Flames, Thunder rivalry continues in Delhi

‘He shoots, he scores!’ Delhi Flames captain Brendan Briggs scores against Tillsonburg in Saturday’s OEHL game in Delhi.

Chris Abbott

Editor

The Tillsonburg Thunder and Delhi Flames came out blazing Saturday night at the Delhi Community Arena with the home team outshooting the visitors 16-14 in the opening frame.

But it was the Thunder who took a 2-1 lead on goals by Sebastian Guastadisegni and Hunter Monkhouse. Tillsonburg added three more in the second period, and two in the third to clinch a 7-3 Ontario Elite Hockey League victory.

Monkhouse, a ‘net-front presence guy,’ led the Thunder with a five-point night, scoring twice and adding three assists to earn Tillsonburg’s Player of the Game.

“I love getting the dirty goals,” Monkhouse smiled.

Monkhouse also has a five-point night one week earlier when the Thunder blanked Delhi 8-0 at the Kinsmen Memorial Arena in Tillsonburg.

“Definitely a rivalry,” said Monkhouse, who played for the Delhi Flames last season. “Being so close together, it’s been a heated rivalry. It’s always an intense game against Delhi. They come to play physically and it was a great game from all of our team.

“Great way to finish (the regular season), gives us some momentum going into the playoffs, for sure.”

With five wins since early December, Tillsonburg has been gaining ground in the nine-team OEHL South Division. Currently sixth, the 9-12-1 Thunder are waiting to learn their first-round playoff opponent. Monkhouse said Petrolia was a possibility.

“Earlier, there were some times when we had a couple close losses, but we started working together more as a team, getting to know each other a bit better, and it all kind of came together at the end of the season. I think we’re going to have a really deep playoff run – I think we can go against any of the top teams in the league.

“I think we play a very physical game and we just play really well in front of the crowd in Tillsonburg. They are a big part of our wins too. We’re just getting excited for playoffs. We knew we had to work on our systems in practice and that kind of got everyone going during the game. It’s just going out there and perfecting what we were doing well at the beginning of the season and getting the chemistry. New rushes, zone play and it’s been paying off for the last five games.”

Thunder coach Rick Voltera agreed it’s important for the team to stick to their system and play ‘The Thunder Game’ in the post season.

“We like to crash and bang and play physical, and we like to get to those key areas,” said Voltera. “We’re pretty set in our ways right now.”

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Tillsonburg defenceman Harlen VanWynsberghe, now playing his second season with the Thunder, is carrying on a family legacy.

“Finner (Mike Findlay) played with my dad (Derek) when my dad played with the Vipers and Thunder. It’s crazy.”

VanWynsberghe, 28, currently living in the Hamilton area, finished his Junior B career in 2018-19, then played three years of senior hockey in Seaforth. He took a year off before returning to his hometown.

“I always kind of wanted to play for the Thunder, obviously growing up in town and not missing many Thunder games as a little kid… It’s kind of cool to play in the Tillsonburg arena, which is something I didn’t really get to do at all after like age 10.

“It’s cool – I really enjoy being on the actual ice in Tillsonburg, with the big roof. I really like it. My grandfather comes to every single home game, which is another reason why I came home. He’d watch the games anyways, because he’s a hockey nut, but it’s nice to let him watch the games too.”

It wasn’t easy getting back into competitive hockey, he admitted, after taking off the 2023-24 season.

“It was tough. Coming out of junior, it was easy, it was just a bit of an adjustment obviously after one summer off. But after taking the year… there was definitely a bit of a learning curve… that it’s not pick-up hockey and it is competitive again. You do have to do a full 60 minutes.”

But the competitive drive never really goes away.

“That’s the reason you play senior hockey at this level, you’re a competitive person that can’t really turn it off, so you need to productive way of competing and trying to beat people,” he laughed. “That’s kind of my mindset.

“It’s been good,” Vanwynsberghe concluded. “It keeps me in shape, keeps me honest.”

The Delhi Flames will be back on home ice Jan. 31 to host Dunnville at 8 p.m.

Thunder 7, Flames 3

Thunder scoring: 1. Sebastian Guastadisegni (Hunter Monkhouse, Mike Findlay); 2. Monkhouse (Luke Sinclair, Findlay); 3. Sinclair (Monkhouse, Harlen VanWynsberghe); 4. Monkhouse (Sinclair, Guastadisegni); 5. Nigel Abbott (Symon Reddin); 6. Reddin (Monkhouse); 7. Andrew Oosterveld (Tyler Johnson, Abbott).

Flames scoring: 1. Kurtis Bull (James Johnston, Brendan Briggs); 2. Briggs (Johnston); 3. Brandon Capzucca (Clinton Jameson, Mike Norris).