A Banner Year

If you are like me you are probably sensing an air of expectancy whipping in the winds and are longing for a carnival like atmosphere this holiday season. Well, you need look no further than the Lakeshore Hockey Arena, for on Wednesday, the 30th day of December, in the year 2009, you are in for a special treat. The much awaited and anticipated unveiling of the 2008-2009 New York State Division I High School Hockey State Championship banner will finally occur, prior to Thunder's 6pm game with Gates Chili, some nine months after the Boys of Thunder became only the second team in NYS history to run the tables and win it all with a perfect 27-0 record.

You don't want to miss this, so be sure to get there early to get a spot in the lot and a perch in the stands. It's going to be off the hook, an event to remember for years to come. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh Thunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnderrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (that's one exclamation point for each win)

Here is a look back at what the 2008-2009 Greece Athena/Odyssey Thunder Hockey Team accomplished:

Thunder Team Stats
Goals For Regular Season: 98 (69 even strength, 22 powerplay, 7 shorthanded)
Goals For Post Season: 20 (11 even strength, 7 powerplay, 2 shorthanded)
Goals For Overall: 118 (80 even strength, 29 powerplay, 9 shorthanded)

Goals Against Regular Season: 22 (13 even strength, 9 powerplay, 0 shorthanded)
Goals Against Post Season: 5 (2 even strength, 3 powerplay, 0 shorthanded)
Goals Against Overall: 27 (15 even strength, 12 powerplay, 0 shorthanded)

Powerplay Regular Season: 24.2% (22 goals scored on 91 attempts)
Powerplay Post Season: 20.6% (7 goals scored on 34 attempts)
Powerplay Overall: 23.2% (29 goals scored on 125 attempts)

Penalty Kill Regular Season: 92.3% (9 goals surrendered on 117 attempts)
Penalty Kill Post Season: 92.5% (3 goals surrendered on 40 attempts)
Penalty Kill Overall: 92.4% (12 goals surrendered on 157 attempts)

Shutouts Regular Season: 7
Shutouts Post Season: 3
Shutouts Overall: 10

Shots For Regular Season: 690
Shots For Post Season: 151
Shots For Overall: 841

Shots Against Regular Season: 427
Shots Against Post Season: 118
Shots Against Overall: 545

Goals Against Average Regular Season: 1.05 (22 goals surrendered in 21 games)
Goals Against Average Post Season: 0.83 (5 goals surrendered in 6 games)
Goals Against Average Overall: 1.00 (27 goals surrendered in 27 games)

Saves Regular Season: 405
Saves Post Season: 113
Saves Overall: 518

Save Percentage Regular Season: 94.8 (405 saves on 427 shots)
Save Percentage Post Season: 95.8 (113 saves on 118 shots)
Save Percentage Overall: 95.0 (518 saves on 545 shots)

Thunder Team Facts
Thunder was outshot only 2 times all season, e.g. AQ and W. Genny
Thunder trailed by a goal only 6 times all season, e.g. Brockport, Hilton, Spencerport, Suffern, W. Genny and Mamaroneck
Thunder trailed by 2 goals only 2 times all season, e.g. Suffern and Mamaroneck
The most goals Thunder allowed in a single game was 3 (3 times), followed by 2 goals (4 times), 1 goal (10 times), and 0 goals (10 times)
So, basically in roughly 3 out of every 4 games played, Thunder gave up a goal or less, not too shabby!
Thunder record was 27-0 and they were the second team in the state to ever win a State Championship with an undefeated season!

Thunder AWR (All-Wes-Report) Awards
1st Team JD Power & Associates Powerplay: Pat, Greg, Gundo, Riley, JT
2nd Team JD Power & Associates Powerplay: Matt, Cheese, Jordan, Vyper, Scotty
Honorable Mention JD Power & Associates Powerplay: Miller
1st Team Natural Born Penalty Killers: Riley, JT, Vyper, Hebs
2nd Team Natural Born Penalty Killers: Pat, Greg, Gundo, Scotty
Honorable Mention Natural Born Penalty Killers: Matt, Cheese
Alexander & Catalano Heavy Hitters: JT, Greg, Gundo, Cheese, Scotty, Briganti
Harry Shaw Society: Vyper
Power Trip Club: Matt, Cheese, Rotolo
Steady Eddy Club: Hebs, Rotolo
Zero Club: Parker, Mike, Ian, Andrew

Section V West Division Awards
Player of the Year: Eric Gunderson
1st Team Forward: Greg Ryan
2nd Team Forward: Riley Bourbonnais
2nd Team Forward: Pat Sofia
Coach of the Year: Dan Webb
Top Scholar/Athlete Award: Matt Lane

Section V AGR Awards
Player of the Year: Eric Gunderson
Goalie: Parker Bonis
Forward: Riley Bourbonnais
Forward: JT Stenglein
Coach of the Year: Dan Webb
Honorable Mention Forward: Pat Sofia

NYSHSHCA State Championship All Tournament Team Awards
Forward: Greg Ryan
Forward: Riley Bourbonnais
Defense: Eric Gunderson
Goalie: Parker Bonis
MVP: JT Stenglein

NYSHSHCA Division I All-State Awards
1st Team Defense: Eric Gunderson
1st Team Forward: Riley Bourbonnais
2nd Team Forward: JT Stenglein
Honorable Mention Forward: Greg Ryan
Coach of the Year: Dan Webb