Two strong results could help the Thunder gain two home games in the best-of-three finals series later this month, but defence man Regan Wilson has a stylish wooden trophy in mind.
The Toa Kauhanga Riri Tio trophy has not been in Thunder hands since the team began the 2012 season as inaugural holder of the trophy, which recognises the contribution of Maori players in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League and the Ice Blacks.
The trophy is up for grabs when the holder has a home game on the Sunday.
''That would be good to bring home and obviously we're looking for a home final at the moment, so the more points we bring home, the more chance we have of playing here,'' Wilson (21) said.
''It's really just feeling out the waters and sizing each other up and seeing what the final's going to bring.''
Wilson is in his fifth year with the Thunder and has noticed the side's evolution from last season, when it made the final but was beaten by the Red Devils.
''We were a pretty young team last year and the goal was to get to the final. We never really spoke about winning the final.
''This year, we've come into the season ready to go with the same core of guys and the goal was to win all year, so it's just a different mind-set.''
The mindset has continued to improve after the Thunder lost its two home games to the Red Devils in June before going on a six-game winning streak.
''They took both games against us last time, so they're a tough team to beat,'' Wilson said.
''But I think we've grown a lot as a team since then and they've gone through some pretty hard patches when they lost three in a row to the Swarm.''
The two games in Christchurch this weekend might give the Thunder the top spot and momentum for the finals.
The top team at the end of the round robin will potentially get two home games in the series: the first final will be held at the second-placed team's stadium and the other two, if required, at the home of the top qualifiers.
Both sides travel away next weekend.
The Red Devils visit the Stampede in Queenstown and the Thunder takes on the Admirals in West Auckland.
The Southern Stampede also travels this weekend, heading to Auckland to play the Botany Swarm.
The Stampede could work towards third spot with two good results against the Swarm.
