascot names, and the ones that they voted on were kind of the top ones that were recommended.. The Thunder are currently the ECHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks.[1].