The Wichita Thunder were one of six charter teams that
formed the Central Hockey League for the 1992-93 season. The Thunder and the
Tulsa Oilers are the only two of the six that remain untouched today. Along the
way, the Thunder have retired the jersey numbers of five players.
Ron Handy - 9
Ron Handy played with Wichita from 1992-93 to 1994-95 and
helped the team to Ray Miron President’s Cup championships in 93-94 and 94-95.
In his second season with the club, his 109 points placed him fourth in the
CHL. The Thunder have retired number 9 in his honour.
Handy was a third round pick of the New York Islanders at
the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, 57th overall. He played a total of 14
games in the NHL with the Islanders and St. Louis Blues. His junior career was
stellar, playing in the Ontario Hockey League from 1980-81 to 1982-83 with the
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Kingston Canadians. His 148 points with
Kingston in his final season placed him second in the league, behind only Doug
Gilmour of the Cornwall Royals and his 177 points.
Jason Duda - 11
Jason Duda played for Wichita from 1996-97 to 2009-10. For
the Thunder, he has the most games played, goals, assists and points in team
history. On the CHL all-time list, Duda is placed third for goals, assists and
points and second overall for games played. In 2004-05, he led the league with
96 points and was awarded the Joe Burton Award. Jason is the assistant coach of
the 2012-13 Wichita
Thunder. The team retired number 11 in his honour.
Rob Weingartner - 15
Rob Weingartner played with the Thunder in their first four
years of existence, 1992-93 to 1995-96. In 1994-95, he placed fifth in the CHL
with 274 penalty minutes. A few years later, with the Louisiana IceGators, he
placed eighth in the ECHL with 334 PIM. Ron Handy was also with Louisiana that
season and led the league in assists. Weingartner was head coach of the Thunder
for part of the 2007-08 season. His number 15 is retired by Wichita.
Robert Desjardins - 35
Robert Desjardins was CHL rookie of the year in 1992-93. The
following season, Desjardins was honoured with the Bill Levins Trophy as the
most valuable player in the CHL. Those were Robert’s only two years of
professional hockey. He had been MVP before. In 1986-87, he won the Michel
Briere Memorial Trophy as MVP in the QMJHL. He was also OUA MVP with Concordia
University in 1990-91. Number 35 is retired by the Thunder in honour of Robert.
Travis Clayton - 38
Travis Clayton played with the Thunder from 1997-98 to
2007-08 and played 880 regular season games in the Central Hockey League. Over
his CHL, he totalled 983 points. The Thunder have retired number 38 in his
honour.
