Wichita Thunder Team Vouches For Head Coach

Bruce Ramsay, Head Coach of the ECHL's Wichita Thunder, played an 'influential role' in securing affiliation with the San Jose Sharks.

Per The Wichita Eagle, Bruce Ramsay will return as the Head Coach of the Wichita Thunder. Ramsay was offered a two-year extension following an outpour of support from 'key team players' to General Manager Joel Lomurno.

Ramsay was in his final year of his contract and missed the postseason for the second consecutive season. Lomurno said that Ramsay was already being considered for an extension, but seeing the connection he built with the team solidified his decision. Lomurno also recognized the importance of having a coach that the players like.

Those players came to see me and they were like, ‘If Rammer is here, we’re here'

Ramsay has been the head coach of the Thunder since 2019. His all-time record with Wichita is 125-122-32. His best season was in 2021 when his team qualified for the ECHL Playoffs and he earned the John Brophy Award for the ECHL Coach of the Year.

The Wichita Thunder is an East Coast Hockey League team located in Kansas. The Thunder started their minor hockey history with the Central Hockey League in 1992 until the league ceased operations in 2014. In 2014, The Thunder was approved for membership into the ECHL and has been a farm team for the Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, and now the San Jose Sharks.

The San Jose Sharks and Wichita Thunder announced their affiliation agreement on August 25, 2022. The new relationship between the minor and pro hockey teams allows the Sharks to assign prospects to the Thunder for development as well as players who have earned an AHL two-way contract.