Dunedin Thunder captain Regan Wilson will celebrate his 200th game at home this weekend. PHOTOS: KEAPHOTOS Regan Wilson has worn his heart on his sleeve for the Dunedin Thunder. He and his team-mates will all do that when the Thunder don a special red jersey to raise money for Heart Kids NZ during their opening game of a doubleheader against the Botany Swarm in Dunedin tomorrow night. But there is even more reason to celebrate this weekend. The Thunder captain will celebrate 200 games in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League — he actually reached that milestone earlier this season — in front of his home crowd this weekend. It is a special occasion for Wilson, who first suited up aged 15 and is now 33, and he reflected on how far his beloved team had come. “I think the biggest thing for me is just seeing where the Thunder’s come from and where it is now,’’ Wilson said. “It’s just been such a huge step in the right direction. I feel like the team feels like a professional team — the way it’s run and the people that are involved. “It’s gone from people saying, ‘I didn’t know there was ice hockey in New Zealand’, to seeing people wearing Thunder merch out on the street and recognising you. “It’s just great to see the sport grow, and I’m really proud of [the] Thunder as an organisation. “Amazing fan base, and seeing the rink sold out game after game is just such a cool thing. You really want to show up — especially when there’s a full crowd.’’ The Thunder will need all that support behind them against the Swarm. It is crunch time as the NZIHL reaches the final two rounds before the playoffs. Dunedin Thunder forward Tristan Darling models one of the special jerseys the team will wear this weekend. The Southern Stampede sit top of the table with 27 points, followed by the West Auckland Admirals (23), Thunder (21), Canterbury Red Devils (13) and Swarm (12). The Thunder require one point from this weekend’s doubleheader to secure a semifinal spot — a clean sweep would lift them to 27 points — but they do not play next weekend, so their final position will be in the hands of the remaining games on July 24-26. The Thunder meet the Swarm off the back off a fast-paced doubleheader against the Admirals last week, losing 8-5 and bouncing back with a 6-0 win the next day. Wilson said there was a bit of “puck luck’’ for the Admirals in the first game as the Thunder struggled to get going, but they regathered well for the second game. “Sunday brought everything back together and really solidified how we want to play and how we should be playing. “We’re taking Sunday’s game into this weekend and that’s how we want to play for the rest of the season.” Tomorrow’s jerseys will be auctioned off at the game and on social media, with all funds raised given to Heart Kids NZ. The Stampede are on the road to the Red Devils. kayla.hodge@odt.co.nz
