WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder today released the playing schedule for the 2008-09 season.

The Thunder will open their 17th CHL season on Friday, October 17th versus the Mississippi RiverKings, before hosting the Oklahoma City Blazers on Saturday, October 18th.

The Thunder will enjoy a tremendous home schedule this season, which features all but five games played on either a weekend or during a Holiday. Aside from 23 Friday or Saturday home games the Thunder will play home games on two Sundays, the night before Thanksgiving, the night after Christmas and their annual New Year’s Eve Game.

“I can honestly say that this is the best home schedule the Thunder has ever had”, said general manager Joel T. Lomurno. “I am grateful to both Dave Rush and Glenda Roths at the Kansas Coliseum for doing everything possible to ensure us such great dates.”

Though the Thunder will play in a new division this season, along with the Colorado Eagles, Rocky Mountain Rage and the expansion Rapid City (SD) Rush, Wichita will still face their two biggest rivals - the Oklahoma City Blazers and Tulsa Oilers - a total of 20 times.

The Thunder will play every CHL team this season - except the Corpus Christi Rays and the Amarillo Gorillas - at least once. The Thunder will not travel to Arizona or Odessa this season, although both the Sundogs and the Jackalopes will play in Wichita. The Thunder schedule features 14 home games in the first half of the season and 18 in the second half.

Individual ticket prices for Thunder games this season will again range from $11-$19 each and will go on sale on October 6th. Season tickets are on sale now and start as low as $256 for a full season. For more information or to order season tickets, please call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.

DAY MONTH DATE VISITOR @ HOME TIME
Friday October 17 wichita @ MISSISSIPPI 7:05
Saturday October 18 oklahoma city @ WICHITA 7:05
Tuesday October 21 wichita @ OKLAHOMA CITY 7:10
Friday October 24 wichita @ ROCKY MOUNTAIN 7:05
Saturday October 25 wichita @ NEW MEXICO 7:15
Friday October 31 rocky mountain @ WICHITA 7:05
Saturday November 1 wichita @ TULSA 7:35
Sunday November 2 rapid city @ WICHITA 5:05
Friday November 7 new mexico @ WICHITA 7:05
Saturday November 8 mississippi @ WICHITA 7:05
Friday November 14 wichita @ LAREDO 7:30
Saturday November 15 wichita @ RIO GRANDE VALLEY 7:35
Friday November 21 texas @ WICHITA 7:05
Saturday November 22 wichita @ OKLAHOMA CITY TBD
Sunday November 23 wichita @ TULSA 4:00
Wednesday November 26 tulsa @ WICHITA 7:05
Friday November 28 wichita @ TULSA 7:35
Saturday November 29 rio grande valley @ WICHITA 7:05
Thursday December 4 wichita @ BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT 7:05
Saturday December 6 bossier-shreveport @ WICHITA 7:05
Tuesday December 9 wichita @ OKLAHOMA CITY 7:10
Friday December 12 wichita @ OKLAHOMA CITY 7:10
Saturday December 13 rocky mountain @ WICHITA 7:05
Friday December 19 mississippi @ WICHITA 7:05
Saturday December 20 rapid city @ WICHITA 7:05
Tuesday December 23 wichita @ MISSISSIPPI 7:05
Friday December 26 wichita @ TULSA 7:35
Saturday December 27 rio grande valley @ WICHITA 7:05
Wednesday December 31 tulsa @ WICHITA 7:05
Friday January 2 colorado @ WICHITA 7:05
Saturday January 3 colorado @ WICHITA 7:05
Tuesday January 6 arizona @ WICHITA 7:05
Friday January 9 wichita @ RAPID CITY 7:05
Saturday January 10 wichita @ RAPID CITY 7:05
Sunday January 11 wichita @ ROCKY MOUNTAIN 3:05
Friday January 16 wichita @ ROCKY MOUNTAIN 7:05
Saturday January 17 wichita @ COLORADO 7:05
Sunday January 18 wichita @ ROCKY MOUNTAIN 3:05
Friday January 23 rapid city @ WICHITA 7:05
Saturday January 24 oklahoma city @ WICHITA 7:05
Wednesday January 28 rapid city @ WICHITA 7:05
Friday January 30 oklahoma city @ WICHITA 7:05
Saturday January 31 wichita @ BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT 7:05
Tuesday February 3 wichita @ MISSISSIPPI 7:05
Friday February 6 rocky mountain @ WICHITA 7:05
Saturday February 7 odessa @ WICHITA 7:05
Tuesday February 10 wichita @ TULSA 7:05
Friday February 13 rocky mountain @ WICHITA 7:05
Saturday February 14 tulsa @ WICHITA 7:05
Friday February 20 wichita @ MISSISSIPPI 7:05
Saturday February 21 wichita @ MISSISSIPPI 7:05
Wednesday February 25 tulsa @ WICHITA 7:05
Friday February 27 wichita @ RAPID CITY 7:05
Saturday February 28 wichita @ RAPID CITY 7:05
Sunday March 1 bossier-shreveport @ WICHITA TBA
Thursday March 5 oklahoma city @ WICHITA 7:05
Friday March 6 wichita @ BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT 7:05
Saturday March 7 wichita @ TULSA 7:35
Friday March 13 texas @ WICHITA 7:05
Saturday March 14 odessa @ WICHITA 7:05
Sunday March 15 wichita @ TEXAS 3:05
Wednesday March 18 rapid city @ WICHITA 7:05
Friday March 20 tulsa @ WICHITA 7:05
Saturday March 21 wichita @ OKLAHOMA CITY 7:10