AFTER 12-CONSECUTIVE GAMES ON THE ROAD THE THUNDERBOLTS FINALLY BACK HOME FAVORABLE SCHEDULE FOR THE THUNDERBOLTS; 12 OF NEXT 17-GAMES ARE ON HOME ICE EVANSVILLE’S HOMETOWN TEAM TO HOST RIVAL ST. LOUIS FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: 3(0-3-0) 3-22 WED. JAN. 6 ‘BOLTS 0 AT ST. LOUIS 11 FRI. JAN. 8 ‘BOLTS 1 AT ATLANTA 6 SAT. JAN. 9 ‘BOLTS 2 AT ATLANTA 5

THIS WEEK’S GAMES: (2) FRI. JAN. 15 VS. ST. LOUIS 7:30 PM SAT. JAN. 16 VS. ST. LOUIS 7:30 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 ***

LIGHTNING BOLTS’ SHOTS: After a physically and mentally demanding stretch in their 2015-16 NA3HL regular season schedule, consisting of 12-consecutive games on the road, the travel-weary ThunderBolts, at long last, are finally coming back home to the amiable climes on environs of Evansville’s Swonder Ice Arena. Under the astute and argute auspices of General Manager/Head Coach Scott Fankhouser, the ThunderBolts, while they were gone, did stake claim to their first-ever victory of their inaugural campaign before bowing the past week in 3- consecutive contests abroad against two of the premiere title timber contenders; namely St. Louis and Atlanta. For the first time since way back on November 21st, the ThunderBolts will be on their home ice at “Hockey Swonder,” coming up this weekend. Now that Evansville has recorded their first-ever victory overall, garnering it through the perils of foreign ice warfare, the ‘Bolts will quest with zest for their first-ever home triumph, beginning this upcoming weekend against archenemy St. Louis.

HOME WHITES A WHILE: Absent from home ice action for the last 55-days, the travel-tested ThunderBolts are returning to their home ice with a significantly-favorable schedule for the next while. When they guest one of their principal archrivals, the Midwest-Division leading St. Louis Jr. Blues both Friday and Saturday nights this weekend at Swonder Ice Arena, GM/Coach Fankhouser’s aggregation nation will be embarking on a span of playing 12 of its next 17-games here at home. In fact, the ThunderBolts are set to launch an extended 4-game home stand at Swonder as they will remain at home for the balance of the month of January.

‘BOLTS/BLUES BLOG: Evansville and St. Louis will engage in on-ice combat this Friday and Saturday nights at Swonder Ice Arena with opening face-off both nights set for 7:30 pm. ThunderBolts game tickets are always FAN- FAMILY-FRIENDLY priced at only $ 5 !! That’s the best deal anywhere and everywhere!! Concerning the weekend series itself, the ‘Bolts and the Blues have collided on 6-occasions with the high-powered, high-voltage Jr.

Blues personifying perfection in the season series at 6(6-0-0). The first place club did complete the sweep of the 4- game series in the Gateway City the past Wednesday evening with a rather dominant decision over the road warriors representing Evansville. St. Louis’ latest win skein has reach 5-in a row following a clean sweep of a two-game weekend series at divisional foe Cincinnati. The Jr. Blues have been the utter masters of their imperial first place domain, composing a brilliant mark of 17(16-1-0) through its last 17-outings.

‘BOLTS BATTLE BEST: Immersed in a strenuous stretch of 5-road games in 8-days, culminated by a span of 3- road games in 4-nights the past week, the ThunderBolts encountered a few more humbling experiences endemic of an expansion season’s learning curve. After launching the week’s on-ice game competition activities with a sobering setback in St. Louis, the ThunderBolts rebounded resiliently and buoyantly in a pair of defeats in Atlanta against the high-octane Capitals. Evansville played some excellent hockey throughout the weekend in Georgia. It was the brief lapses that conspired to derail them. Friday night, a span of 15-minutes in the second period became their undoing as Atlanta snapped a tight tie of 1-1 with a 4-goal surge. Then on Saturday night, the ‘Bolts battled the Capitals to “even-steven” hockey for 40-minutes before the home team struck with 3-consecutive third period goals 5:31 apart to capture the contest in a 5-2 conquest.

THE NET DETECTIVE: With the recent trade of Brian Forness, Adam Conkling has assumed the reins as Evansville’s top goaltender. Earning the seal of good goalkeeping honors, the Fort Wayne native has become the complete, consummate workhorse for his squad. Conkling is currently in the midst of starting 15 of the ‘Bolts last 18 games with his 843-saves made reigning circuit supreme.

