Thnuder Sign another Col. still hasn't

Thunder adds first new player in ByrnesPosted on July 17, 2008 in PressReleases
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder announced their first new roster addition today, signing center Matt Byrnes.

A second-year pro out of Lincoln, Rhode Island, Byrnes played last season for the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers, where he put up four goals and 13 points in limited action over 27 games.

“Matt is a hard-working player who takes the body and skates very well”, said new Thunder head coach Brent Bilodeau. “He is a great community guy who will also be a great leader in the locker room.”

Prior to turning pro, Byrnes played in NCAA Hockey East for Merrimack College, where he notched 42 points and 127 penalty minutes over four seasons. He was the 2007 recipient of the Francis J. Miller Unsung Hero Award presented to the underclassman who exemplifies perseverance, dedication, enthusiasm and hard work throughout the season.

Byrnes joins Mike Batovanja as the first two players signed for the 2008-09 season. The Thunder will drop the puck on their 17th CHL season on Friday, October 17th. The full 2008-09 CHL schedule will be released tomorrow.

For more information or to order season tickets, please call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit our website at




Well not exactly an allstar but one never knows. I like the thought he won the hard worker type award. Something the Thunder can use help on.

His point totals aren't horrible in 27 games, but that team sucked as bad as the Thunder did. Only 22 wins, leading scorer with 56 points.

He is a little guy but hey they were in last year so we will have to wait and see.

Last edited by TeamRoper on Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:12 pm; edited 1 time in total

I find it great that our first two signings weren't the "Wonder Twins" Duda and Clayton.

Not the greatest signing, but we have been wrong before...

ill have to go with the "wait and see" comment on this signing....

Matt Byrnes Forward
Born Oct 31 1982 -- Lincoln, RI
Height 5.09 -- Weight 180


Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2003-04 Merrimack College NCAA 34 3 6 9 24
2004-05 Merrimack College NCAA 35 2 14 16 38
2005-06 Merrimack College NCAA 34 3 4 7 28
2006-07 Merrimack College NCAA 34 3 7 10 37
2007-08 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 27 4 9 13 30 -- -- -- -- --

guess i was just hoping one of our first couple signings would be someone that can put the puck in the net..... a "sniper" you would say..... with some size....

I love GT


and he like me doesnt want midgets on the ice.


don't want no short short men

4 goals and 9 assists???

YOUGOTTOBEKIDDING ME??

SO IN 54 GAMES IF WE ARE LUCKY HE MIGHT SCORE 8 GOALS AND 18 ASSISTS?

That should make all us blunder fans proud to know that he is a

Quote:

great community guy

at 5' 9 and 180 I hear the band stricking up we are the lolipopkins alot. lol

sorry got that out of my system......

guess just like a tootsie pop..... we won't know what he can do until we see him in action against guys bigger than him. (everyone else). Hopefully we are sitting on a LARGER THAN LIFE GOALIE AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING HELD FOR A MUCH LATER DATE!

he's listed at 5'9 Stoner he's actually 5'5 with skates


by the way do you smoke mexican or home?

We'll see on this guy, he's a Hockey East player, and played all four years, so he's not a slouch, sometimes these NCAA DI guys take off in the CHL, other times they become Ben Murphy.

Al?

RLR

speedrissr wrote:

We'll see on this guy, he's a Hockey East player, and played all four years, so he's not a slouch, sometimes these NCAA DI guys take off in the CHL, other times they become Ben Murphy. Al? RLR

or a Tyler Rice.

Quote:

“Matt is a hard-working player who takes the body and skates very well”, said new Thunder head coach Brent Bilodeau. “He is a great community guy who will also be a great leader in the locker room.”

Translated: "Because he's small, he's fast as shit which will hopefully keep him from becoming part of the endboards. In the locker room, he'll be able to be our new pivot man whille standing up."

stoney wrote:

4 goals and 9 assists??? YOUGOTTOBEKIDDING ME?? SO IN 54 GAMES IF WE ARE LUCKY HE MIGHT SCORE 8 GOALS AND 18 ASSISTS? That should make all us blunder fans proud to know that he is a Quote: great community guy at 5' 9 and 180 I hear the band stricking up we are the lolipopkins alot. lol sorry got that out of my system...... guess just like a tootsie pop..... we won't know what he can do until we see him in action against guys bigger than him. (everyone else). Hopefully we are sitting on a LARGER THAN LIFE GOALIE AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING HELD FOR A MUCH LATER DATE!

Stonester, do you mean the Lollipop Guild song (from The Wizard of Oz)?

yeah that's the name of it I knew someone would know! lol

Eagle Struck wrote:

he's listed at 5'9 Stoner he's actually 5'5 with skates by the way do you smoke mexican or home?

I smoked a mexican one time in southern ca.....man was he mad when we took his case of beer and the Marine shirt off his back! Damn illegal anyways!!

stoney wrote:

4 goals and 9 assists??? YOUGOTTOBEKIDDING ME?? SO IN 54 GAMES IF WE ARE LUCKY HE MIGHT SCORE 8 GOALS AND 18 ASSISTS? That should make all us blunder fans proud to know that he is a Quote: great community guy at 5' 9 and 180 I hear the band stricking up we are the lolipopkins alot. lol sorry got that out of my system...... guess just like a tootsie pop..... we won't know what he can do until we see him in action against guys bigger than him. (everyone else). Hopefully we are sitting on a LARGER THAN LIFE GOALIE AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING HELD FOR A MUCH LATER DATE!

That would put him at thrid best on last years team.

I can already see the benefits of getting rid of Weingartner. This is a hell of a signing for us and someone to build our future around.

Nicely done new coach who will remane nameless because I'm too lazy to go look it up.