Thunder records tumble

2016 has been a big regular season for the Perth Thunder, with a number of team and individual records being broken in the team's chase for a finals berth.

The Thunder finished a club-high second place in the AIHL standings, tallying 57 points, beating the previous best tally of 54 points in 2013, and posting 20 total wins (regulation and shootout), also a Thunder best.

The team also conceded just 73 goals across 28 games this season, beating the previous team record of 80 set in 2012 (a season of only 24 games), while the plus-23 goal differential was also a Thunder record, beating the plus-13 of 2013.

While the locals weren't able to sustain their good early season form, the imports certainly picked up the pace through the season, each setting the team alight and three now holding Thunder records.

Thomas Heemskerk was outstanding in net throughout the season, with his 2.45 goals against average being the best posted across a season by a Thunder goaltender, beating Mark Guggenberger's 2015 mark of 3.08, and good enough for second among AIHL goaltenders in 2016.

Heemskerk led the league in wins (20) and save percentage, with his .927 setting a Thunder record for save percentage across a season, bettering Mathieu Dugas' 2014 record of .916.

Ben Breault promised in his welcome interview in pre-season that he'd break the 50-point barrier for the Thunder, and duly delivered, becoming the second player in Thunder history to do so as part of a now Thunder record 52-point season.

Michael Dorr rode a second half burst in season 2016, scoring 36 points in the last 16 games to become the third Thunder player to break through 50 points, with his 51 points now sitting second in Thunder history behind Breault.

Jessyko Bernard went without a point on Sunday, but his 24-game point streak set a Thunder record, going without a point only in the first and final games Bernard played in the regular season.

It's clear that the records tumbled during the Thunder's 2016 season, and Saturday's semi-final presents the team with a chance to break at least one more.