WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita Thunder has parted ways with Head Coach Kevin McClelland the team announced today. In a press release issued earlier today, the team says that it will not renew McClelland’s contract.
The announcement comes on the heels of an underachieving season for the Thunder. In 72 games, Wichita managed a record of just 18-41-13, ranking last place in the 28-team ECHL. At home the Thunder were 10-19-7 on the year as they saw their average attendance drop by 325 fans per game compared to the 2014-15 season.
The Oshawa, Ontario native posted a record of 194-166-48 in 408 games. His six seasons behind the bench in Wichita ranks him as the longest-tenured coach in Thunder history.
Kevin McClelland posted a record of 194-166-48 in six seasons with Wichita / Photo by Ed Bailey (PHN)
McClelland, a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Edmonton Oilers, was hired as bench boss in Wichita in 2010 following the worst season in franchise history after the Thunder went 9-50-5 in the 2009-10 season.
He made an immediate impact, guiding the team to a 34-26-6 record in his first season while qualifying for the Central Hockey League playoffs.
McClelland’s greatest accomplishment in Wichita would be the franchise’s incredible two-year run beginning during the 2011-12 CHL season. That season the Thunder were crowned CHL Berry Conference Champions, posting a 44-19-3 regular season record. Their season ended with a 4-1 series loss to the Fort Wayne Komets in the Ray Miron President’s Cup Final. Wichita earned a repeat trip to the CHL final in 2012-13, qualifying second overall with a 39-19-8 record before a late loss in game seven of the final to the Allen Americans.
From there, however, the Thunder franchise slowly regressed.
2013-14 saw Wichita finish ninth out of ten teams in the CHL with a record of 27-30-9. Since joining the ECHL in 2014, the Thunder is 45-71-22.
“This has been such a tough decision, Kevin was the head coach when we purchased the team in 2011,” said Thunder Owner Rodney Steven II.
“Since that time, we have appreciated the relationship we have had with him and his family over these last five years, and we are thankful for the contributions he has made to the Thunder. However, we felt it was best for the organization to move in a new direction for next season. We sincerely wish Kevin and his family all the best. We made a commitment early on to this organization to win – three years of not making it to the playoffs has been very hard for us to endure,” Steven added.
Steven emphasized the ownership’s commitment to the ECHL and the Thunder, and added that McClelland will always be considered a friend.
“We are very committed to this league, but honestly and more importantly to the Wichita Thunder, we want our team to win and win. There are no sure answers when it comes to switching coaches, but I promise you this, Coach McClelland will always be an important part of what got us into hockey and [we] will remain close friends with him.”
The team says the search for a new coach will begin immediately, but no timetable for an announcement was given.
Contact the writer: John.Hall@prohockeynews.com
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