BRANDON BRINGS IT: Left wing Brandon Rozema has found the scoring touch in the clutch in recent ‘Bolts action. The Grandville, MI product delivered the key GTG/PPG Friday night in Atlanta, equalizing matters for the alien ice invaders from Evansville, 1-1. Evansville’s #7 is the team’s top goal-scoring cannoneer through the last 5- games, registering 4-goals in that span. Rozema’s totals include 1-GWG, 1-PPG and 1-two goal performance.

THE MATT ATTACK: Mathieu LaForest has become one of the more quietly efficient forwards on the ThunderBolts club. The St. Clair Shores, MI prodigy has demonstrated the embodiment of versatility throughout the season. He has played effectively at all three forward positions of center, left wing and right wing. In his last 4- games, LaForest has engineered 4-points on 4(1-3-4).

KYLE-STYLE STELLAR: Defenseman Kyle Nikles has fit in adeptly and adroitly in Coach Fankhouser’s lineup. Obtained earlier in the current campaign in a deal with West Michigan for defenseman Brett Siewertsen, the left- hand shooting rearguard has propelled a pair of goals since his arrival including the game’s FG on a ‘Bolts power play Saturday night in Atlanta.

BILLY BONSER ABROAD: Recently making the transition from right wing to his present position of center, Billy Bonser has made the adjustment almost seamlessly. Acquired earlier in the season through a deal with West Michigan, the Jackson, MI native has gained the uncanny knack on the scoring attack; especially pronounced and prominent on the road. When he fired the game’s GTG Saturday night late in the second period at 18:45 to deadlock the contest at 2-2 in Atlanta, Bonser delivered his 8th goal of the season and his 6th in hostile territory. In his last 5- games; 5(2-1-3).

IMPROVING POWER PLAY: The past weekend in Atlanta, the ThunderBolts power play seemed to come alive after enduring 0-12 and 1-30 slumps. Both Friday and Saturday nights, the ‘Bolts PP produced first period strikes with each PPG scored on the club’s initial manpower advantage for the night. Moreover, both strikes stoked were momentous. Brandon Rozema’s first period PPG Friday night knotted the contest at 1-1 while Kyle Nikles’ Saturday night special lifted his team into a 1-0 opening stanza advantage. For the weekend, the power play was 2-8. For the season, it is 20-122 for a proficiency rating of 16.4%.

LEADING THE LEGION: The ThunderBolts premiere point-producers: 1- Brandon Bornkamp 30(19-16-35); 2- Jon Grimm 30(12-21-33); 3- Mike Kelley 25(9-16-25); 4- Triston Theriot 30(4-12-16); 5- Billy Bonser 27(8-5-13);

6- Brandon Rozema 27(6-3-9); 7- Mathieu LaForest 26(2-6-8); 8- Brian Crink 30(1-6-7); 9- Scott Jacobson 19(2-4- 6); 10- Kyle Nikles 25(3-2-5).

THE “SIN BIN” BOYS: The top ThunderBolts players in the penalty box: 1- Steven Rutherford 77; 2- Nate Thormann 51; 3- Brian Crink 50; 3- Billy Bonser 50; 5- Brandon Bornkamp 44.

THE BIRTHDAY BOYS: ThunderBolts players’ birthdays for the month of January; 1/17 Ian Blaeser (19); 1/21 Jon Grimm (20); 1/23 Brandon Rozema (19).

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM “FIC”: Of their 20-PPG scored thus far this season, the ‘Bolts have accounted for 25% of those against Atlanta, going 5-21 for a rating of 23.8%. When Kyle Nikles connected on a first period PPG Saturday night in Atlanta, it marked the 5th time in 30-games in which Evansville has scored the game’s FG. Jon Grimm’s 11-PPA are foremost on the club. The ThunderBolts have not yet notched a SHG this season while surrendering 8 of the same. Of the ‘Bolts remaining 5-road games, 3 will be in Nashville and 2 will be played in Cincinnati. Through their first 30-games, the ‘Bolts have generated 3 or more goals 11-times. They have scored 7- goals once; 5-goals 3-times and 4-goals 4-times. On 4-occasions, the ‘Bolts have delivered multiple PPG in one game.

THE THUNDERBOLTS HOCKEY UPDATE: All 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 flagship radio home of WVHI-AM 1330 and at 2:30 pm on WEOA-AM 1400 and WEOA-FM Magic 98.5.