The Tahoe Knight Monsters returned to the ice for game twenty-nine of the season with plenty at stake, hosting the Wichita Thunder in a pivotal divisional showdown. As the schedule pushed deeper into the year, Tahoe was searching for another win to help steady its play and regain momentum. Sitting third in the division with a 15-11-2 record, the Vegas Golden Knights ECHL affiliate understood the importance of banking points during a tightly contested stretch of the season. Wichita arrived in Tahoe right on the Knight Monsters heels, holding fourth place in the division and looking to build on recent efforts against a familiar opponent. The Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks, entered the matchup with an 11-10-4 record and were also in search of consistency as the standings continued to tighten. With both teams clustered closely together and battling for position, every point carried extra weight in the divisional race. Adding to the significance, this contest marked the Knight Monsters final game before the Christmas break and the impending lockout, giving the night an added sense of uncertainty.
Tahoe entered the matchup in search of their sixteenth win of the season, with a chance to secure back-to-back victories for the first time in a while. With the Knight Monsters and their opponent separated by only a handful of points in the standings, the margin for error was razor thin and every point carried extra importance. Tahoe was looking to rediscover the form that powered its early-season success, while continuing to show it belongs among the league’s top teams as the season wore on. Beyond the on-ice stakes, the game carried a noticeably strange atmosphere. The Christmas break was looming, and speculation swirled around the league about a potential lockout following the weekend, with ECHL players preparing to strike. That uncertainty cast a shadow over the night, leaving questions about the immediate future of the 2025–26 season and the league itself. The prevailing feeling around the rink was simple and uneasy: no one truly knew what was going to happen next.
Jordan Papirny got the start in net for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. It was his nineth ECHL game played this season. Roddy Ross got the start in net for the Wichita Thunder. It was his eleventh ECHL game of the season.
Five minutes into the game, the Wichita Thunder took the lead. The goal was scored by #16 Kyle Crnkovic and assisted by #2 Nico Somerville.
Seven minutes into the game, #9 Troy Loggins scored for the Tahoe Knight Monsters to tie the game. The tying goal was assisted by #16 Jake Durflinger and #21 Adam Pitters.
Ten minutes into the game, Olivier LeBlanc of Tahoe was called for roughing. At the same time Michal Stinil of Wichita was also called for roughing. With under nine minutes remaining in the first period Nolan Kneen of Wichita received a penalty for delay of game. With under five minutes remaining in the period, Michal Stinil of Wichita was called for delay of game. The score was tied at 1-1 after the first period.
Five minutes into the second period, the Thunder scored to take the lead. The go ahead goal was scored by #21 Jay Dickman. His goal was assisted by #16 Kyle Crnkovic and #24 Nick Nardecchia.
Nine minutes into the second period, Mike O’Leary of Tahoe received a penalty for holding. With under seven minutes remaining in the second period, the Tahoe Knight Monsters tied the game again. The tying goal was scored by #14 Connor Marritt. The tying goal was assisted by #48 Anthony Collins and #10 Mike O’Leary.
With under a minute left in the second period, the Knight Monsters took the lead. The goal was scored by #25 Casey Bailey. His goal was assisted by #19 Luke Adam and #96 Brennan Kapcheck.
The score was 3-2 Tahoe Knight Monsters going into the third period.
Four minutes into the third period, Tahoe took a penalty for too many men. On the penalty kill Jordan Gustafson of Tahoe received a penalty for tripping. On the power play, the Thunder tied the game. The tying goal was scored by #21 Jay Dickman. His goal was assisted by #12 Peter Bates and #22 Michal Stinil.
Seven minutes into the third period, Jake Durflingerof Tahoe received a penalty for roughing. With under a minute left in the game, Casey Bailey of Tahoe was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. On the penalty kill, #65 Devon Paliani scored to give the Knight Monsters the lead with thirty-six seconds left in the game. The shorthanded goal was assisted by #10 Mike O’Leary and #96 Brennan Kapcheck.
