LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 22 green, seats are green, the Adirondacks are green. I just think it makes sense." The Thunder are the fifth different franchise to play in Glens Falls since the Red Wings, winners of four AHL Calder Cup championships, left town in 1999. Every team since then has played in their shadow – until this year – as the Thunder can finally lay claim to the arena being theirs, with their own separate and distinct identity. The Wings' four large championship banners, which had hung prominently over one end of the stands, have been moved to the side, replaced by Thunder banners celebrating their division and conference titles. "It had to be done," said Miner, an Adirondack Hock- ey Hall of Fame member. "The Red Wings have been gone for 25 years. That's a whole generation of people that have only heard stories about what their grand- parents went to see. These fans now have got their own story to tell, and after 10 years, it's a good story." "The people selling the Thunder understand what it is they're trying to market – not just hockey, but an event," he said. "They bring their show every night. People in the stands singing, dancing, having fun. There are a lot of hard-core hockey fans, but it's the people who aren't that make the difference in getting you to over 4,000 per night. They put on a great prod- uct both on the ice and the other stuff that goes with it, too." How good is the hockey talent? At least a dozen players each year get called up to the AHL, and twelve Thunder alumni have reached the top rung of hockey's ladder, the NHL, including for- ward Ryan Lomberg who won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last June. "When we went from AHL action to ECHL, there were a lot of snobs who said the level of hockey isn't going to be as good," Miner said. "They were wrong. To see how people have shown up in droves, it's unbe- lievable." Fellow Hall of Fame member Doug Neeley, the long- time head of off-ice officials, said, "Winning teams draw a lot of people, too. If they spend the money they want to see a good game. People look to have something to do in the winter and this is exciting." Crowds are exceptionally large and enthusiastic on promotional nights when the Thunder wear spe- cial-themed jerseys, which are auctioned off to bene- fit worthy causes from veterans groups to Glens Falls Hospital's Charles R. Wood Cancer Center. Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised. The December 14 Teddy Bear Toss collected hundreds of stuffed animals for distribution to underprivileged local children. Last year, the Thunder won the ECHL's Specialty Jersey of the Year award for its unique Country Night design – one of three league-wide awards the fran- chise earned. It also garnered Ticket Department of the Year honors and Mead was named ECHL Executive of the Year. Below: The Thunder hold a Teddy Bear Toss each year shortly before Christmas. Hundreds of stuffed animals are thrown onto the ice right after the Thunder score their first goal. The toys are distributed to underprivileged children throughout the area. Erik Middendorf, left, and TJ Friedman, right, show off some of the bigger stuffed animals they helped collect last year.

• Cover