The Tahoe Knight Monsters took on the Wichita Thunder on Saturday. Puck drop was at 4:05 PM. The game was at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. It was the first game of the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Knight Monsters were coming off of a 1-3 defeat to the Wichita Thunder. The Tahoe Knight Monsters finished the regular season with 88 points in 72 games and a record of 41-25-6. They finished 10th overall in the ECHL. They finished in 5th place in the ECHL Western Conference. They finished 3rd in the ECHL Western Conference Mountain Division. The Wichita Thunder finished the regular season with 89 points in 72 games and a record of 41-24-7. They finished 9th overall in the ECHL. They finished in 4th place in the ECHL Western Conference. They finished 2nd in the ECHL Western Conference Mountain Division. The all time record between the Tahoe Knight Monsters and Wichita Thunder was 1-4-1. This was the first time the Tahoe Knight Monsters have qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs. This was the first time that the Wichita Thunder qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs since the 2020-2021 season.
The Wichita Thunder finished the regular season with one more win. The Thunder finished the regular season with the better points percentage. The Tahoe Knight Monsters scored seven more goals during the regular season. The Knight Monsters allowed fourteen more goals during the regular season. The Knight Monsters had the better goal differential during the regular season. The Thunder finished the regular season with one more point. The Tahoe Knight Monsters had 644 total penalty minutes during the regular season. They Wichita Thunder had 685 total penalty minutes during the regular season.
The ECHL playoff rosters were announced on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025. #1 Jesper Vikman got the start in net for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. It was his 43rd game played this season. It was his first game played in the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs. It was his first pro playoff appearance. On Saturday, forward Isaac Johnson, defender Evan Junker, and forward Logan Nelson were activated from reserve by the Knight Monsters. Defender Linden Alger, forward Adam Pitters, and forward Cal Kiefiuk were placed on reserve by the Knight Monsters. #33 Trevor Gorsuch got the start in net for the Wichita Thunder. It was his 32nd game played this season. It was also his first game played of the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs. This was also his first pro playoff appearance despite being a pro since 2018. On Saturday, forward Ryan Finnegan and defender Dominic Dockery were activated from reserve by the Thunder. Forward Spencer Blackwell and forward Nolan Burke were placed on reserve by the Thunder.
Four minutes into the game, Joe Carroll of the Wichita Thunder received a penalty for charging. On Sunday, April 20th the ECHL announced Carroll would be fined and suspended for one game. On the powerplay, the Tahoe Knight Monsters took the lead. #12 Bear Hughes scored the first ever Tahoe Knight Monsters playoff goal. Hughes goal was assisted by #13 Simon Pinard and #21 Sloan Stanick.
Five minutes into the game Mitchell Russell of the Thunder received a penalty for hooking. With under three minutes remaining in the first period, Troy Loggins of the Knight Monsters received a penalty for hooking. The score was 1-0 Tahoe Knight Monsters after the first period.
Two minutes into the second period, the Tahoe Knight Monsters took a two goal lead. The goal was scored by #10 Jett Jones. His goal was assisted by #26 Nate Kallen.
Eight minutes into the second period, Trevor Gorsuch of the Wichita Thunder received a penalty for tripping. On the powerplay, the Knight Monsters scored to take a three goal lead. The goal was scored by #10 Jett Jones. His goal was assisted by #24 Isaac Johnson and #14 Patrick Newell.
The Thunder got one back fourteen seconds later. The goal was scored by #19 Joe Carroll. His goal was assisted by #28 Will Zapernick and #6 T.J. Lloyd.
With under eight minutes left in the second period, Dillon Boucher of the Thunder received a penalty for boarding. On the powerplay, the Tahoe Knight Monsters scored to regain their three goal lead. The goal was scored by #10 Jett Jones. His goal would be the first ever playoff hat trick goal in Tahoe Knight Monsters history. Jones goal was assisted by #21 Sloan Stanick and #96 Brennan Kapcheck.
With under four minutes left in the second period, the Knight Monsters scored again. #10 Jett Jones would net his fourth goal of the night. His goal was assisted by #19 Luke Adam and #29 Joe Fleming. Jones is now one of only eight ECHL players who have scored four goals in a single period in the playoffs. This has not been accomplished in the ECHL in over twelve years.
With under two minutes left in the second period, Jay Dickman of the Thunder received a penalty for roughing. On the powerplay, the Knight Monsters scored again. #28 Logan Nelson scored the goal. His goal was assisted by #14 Patrick Newell and #24 Isaac Johnson. Nelson’s goal gave the Knight Monsters a five goal lead.
The score was 6-1 Tahoe Knight Monsters going into the final period.
The Wichita Thunder would Trevor Gorsuch in net with Roddy Ross to start the third period. Two minutes into the third period, Joe Fleming of the Tahoe Knight Monsters received a penalty for holding. Still two minutes into the third period, Jay Dickman of the Wichita Thunder received a penalty for hooking. Five minutes into the third period, Ryan Finnegan of the thunder received a penalty for high-sticking. Neither team scored in the third period. The final score was 6-1 Tahoe Knight Monsters. The Knight Monsters lead this series 1-0.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters had a one goal lead after the first period. The Knight Monsters slammed the Wichita Thunder in the second period with five goals. Jett Jones really took over the second period and dominated the score board. Then the Knight Monsters held onto their five goal lead to win the game. Jones had an incredible game. He was the difference maker in this one. He put in the effort to make sure the Knight Monsters won their first ever playoff game. We will see if the Knight Monsters continue to trend upwards offensively. They were missing this offense the last few games of the regular season. Then they show off how they can be an offensive power house here. The Knight Monsters had a strong powerplay. Special teams may become the biggest factor in this series. I expect a strong response from the Wichita Thunder in game two. The Thunder do not look like they have what it takes in the playoffs after the first game. The Knight Monsters now need three wins in the next six games to advance to the second round.
The Wichita Thunder had nine more shots. The Tahoe Knight Monsters had the better shot percentage. The Thunder had ten more penalty minutes. #1 Jesper Vikman saved 32 shots for a 97% save percentage for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. #33 Trevor Gorsuch saved 11 shots for a 64% save percentage for the Wichita Thunder. #1 Roddy Ross saved 7 shots for a 100% save percentage for the Wichita Thunder. Overall the Wichita Thunder saved 18 shots for a 75% save percentage.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters lead the Wichita Thunder 1-0 in their first round series. Game two is on Sunday, April 20th, at 4:05 PM. The Kansas City Mavericks won 3-2 in overtime last night over the Tulsa Oilers to tie that series at 1-1. Game three of that series will be on Tuesday, April 22.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters take on the Wichita Thunder for the second game of the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs on Sunday, April 20th. It will be an away game. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:05 PM. This will be a divisional game. It will be the second of back-to-back games in Wichita.
Zac Electrifly 
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