Wichita Adds Three Youngsters to the Mix


WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder made several additions Wednesday, signing forwards Chris Moran and Troy Schwab, and defenseman Steven Kaunisto.

A left wing, Moran joins the Thunder after a stellar four-year career at Niagara University.  The Buffalo, NY native scored nine goals and 33 assists in 36 games as a senior in 2009-10.  The 23-year old Moran is tied for first in Purple Eagles' history with 146 games played and ranks fourth with 141 points.  The true rookie played three seasons of juniors, including a 100-point campaign for the OPJHL's Buffalo Lightning in 2004-05 where he became the first American-born player to win Junior 'A' Player of the Year honors.

Schwab heads into his second professional season, and is coming off a strong rookie campaign with the ECHL's Johnstown Chiefs.  The centerman scored 18 goals and led the Chiefs with 35 assists in 67 games.  A native of Kindersly, Saskatchewan, Schwab was a four-year star at Lake Superior State University from 2005-2009, serving as team captain during his junior and senior seasons.  The 25-year old Schwab scored 216 points in 166 games at the junior level with the SJHL's Kindersly Klippers, and earned league MVP honors in 2005.

Kaunisto (pronounced kuh-NISS-toh) is a defenseman who played in four ECHL games with the Reading Royals at the end of last season, scoring two points and finishing +2.  The 24-year old Kaunisto played four years of college hockey at Lake Superior State University where he scored 59 points in 154 career games and served as team captain during his senior season.  Kaunisto was a teammate of Troy Schwab for three years at LSSU.  The Sault Ste. Marie, MI native played two seasons of juniors, and helped the NAHL's Soo Indians to a third-place finish at the 2005 Junior 'A' Nationals.

The Thunder released defenseman Jason Woll who played in both games over the weekend against Tulsa.  Woll was one of three players from last year's club who made the Thunder's opening night roster.  Wichita also placed center Matt Hubbauer on the 10-Day IR and left wing Brent Cullaton on the Suspended List.



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