THUNDERBOLTS PUT FORTH ANOTHER RELENTLESS EFFORT IN HOME WEEKEND TRIFECTA ‘BOLTS ALL-STARS BORNKAMP, GRIMM AND THERIOT IN TOP PROSPECTS TOURNAMENT FIRST-EVER TRIP TO CINCINNATI COMING UP THIS WEEKEND VS. DIVISION RIVAL THUNDER
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: 3(0-3-0) 7-21 FRI. FEB. 12 ATLANTA 5 AT ‘BOLTS 2 SAT. FEB. 13 ATLANTA 8 AT ‘BOLTS 3 SUN. FEB. 14 ATLANTA 8 AT ‘BOLTS 2
THIS WEEK’S GAMES: (2) SAT. FEB. 20 AT CINCINNATI 7:00 PM SUN. FEB. 21 AT CINCINNATI 1:00 PM
NEXT HOME GAMES: FRI. FEB. 26TH & SAT. FEB. 27TH VS, PEORIA MUSTANGS/TICKETS ONLY $ 5 *** ALL THUNDERBOLTS GAMES ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON EVANSVILLE’S WVHI-AM 1330 ***
LIGHTNING BOLTS’ SHOTS: With the past weekend’s slate consisting of three games in three nights at their hockey home of Swonder Ice Arena, the Evansville ThunderBolts of the NA3HL elite junior hockey league will begin the process of embarking on the final 8-games of their inaugural campaign of 2015-16. Under the direction of General Manager/Head Coach Scott Fankhouser, the ThunderBolts will play 5 of those remaining 8-dates at the amiable climes and environs of “Hockey Swonder†with still 3-more sojourns remaining into the hostile territory of foreign ice warfare. Having captured 2-victories thus far this season, the ThunderBolts last triumph was back on January 29th when they recorded their first ever victory at home, clipping Cincinnati, 3-2. Evansville has yet to attain a victory since that historically-significant night, spanning 6-games ago. Returning to the road show this upcoming weekend, the ThunderBolts will be in quest with zest of victory #3 and road win #2. It is on the road where our true hometown team achieved its electrifying first-ever ultimate success in the form of a brilliant come-from behind victory at co-South Division pace-setting Point Mallard, back on January 3rd, 7-4.
THUNDERBOLTS AT THUNDER: The ThunderBolts return to alien ice warfare for the first time since January 9th when they sojourn to Cincinnati to tangle with the Thunder in a two-game series at the historic and venerable Cincinnati Gardens. The weekend set commences this Saturday night at 7:00 pm and concludes with the second installment on Sunday afternoon in a 1:00 pm matinee affair. Radio broadcast times are on the docket for Saturday night at 6:30 pm and Sunday at 12:30 pm on Evansville’s WVHI-AM 1330. Through the 4-previous meetings between the two divisional archenemies, the Thunder have claimed the series advantage at 4(3-1-0) with all 4 of the prior engagements decided in Evansville. The last times these two teams collided were the dates of January 29th and 30th with the series divided. The ThunderBolts gained game one, dramatically, on a late third period strike stoked by Mathieu LaForest with 3:10 remaining to snap a 2-2 deadlock which had been created a mere :08 earlier on a Cincinnati PPG. However, on the following evening, the Thunder exacted retribution and reprisals in a 5-2 triumph.
While the ‘Bolts dropped 3-consecutively the past weekend at home against Atlanta, Cincinnati ventured outside its divisional boundaries to complete a weekend home sweep of Pittsburgh by results of 4-3 (OTSO) and 4-1.The two triumphs halted a Thunder 7-game losing skid at home.
HOME TRIO TRUMPED: Playing an ambitious slate of 3-games in 3-nights on their home base, the ThunderBolts, as has been their on-ice persona all season, were fiercely competitive and combative against a torrid Atlanta team which has compiled the NA3HL’s best record in the South Division for the past 3-years. The ‘Bolts best game of the weekend “Trifecta†was game one on Friday night; a 5-2 outcome. Local product Bryson Linenburg was supreme in goal and the power play continued to shine brightly as defensemen Brian Crink (3) and All-Star Triston Theriot (5) delivered man advantage blue line bazooka blasts 2:49 apart. Game #2 Saturday night produced an 8-3 outcome with recently acquired left wing Cedric Calhoun engineering (1-1-2) with a +1 rating. Brandon Bornkamp took and shook the slumber from his lumber, ending a 10-game goal drought with his team-high 20th; Scott Jacobson notched another ‘Bolts PPG. Then on Sunday, the fledgling franchise lack of depth came home to roost in an 8-3 final. Operating with a depleted roster of only 13-skaters plus 2-goaltenders due to injuries and the absence of All-Stars Bornkamp, Theriot and Jon Grimm, the ThunderBolts were thunderstruck by an Atlanta 5-goal opening period barrage. The power play did strike, again, with Calhoun making connection; Nick Luke also was an Evansville marksman.
TOP PROSPECTS PROUD: For the first three days this week, February 15th through the 17th, the ThunderBolts will have three of their own representing Evansville and the Midwest Division All-Stars in the NA3HL’s Annual Top Prospects Tournament. Center Brandon Bornkamp, left wing Jon Grimm and defenseman Triston Theriot will be in the lineup at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, MI. The threesome will see action in three games in three days, returning back to the ThunderBolts immediately following the conclusion of the tourney.
