It has been a tough year for the Dunedin Thunder, which has one last chance to salvage something from its season when it takes on the West Auckland Admirals this weekend.
The Thunder’s campaign got off to a rocky start, when its Estonian goalkeeper arrived late, due to visa issues, and the side lost other players to injury.
The young squad has won only once in 14 attempts this season and is a distant last in the five-team competition.
Just when it looked as though things might have been taking a turn for the better, the Thunder blew a four-goal lead to lose 7-4 to the Canterbury Red Devils in Dunedin in its last outing.
It was a frustrating result for the small but passionate crowd which turned out at the Dunedin Ice Stadium at the end of last month.
The side has also had to deal with the withdrawal of its coach Janos Kaszala, who had to stand down five weeks ago for medical reasons.
Assistant coach Jeff Avery has taken over in Kaszala’s absence.
Things will not get any easier for the side in Dunedin this weekend, when it looks to do the Canterbury Red Devils a favour by denying the Admirals the two wins they need to remain in contention for a finals spot.
The Admirals can draw level with the second-placed Canterbury side if they win both matches, which would keep alive hopes of joining the Southern Stampede in the final in Queenstown in two weeks’ time.
