The last two weeks have given the Albert Lea Thunder a modicum of success and now the team is trying for some more this weekend against two teams it has previously beaten this season.

The Thunder (4-14-1) picked up three points last week with a victory over Alexandria and a 3-2 shootout loss to North Iowa. With the points, it moved Albert Lea to within two points of fourth-place Alexandria. A sweep would move the Thunder out of the cellar of the Central Division for the first time in the club’s existence.

Albert Lea head coach Chuck Linkenheld said he was happy with the three points the team gained last weekend, but not satisfied.

“I see improvement, I see positive things and we just want to continue to build on positive things,” Linkenheld said. “I think we got a good shot this weekend with three games to do that.”

A pair of wins over the Blizzard would go a long way for the veterans on the team as well. Defenseman Derek Docken is in his second year with the team and said moving out of last place would show the rest of the league that the team is no longer a joke.

“It’s something that I think is really motivating the guys,” Docken said. “We’re here to play and we have the talent in the locker room to start making some moves.”

No doubt Alexandria and the Bobcats will try to make up for their losses to the Thunder. Following Albert Lea’s shootout victory over Bismarck, Bobcats head coach was quoted in the Bismarck Tribune as saying, “It was an absolute embarrassment to the game of hockey that they would come out like that,” about his team’s performance in the game.

Since Linkenheld came on as the head coach the team has gone 2-5-1, with three losses coming Topeka, the South Division’s top team.

“We’re finally getting used to the system and guys really play behind him,” Docken said. “You can see it on the ice how it’s been a lot better.”

Thunder makes several roster moves

It was a busy week for the Thunder in terms of transactions. Albert Lea native Tyler Prihoda was taken off the roster following the Owatonna game Friday, but was not released from the team, Linkenheld said. Once the team took Prihoda off the roster it has to wait 10 days to add him back, Linkenheld said. Matt Sempeck, who has not played in a game this season was activated, but it’s likely he will be deactivated soon. Forward J.J. Waldrop, who was acquired in a trade with Kenai River was released and Petrus Sipila was part of a three-team trade to Motor City. The Thunder acquired forward Anthony Iaquinto from Wichita Falls while the Wildcats received defenseman Josh McCully from Motor City. Inaquinto had four goals and nine assists with Wichita Falls and was third on the team in points with 13. Albert Lea also acquired Nikifor Szczerba, a goalie who played with the Polish national team in the World U20 championships. Szczerba was activated for this weekend and may see time in goal. Taylor Ward, a forward who last played with the Waterloo Black Hawks, was added to the roster and may see the ice this weekend.

Assistant coach added to team

Zac Headrick, a Lakeville native, was added as the team’s assistant coach and director of player development. Headrick formerly coached with Waterloo in the USHL and served as the director of hockey operations for a Tier-I youth organization in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has been working with the defensemen primarily since joining the team last week.

Injuries

Forwards Brian Nehring and Danny Wood suffered injuries this week in practice, but both are expected to play. Nehring had a bruised ankle after taking a shot off his ankle Wednesday and Wood suffered a cut near his eye Thursday from a high stick in practice. Wood was taken to the hospital and received seven stitches.