“CC†SNIPING: Recently acquired left wing Cedric Calhoun appears to have transitioned rather seamlessly in his new team’s lineup. Obtained in a deal with the NA3HL Pittsburgh Vengeance, the Fargo, ND product has generated some positive and polished offensive prowess to the ‘Bolts scoring attack. In the latter 2-games of the 3-game series against Atlanta, he authored 3-points on 2-goals, 1-assists and 1-PPG. On Saturday night, in addition to his masterful 2-points performance, Calhoun also carded a +1 rating.
“LINDY†LARCENY: Goaltender Bryson Linenburg earned the start in game one of the weekend series on Friday night and did not disappoint. The local product from Central High School was acclaimed the “Penn Station ThunderBolts Star of the Game†in rebuking 43 of 48-Atlanta shots despite the 5-2 setback. Making his second start of the weekend on Sunday, Linenburg was kept under a constant siege from the Capitals vast array of offensive weaponry, facing an exorbitant 73-shots, making a club single game season high of 65-saves.
“BLAZE†OF GLORY: On Sunday night, the ThunderBolts played game #3 of their weekend series against the Atlantans with the severely expurgated roster. For right wing Ian Blaeser, it was an opportunity to get more ice time. He made his night a productive one, crafting assists on both of his team’s goals. For his offensive exploits, Blaeser was hailed the “Penn Station ThunderBolts Star of the Game.â€
THE BEN BLOCKADE: Unsung and unheralded defenseman Ben Baker finally achieved some long overdue notice the past weekend for the ThunderBolts. Another of the Indiana homegrown standouts gracing this debuting season roster, the native of Indianapolis has gained the richly earned and deserved reputation for his fearless shot- blocking prowess. On Saturday night, he contributed offensively, collecting his first assist, first point of the season. Baker was proclaimed the “Penn Station ThunderBolts Star of the Game.â€
EXTRA MAN MAGIC: The ThunderBolts power play has been a kinetic constant all season long. The consistency of its proficiency has been a real beacon in the night for our hometown team. In the 3-game weekend series against Atlanta, the extra man band orchestrated a minimum of one strike in each contest. Compositely, for the weekend, it was a prolific-terrific 4-11 for a superb rating of 36.4%. Overall, it is 10 for the last 35 for a rating mark of 28.6%.
POINTS PERSONIFIED: The ThunderBolts top 10 list: 1- Jon Grimm 36(15-23-38); 2- Brandon Bornkamp 38(20-18-38); 3- Mike Kellley 34(10-19-29); 4- Brandon Rozema 36(10-8-18); 5- Triston Theriot 38(5-12-17); 6- Billy Bonser 36(8-7-15); 7- Mathieu LaForest 35(4-11-15); 8- Brian Crink 39(3-9-12); 9- Cedric Calhoun 27(4-3-7); 10- Kyle Nikles 34(3-4-7); 10- Scott Jacobson 27(3-4-7); 10- Zack Faith 28(1-6-7).
SHOTS ON GOAL GALORE: In the three game series the past weekend at Swonder Ice Arena, the ThunderBolts and the Capitals combined for a total of 269-SOG for a game average of 89.7 SOG per game. In game one Friday night, Atlanta outshot the ‘Bolts, 48-34; Saturday night the differential was 57-20 and Sunday night, it was 73-37 as the two teams combined for 110-SOG. In that same Sunday night game, Atlanta outshot Evansville in the first period, 30-3 with the 30-SOG representing the most the ThunderBolts have allotted in a single period thus far this season. Moreover, the ThunderBolts 23-SOG in the second stanza were a one period best for them this season while Atlanta’s total of 73-SOG for the game were the most ever allowed by the ThunderBolts in one game.
FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM “FIC:†The ‘Bolts 2-PPG 2:49 apart in the third period Friday were their second fastest 2-PPG in one game. It also marked the seventh time this season in which the ‘Bolts have delivered multiple PPG games and the second time this season in which they have scored 2-PPG in a single period. The ‘Bolts have scored the game’s FG in only 7 of 39-games thus far this season. The ‘Bolts are 5(0-5-0) in February with all 5-games played on home ice at Swonder .On Saturday night, left wing Brandon Rozema had his 6-game point streak stopped; 6(4-5-9). It tied for the second longest on the club this season. Evansville is the lone team in the league without the benefit of a SHG while surrendering 10-SHGA. The ThunderBolts now have 4-players who have reached double-figures in goal scoring artistry; Brandon Bornkamp (20); Jon Grimm (15); Mike Kelley (10); Brandon Rozema (10). Steven Rutherford has eclipsed the century plateau in topping the ‘Bolts in PIM with 105. Eleven of Triston Theriot’s 16-total points this season have been brewed on the power play. In his last 14-games, Mathieu LaForest is 14(3-8-11); in his last 13-games, Brian Crink is 13(2-5-7).
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 WVHI-AM 1330 and at 2:30 pm on WEOA-AM 1400 and WEOA-FM Magic 98.5.
