Jay Dickman returns for his second season as a player/assistant coach for the Wichita Thunder after recording career highs in goals, assists, and points this past ECHL season
The Wichita Thunder are bringing back Jay Dickman and Peter Bates in the 2024-25 season, the team announced on Monday. The transactions marked the first signings for next year's roster construction for the Thunder, who have missed the postseason the last three years.
Dickman is set to return for his sixth full ECHL season, most of which have come with Wichita. The 31-year-old recorded 69 points and played in all 72 games this past season. Dickman will continue to serve in a player/assistant coach capacity for the second consecutive season.
The St. Paul, Minnesota, native built off his impressive 61-point campaign a year ago by recording career highs in goals (29) and assists (40). For his efforts, Dickman was named the Wichita Thunder's Most Valuable Player for the 2023-24 season.
Dickman is joined by Peter Bates, who tallied 23 goals and 27 assists for 50 points in 45 games this past season. The 27-year-old's last game with the Thunder came in mid-February before he joined HK Poprad for the remainder of the year. In five games overseas, Bates tallied one goal and one assist during the regular season and added two points in six postseason games.
The Evanston, Illinois, native returns for his third season with Wichita after breaking into the league with the Atlanta Gladiators in 2021-22. Prior to the ECHL, Bates played collegiate hockey at St. Norbert College of Division III, where he accumulated 58 points on 28 goals and 30 assists as a senior.
The Wichita Thunder will open the 2024-25 schedule at home on Friday, October 18, against the Western Conference-champion Kansas City Mavericks.
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