FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Vincennes University bowling team closed out the 2023 portion of their schedule over the weekend by taking part in their second American Heartland Bowling Association (AHBA) tournament of the season at Thunderbowl Lanes in Fort Wayne Saturday.

The Trailblazers matched their best team finish of the season, finishing third out of 10 teams and having three VU bowlers finish in the Top-10 overall.

The one day tournament consisted of four conventional games, followed by 16 baker games.

VU was led by freshman Cayden Russell (Noblesville, Ind.) who finished third out of 59 bowlers, ending his four games with 899 total pins including a 245 and 247 in his final two games.

Freshman Nicholas Gregg (Salem, Ill.) was the next Vincennes finisher, ending his four games with 842 pins, including a final game of 245 to take seventh overall.

Freshman Dakota Waskom (Louisville, Ky.) rounded out the Trailblazers top-10 finishers placing 10th overall with 833 pins and an average of 208 per game.

Junior Brighton Lucas (Salem, Ill.) was the final VU bowler to compete in all four games, finishing with a total score of 753, including a 214 and 227 in his first two games of the day. Lucas placed 23rd overall.

Freshman Dylan Lewis (Louisville, Ky.) finished his day with 558 pins in three games, finishing with a tournament average of 186 per game and had two 190-plus games.

Freshman Kannon King (Salem, Ill.) rounds out the Vincennes conventional games with a 156 in the first game of the day.

Vincennes as a team finished the conventional games with a team total of 4,041 and went on to finish the 16 baker games with a total of 3,190 pins and an average game score of 199.

The Trailblazers overall placed third out of 10 teams, matching their highest team finish of the season so far.

VU closes out the 2023 portion of their schedule with this tournament and will look to continue to build towards a big 2024 beginning with the Kegel-ISBPIA Midwest Classic Saturday, Jan. 13 and Sunday, Jan. 14 in Addison, Ill.

VINCENNES RESULTS

VU (3rd) – 967, 999, 1013, 1062 – 4,041

Baker – 237, 167, 180, 171, 228, 153, 234, 211, 199, 225, 191, 215, 189, 191, 164, 235 – 3,190. Tournament Total – 7,231.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Cayden Russell (3) – 185, 222, 245, 247 – 899

Nicholas Gregg (7) – 200, 178, 219, 245 – 842

Dakota Waskom (10) – 212, 182, 225, 214 – 833

Brighton Lucas (23) – 214, 227, 133, 179 – 753

Dylan Lewis (44) – x, 190, 191, 177 – 558

Kannon King (58) – 156, x, x, x – 156

Evansville, In.:  Coming off a weekend split against the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, the Thunderbolts prepare for a home-and-home set of games against the Peoria Rivermen, which will conclude with Teddy Bear Toss Night on Saturday at Ford Center.

Week In Review: 

In a back-and-forth game on Friday, the Thunderbolts were edged 3-2 by Roanoke.  Down 1-0, Myles Abbate tied the game in the first period, before Michael Greco scored in the second period to give Evansville a 2-1 lead.  However, Roanoke tied the game later in the second period and scored the lone goal in the third period to win the first game of the weekend.  The Thunderbolts responded with a 4-2 victory on Saturday, behind a pair of goals from Chays Ruddy, and goals from Mark Zhukov and Scott Kirton.  In goal, Cole Ceci continued his outstanding play, stopping 31 of 34 shots on Friday and 39 of 41 shots on Saturday.

The Week Ahead: 

The Thunderbolts open the weekend in Peoria on Friday night to take on the Rivermen, opening face-off set for 7:15pm CT.  Friday’s game can be viewed with a paid subscription on FloHockey or can be listened to for free on the Thunderbolts Mixlr Channel.  Fans can also watch Friday’s game at the Official Thunderbolts away game watch party at Parkway Pizza on 3911 Broadway Avenue on Evansville’s West Side.  Saturday will be Teddy Bear Toss night as the Thunderbolts host the Peoria Rivermen, opening face-off at 7:00pm CT.  Fans are encouraged to bring new teddy bears or other stuffed animals to the game to toss onto the ice following the first Thunderbolts goal, with all stuffed animals going to local children’s charities in time for the Holidays.  The Thunderbolts will also be wearing specialty “Ugly Christmas Sweater” jerseys during the game, which will be auctioned off following the game.  Replica jerseys will also be on sale at the merchandise stand.  For tickets to Saturday’s game, call (812)422-BOLT (2548), go to EvansvilleThunderbolts.com, or visit the Ford Center Ticket Office.

Coming Soon: 

Friday, December 15^th will be Free Kids Friday presented by Old National Bank, as the Thunderbolts host the Huntsville Havoc. All kids 12 and under get in for free with the purchase of an adult ticket (Offer good ONLY at the Ford Center ticket office).  In addition, there will be plenty of activities for kids in attendance, including inflatables and more.  Saturday, December 16^th will be Jurassic Night as the Thunderbolts host the Peoria Rivermen.  More details on game elements will be coming soon.

Scouting the Opponent: 

1. • Record: 8-4-1, 17 Points, 4^th Place
   • Leading Goal Scorer: Alec Hagaman (7 Goals)
   • Leading Point Scorer: Joseph Widmar (19 Points)
   • Primary Goaltender: Nick Latinovich (4-2-1, .885 Save %)
   • Thunderbolts 23-24 Record vs PEO: 0-3

The Rivermen were defeated in two games in Pensacola this past weekend, beginning with a loss on Friday in which Peoria initially led 2-0 on goals from Braydon Barker and Spencer Kennedy.  Tied 2-2, a goal from Cayden Cahill had given the Rivermen a 3-2 lead, before Pensacola scored 5 of the next 6 goals en route to a 7-4 win, with the final Rivermen goal coming from Andrew Durham.  After building a 2-0 lead once again on Saturday with goals from Cahill and Alec Hagaman, the Ice Flyers again roared back with three goals in the third period to swipe the victory away from Peoria, 3-2 the final score.

Call-up Report 

– Colton Kalezic (Cincinnati Cyclones)

. 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, 0 PIM

Transactions:     

Thur. 11/30: F Colton Kalezic called up to Cincinnati (ECHL)