There's nothing better than starting the season with a good old-fashioned southern derby. And the Dunedin Thunder and Southern Stampede both claimed bragging rights after splitting the games during their men’s New Zealand Ice Hockey League doubleheader opener in Dunedin at the weekend. The Stampede, who are the defending champions, having lifted the Birgel Cup for a record 10th time in 2025, started their season off strong with a 7-4 win on Friday. But the Thunder bounced back in front of their home crowd to beat the Stampede — who the Thunder beat for the first time since 2018 last year — 6-3 on Saturday. Friday produced a tight encounter before the Stampede cracked it open in the final stanza. Canadian import Sam Loiselle made a swift start in his Thunder debut, setting the tone with the opening goal. The Stampede hit back through Logan Campbell, with Mitch Frear on the assist, to lock it up 1-1 at the end of the first period.…