Wichita completes sweep of season-opening home stand

The Wichita Thunder took advantage of a season-opening four-game home stand, winning each outing to post a 4-0-0 start for the first time since doing so in the Central Hockey League in 2011-12.

Last weekend, the Thunder picked up a pair of wins over Rapid City, beginning with a 3-1 victory on Friday. Zach O’Brien led the way offensively with three points (2g-1a) while Kyle Platzer added a goal and an assist. Joel Rumpel earned the win in net with 24 saves.

Wichita used a five-goal outburst in a 9:25 span of the first period on Sunday en route to a 5-2 win over the Rush. Plazter had his second straight multi-point game with three points (2g-1a) with Travis Brown and Guillaume Asselin both adding a pair of assists. Shane Starrett stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced to record his second win of the season.

Platzer leads the Thunder, and is tied for second in the league, with eight points (4g-4a) through four games. Matt DeBlouw has an assist in three straight games and has picked up at least one point in each of the four games (2g-3a).

Rumpel is tied for the league lead with two wins and his 2.00 goals-against average is tied for seventh.

Wichita heads on the road for the first time this season this week, visiting Tulsa on Wednesday and Kansas City on Saturday.