Following the goal, Casey Bailey of Tahoe received a 10-minutes misconduct. I don’t know how since he was in the box but it is on the score sheet. The final score was 4-3 Tahoe Knight Monsters.
https://echl.com/videos/wichita-thunder-vs-tahoe-knight-monsters-dec-20-2025
From the start, this game carried an electric and unforgettable atmosphere. A Grateful Dead tribute band set up on the concourse and quickly became a major attraction. They played extremely well and drew sizable crowds before the game and during intermissions, with the older fans in particular fully leaning into the experience. It added a fun, festival-like vibe to the night and injected real energy into the building. Having more local bands involved on game nights feels like a no-brainer. It clearly elevated the crowd experience and helped keep the energy high throughout the evening.
On the ice, the game delivered just as much excitement. It was a true back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading goals, holding leads, and finding themselves tied multiple times. Most of the third period remained deadlocked, and it felt like the momentum was beginning to swing in Wichita’s favor as overtime loomed. Then, in a blink, everything changed. The Knight Monsters scored a shorthanded goal with under a minute remaining, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The building erupted, and the energy was unmatched. It was easily the best crowd Tahoe has had all season and a thrilling moment to witness live.
The mood shifted quickly after the final horn, however, during the postgame jersey auction. This marked the first live jersey auction without the players present, likely due to the impending strike, and the difference was immediately noticeable. The atmosphere was flat, bidding was limited, and frustration was voiced openly by fans and even some staff. Many were disappointed by the lack of player interaction, no photos, no signed jerseys, and starting prices. Some fans left as soon as they learned the players would not be there, while others departed before all the jerseys were even auctioned. At least one player’s jersey was not available at all. Last season, signed, game-worn jerseys started at $200, later rising to $250, and included a photo with the player. This time, bidding began at $300 with no signatures or player interaction, making the dissatisfaction understandable. Live jersey auctions had been one of the few ways fans could connect with players last season, and without that element, the experience fell flat.
As for the series itself, it did not begin smoothly for Tahoe. The Knight Monsters dropped the opener 3-6 but responded well with a hard-fought 3-2 win in the second game before closing the series by taking the third contest to secure back-to-back victories. The hope now is that the extended break (initially for Christmas and then stretched by circumstances beyond the team’s control) does not derail that momentum. Tahoe has gone roughly ten days without a game, so rest should not be an issue, but timing and rhythm will be worth watching when play resumes.
There were also mixed feelings on the night’s theming. Cowboy Knight featured solid graphics, and painting the ice was a fun touch, but overall the theme was not pushed as far as it could have been. In contrast, both Grateful Dead nights were executed well, with the band being a clear highlight and a major success. Overall, the atmosphere inside the building (especially before and during the game) showed just how impactful strong theming and live entertainment can be when done right.
Statistically, the game was as tight as the scoreboard suggested. Wichita finished with a slight edge in shots on goal, recording 40 compared to Tahoe’s 39, though the Knight Monsters were more efficient with their chances and posted the better shooting percentage. Special teams tilted in Wichita’s favor in terms of opportunities, as the Thunder earned 5 power plays to Tahoe’s 2 and finished the night with more chances overall. Discipline was a challenge for the Knight Monsters, who racked up 22 penalty minutes, 16 more than Wichita’s 6. The Thunder capitalized on the advantage by scoring the game’s lone power-play goal, while Tahoe answered in dramatic fashion by recording the only shorthanded goal of the night. In net, Jordan Papirny was excellent for the Knight Monsters, stopping 37 of 40 shots for a .930 save percentage. On the other end, Roddy Ross turned aside 35 of 39 shots for Wichita, finishing with a .900 save percentage.
With the victory, the Tahoe Knight Monsters improved to 16-11-1 on the season, earning 34 points through 29 games. The win keeps Tahoe firmly in the playoff picture, as the Knight Monsters now sit ninth overall in the ECHL standings, fourth in the Western Conference, and third in the Western Conference Mountain Division.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters are set to face the Rapid City Rush in the thirtieth game of the season. This matchup is the only time this season that Tahoe plays a team for only one game and not at least in back-to-back matchups. The puck is dropping on Wednesday, December 31st, 2025, at 6:00 PM.
Zac Electrifly 
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