‘BOLTS TRAVELING TO POINT MALLARD FOR GAMES THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS NEXT 11-GAMES ON ROAD; ‘BOLTS DEAL SIEWERTSEN TO W. MICHIGAN FOR KYLE NIKLES
THIS WEEK’S GAMES: (2)
FRI. DEC. 4 ‘BOLTS AT POINT MALLARD 7:30 PM SAT. DEC. 5 ‘BOLTS AT POINT MALLARD 6:00 PM
UPCOMING GAMES: SAT. DEC. 12 AT PEORIA 3:45 PM SUN. DEC. 13 AT PEORIA 1:15 PM
NEXT HOME GAMES: FRI. JAN. 15 & SAT. JAN. 16 VS. ST. LOUIS JR. BLUES / TICKETS ONLY $5!!! *** ALL THUNDERBOLTS GAMES ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON EVANSVILLE’S WVHI-AM 1330 ***
THUNDERBOLTS AT POINT MALLARD DUCKS: Following their Thanksgiving holiday recess, the ThunderBolts resume NA3HL league action this upcoming weekend when they make their first-ever excursion to Decatur, Alabama where they will launch a two-game weekend series against the Point Mallard Ducks. Under the direction of General Manager/Head Coach Scott Fankhouser, the ThunderBolts have been idle since November 21st when they absorbed a somewhat bitter defeat on home ice at Swonder Ice Arena against the powerhouse Atlanta Capitals, 6-5. This weekend’s two game series against the Ducks is set for this Friday night, December 4th at 7:30 pm and Saturday, December 5th at 6:00 pm. Both ‘Bolts games, as all of the team’s league games are broadcast live on Evansville’s WVHI-AM 1330. The game broadcasts for this weekend will be 7:00 pm on Friday and 5:30 pm for Saturday’s encore engagement.
‘BOLTS / DUCKS BREAKDOWN: While the ThunderBolts continue to show much improvement with each succeeding outing, they remain in quest with zest of their initial victory as a fledgling, expansionist member club of the NA3HL. Four of Evansville’s past 9-games have been determined by a scant single goal margin, though, the team is 5(0-5-0) overall in such decisions. As for Point Mallard, the second-year league franchise has been extraordinary as reflected in its overall record through 20-games of 20(16-3-1) totaling 33-points. Under the guidance of veteran junior GM/Coach Tom Winkler, the Ducks are presently waging a fierce three-way battle for the South Division’s top perch with first place Texas 22(17-3-2) 36 and Atlanta 21(16-4-1) 33. Having played 16 of their first 20-games away, the Point Mallard club is unsullied at home 4(3-0-1).
‘BOLTS / DUCKS SEASON SERIES: This weekend series will mark the first time these two inter-divisional rivals have collided since back on the opening weekend of the season, September 18th and 19th, at Swonder Ice Arena. The visitors extracted triumphs on consecutive nights by results of 5-4 and 8-2. The two teams will clash 8- times this season with 4 of those dates here in Evansville and 4-more at Point Mallard. Evansville is 5(0-5-0) against
the South Division; the Ducks are 8(6-1-1) when stepping outside their divisional boundaries when meeting Midwest Division opposition.
THUNDERBOLTS EFFECT PLAYER MOVEMENT: ThunderBolts General Manager/Head Coach Scott Fankhouser has made some changes in his cast of players personnel. Evansville has traded defenseman Brett Siewertsen to the NA3HL West Michigan Wolves in exchange for defenseman Kyle Nikles. Nikles (Nickles), 19, hails from Memphis, Michigan. The 5-11, 160lb left-hand shooting blue line bulwark played in 13-games for West Michigan, collecting 3-points on 1-goal, 2-assists along with 12-PIM and +1 rating. His lone goal was a GWG. In 14-games for Evansville, Siewertsen, a West Michigan native, registered 4-assists and 10-PIM. Three of those 4- assists stemmed from the power play. Nikles is expected to make his debut on the ThunderBolts defense this weekend at Point Mallard. In the span of less than three weeks, Coach Fankhouser has revamped his blue line brigade, having previously obtained two more State of Indiana standouts in Jasper native Nick Luke and Indianapolis product Ben Baker. There are now 11-Indiana homegrown players listed on the ‘Bolts active player roster. In a separate transaction, right wing Richard Dial was given his outright release by the ThunderBolts. In 14- games, Dial did not record a point nor PIM.
BOLTS UPDATED LINEUP: The latest ThunderBolts lineup as of December 1st. GOALTENDERS: 30-Brian Forness; 31-Bryson Linenburg; 35-Adam Conkling. DEFENSE: 2-Nick Luke; 3- Nate Thormann; 5- Brian Crink; 6-Ben Baker; 8-Steven Rutherford; 13-Triston Theriot; Kyle Nikles. CENTERS: 7-Brandon Rozema; 14-Zach Faith; 18-Brandon Bornkamp; LEFT WINGS: 4-Jon Grimm; 15-Ian Blaeser; 23-Scott Jacobson; 26-Mathieu LaForest; RIGHT WINGS: 11-Austin Hayden; 16-Mike Kelley; 19-Billy Bonser; 24-Joey Sorensen.
11 IN A ROW ON ROAD: This weekend’s two-game series at Point Mallard launches the ThunderBolts on an extended 11-game road expedition including all seven of their game dates for the month of December. After this weekend, the ThunderBolts will journey to Peoria where they will embark on their second appearance of the campaign on Saturday December 12th and Sunday, December 13th. Both of those contests have been scheduled as matinee affairs. From December 16th through December 19th the ThunderBolts will be participating along with all 34-member clubs in the NA3HL Annual Showcase Event in Blaine, Minnesota. Evansville will be playing three regular season games in three days at the neutral site. In order, the ‘Bolts will tackle the Lacrosse Freeze on December 17th, the Gillette Wild, December 18th and the Minnesota Fighting Aces on December 19th. These three games as well will be broadcast live on WVHI-AM 1330 and on the world- wide internet at www.wvhi.com.
NEXT BOLTS HOME ACTION: The ThunderBolts next home action will be Friday, January 15th and Saturday, January 16th against the Midwest-Division leading St. Louis Jr. Blues. Both contests are set for a 7:30 pm face-off from the home of the ThunderBolts, Swonder Ice Arena. ThunderBolts tickets are always FAN-FAMILY- FRIENDLY priced at ONLY $5 !!! The remaining home schedule for the ThunderBolts is a very favorable one. Of the 11-home games remaining, 5 are slated for Friday night with the 6-other dates set for Saturday night.
FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM “FIC:†Despite enjoying the third fewest power play advantages in the league (77), the ‘Bolts extra man band is percolating purposefully. Operating at nearly 20% proficiency, the power play is 4 for the last 10; 40%; 7 for the last 23; 30.5% and 9 for the last 28; 32.2%. Individually, team top scoring artisan Brandon Bornkamp leads the way with 6-PPG; Jon Grimm has 3; Mike Kelley with 2. Grimm’s 8-PPA are foremost; Triston Theriot has garnered 6-extra man helpers. Defenseman Steven Rutherford’s 45-PIM pace the team; Nate Thormann has 39 and Bornkamp 38. Goaltender Adam Conkling is circuit second in total saves with 509.
THE THUNDERBOLTS RADIO UPDATE: ThunderBolts fans can stay up to date everyday even when there is not a game. It’s “The ThunderBolts Hockey Update,†Monday through Friday at 5:00 pm on radio flagship home WVHI-AM 1330 and at 2:30 pm on WEOA-AM 1400 and WEOA-FM Magic 98.5.
