(Photo courtesy/Carrot River Outback Thunder, Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

2022/23 Season Preview

Carrot River Outback Thunder have specific goal in mind entering a new year

Oct 6, 2022 | 5:27 PM

The Carrot River Outback Thunder will begin their 2022/23 season, this Saturday, October 8, when they host the Saskatoon Royals.

They will be doing so with a new head coach at the helm, as he already has some big goals at the forefront.

“Ideally, we want to be in the top two of our division,” said Brian Noad. “I think we got makings of a big, good, strong team and we want to run a successful program.”

The group is coming off a 2-2 exhibition record, after a pair of games against Fort Knox and the PBCN Selects.

Noad explained the record itself isn’t something they’re focused on, as the games were used to ‘shake the rust off’.

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“We basically rolled lines, just to see who had what, and we went with lots of rookies and we didn’t play a lot of our vets. It was just to sort of get a feel on who does what and try to set up some lines and get some defence pairings.”

For Noad, who wasn’t here last year, having been hired this off-season, learning his team is more important than ever and so is trying to build off of last year’s success.

He mentioned how good he believed that team was and how he hopes to improve it, even more.

“I brought in a couple of players to help and our goal is to move up in the standings. I think we’ve done that in the offseason, having added a few key pieces, and now, we’ll have to see where we stand.”

And Noad didn’t just come to an organization with a good team, but with a great community, as well.

He added how important fan support is and how they can also impact the club’s results.

“It seems like we’re well supported and I believe in my team being really community-based. When we play well at home that fills the seats and gives everybody something to do on a Friday or Saturday night. We want teams to fear coming into our rink and we want to be successful at home. It’s important to get a good start this weekend.”

After Saturday’s game, the Thunder will play three consecutive on the road, before returning to Carrot River Arena.

Noad said he views these trips as ‘mini-series’ and that it’s key to ‘set the tone’.

“The players will be up and ready for it. We want to be successful in the first four games, coming back at 4-0, being competitive in every game and battle, and playing good hockey because that’s what we’re here for. When you’re at the rink, it’s a three-hour commitment and at the end of the day, we want the players and coaches to have some fun.”

The squad finished third in their division last season, before bowing out in the North Semi-Finals to the Saskatoon Westleys in seven games.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8