LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 20 Thunderstruck in the Adirondacks Local ECHL Hockey Team Brings the Fun In Its Electrifying 10th Year By Paul Post with photos by Andy Camp "Are you ready? I said, 'ARE YOU READY ?!'" Public address announcer Dan Miner fires up the crowd, the puck drops and for the next two-and-a-half hours Adirondack Thunder fans are treated to fast- paced, hard-hitting pro hockey and entertainment rivaling a Disney attraction. The Glens Falls-based team, an ECHL (Double A) affiliate of the NHL's New Jersey Devils, is marking its 10th anniversary this season, enjoying unparalleled success at the gate after capturing North Division and Eastern Conference championships a year ago. Six of Adirondack's first twelve home games were sell-outs, on pace to surpass last year's record (17) and average attendance (4,421) is higher than in some of the 29- team league's largest cities including Salt Lake City and Atlanta, despite playing in the smallest market. In many respects, the Thunder reflects the Glens Falls area's character and economic revitalization, which kick-started about 15 years ago, following a fairly lengthy period of decline. "It's hard to put into words," third-year Head Coach Pete MacArthur said. "But Adirondack is different, it's special. A lot of people know each other here. They're hard workers, gritty, it's a second- and third-effort type of communi- ty; blue collar. We look for guys that have that type of character." A Clifton Park native, he grew up watching the Ad- irondack Red Wings, which played in Glens Falls from 1979-99, and later skated for the Thunder as an All- Star and team captain before hanging up his skates. The back door of Cool Insuring Area, where players enter, is in the shadow of Finch Paper Company's huge mill, which operates around the clock 365 days per year. "We'd come rolling in late at night after a long road trip, we'd all be groggy and say, 'Oh! Now we've got to drive home'," MacArthur recalled. "Mathieu Brodeur, one of our defenseman, would say, 'The mill's going boys! The mill never stops, so get going!' That's how we want to be. We'll never quit." Last year's North Division title was the Thunder's third, followed by a deep playoff run before losing to the eventual Kelly Cup champion Florida Everblades. But they haven't always won. In fact, the team MacAr- thur took over had the league's worst record in 2021- 22. A year later, the Thunder captured the division's final playoff spot with a dramatic win on the regular season's final day, generating a wave of momentum that carried over into last year when average atten- dance topped 4,000 for the first time in franchise history. "If you asked if that was possible back in 2017 I would have said no," General Manager Jeff Mead said. "We're thrilled where we've come from. We've sold the equivalent of 2,165 full season tickets, up from 1,615 The Adirondack Thunder are in their 10th season in Glens Falls. Players skate through a pyrotechnic display at the start of each game. Former defenseman Mike Bergin played three seasons for Adirondack and is now in his second year as assistant head coach.

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