Adirondack Thunder embracing role as the “hunted” going into Kelly Cup Playoffs

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — The Adirondack Thunder have checked all the boxes this season: North Division title, Eastern Conference champions and setting a record for most wins in franchise history. But a new season begins Friday, and thus, a new mission for this group: hoisting the Kelly Cup.

Pete MacArthur’s squad opens up their Kelly Cup playoff journey at home with a best-of-seven game series against the Maine Mariners.

The two sides met four times last week. The Thunder took the first three games, but Maine won Sunday, qualifying for the playoffs on the final day of the regular season – a very similar situation to the one Adirondack found itself in last year.

This year, though, all the teams in the East are chasing the Thunder, and they’re comfortable in that role.

“I feel like we’ve been…the hunted for a few months now,” said goalkeeper Jeremy Brodeur. “Feels like every team that comes in our building gives us their best game. So, it’s exciting. We want it; that pushes us to play at a higher level.”

Adirondack gained valuable experience throughout last year’s playoff push over the final two months of the regular season, and furthermore in the playoffs, despite suffering a first-round exit.

Veteran forward Shane Harper believes that experience has translated to a much more confident team ahead of this upcoming postseason appearance.

“You know, it doesn’t really matter who we’re playing; we know that we have a chance of winning every game no matter who we’re playing,” said Harper. “That’s a good feeling. It’s pro hockey; anybody can win, so you can’t take anybody lightly. But…just the confidence helps a lot. So, that’s something that…we need to just rely on.”

MacArthur’s reached the postseason three times with the Thunder as a player; now twice as a head coach, and he knows how special opportunities like this are.

“There’s guys that never get to the playoffs; guys that never win a round,” said MacArthur, who’s in his second season at the helm of the organization. “And it’s extra special here…in Adirondack. I think we’ve seen that…from January of last year…through to [the] end of our regular season [here] in 2023-’24. You play the game to get in the playoffs. When you look back on it, you wanna be part of those games, and know that you did everything you could to lay it on the line because it’s…it’s really special. And the further you move on – you get into this grove – and it becomes more special. So, I want them all to experience that. I know Coach [Mike] Bergin does, and I know our whole staff [does]. And our fans deserve that. So, we’re gonna do our best to stay in the moment, and play as long as we can.”

Game one Friday gets underway from Cool Insuring Arena at 7:00 p.m. Tune in to NEWS10 Sports at 6:00 with sports director Griffin Haas for a live interview with Coach MacArthur prior to puck drop.

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