THE THUNDERBOLTS FACE FIRST THREE GAMES’ WEEK; HOME FRI. NIGHT VS. NASHVILLE ‘BOLTS IN ST. LOUIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT; TRAVEL TO NASHVILLE FOR SAT. NIGHT DATE GRIMM NAMED TEAM CAPTAIN; CRINK AND THERIOT TO SERVE AS TEAM ALTERNATES
WEEKEND RESULTS: 1(0-1-0) 1-5
FRI. OCT. 16 ‘BOLTS AT ATLANTA (PPD) SAT. OCT. 17 ‘BOLTS 1 AT ATLANTA 5
THIS WEEK’S GAMES: (3) WED. OCT. 21 AT ST. LOUIS 7:15 PM FRI. OCT. 23 VS. NASHVILLE 7:30 PM SAT. OCT. 24 AT NASHVILLE 7:00 PM
NEXT HOME GAME: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23RD VS. NASHVILLE 7:30 PM; GAME TICKETS ONLY $5
*** ALL THUNDERBOLTS GAMES ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON EVANSVILLE’S WVHI-AM 1330 ***
LIGHTNING BOLT SHOTS: This past weekend, the Evansville ThunderBolts both encountered and experienced the many and various adventures of road travels in the world of hockey as members of the NA3HL elite junior hockey league. Under the tutorship of General Manager/Head Coach Scott Fankhouser, the ThunderBolts were limited to playing only the second game of a scheduled two-game weekend series in Atlanta against their South Division rivals, the Capitals. Game #1 scheduled for Friday night had to be postponed to a later date when the ‘Bolts bus, in route to the State of Georgia metropolis, incurred a major breakdown. The second installment of the series was played on Saturday afternoon with Atlanta prevailing over Evansville, 5-1. Game one will be re-scheduled at a later date still to be determined.
THE DIVISIONAL DOSSIER: Though the ThunderBolts have come up somewhat short through their initial 9- decisions, sharp improvement is being realized. The single roadblock confronting the expansion franchise at this time is the spate of injuries that have befallen the club. Nevertheless the toast of the first victory appears to be looming closer on the horizon. In the Midwest Division Standings: 1-St. Louis 12(9-2-1)19; 2-Peoria 11(7-4-0)14; 3-Nashville 10(5-5-0)10; 4-Cincinnati 10(4-6-0)8.
SINGLE SYNOPSIS: Due to the trials and tribulations of hockey travel on the exceedingly long runway at extremely low altitude, the ThunderBolts had to settle for an abbreviated single game mission in Atlanta where on Saturday afternoon, they trembled to the torrid Capitals, 5-1. The final outcome was not truly indicative of how the contest transpired as Evansville kept the tied at 1-1 for the preponderance of the second period when right wing Billy Bonser notched his 5th goal of the early campaign at the 2:03 mark. A three-goal unanswered third period spree proved to be the differentiating factor in the final result. Outshot, 39-12, the ThunderBolts power play, which has been one of the team’s bright lights was 0-4 in the setback.
3-GAMES IN 4-NIGHTS: For the first time, the ThunderBolts will face a fairly-demanding slate consisting of 3- games in 4-nights with the first and last ones abroad and the middle one on home ice at Swonder Ice Arena. Wednesday night, the ThunderBolts journey to St. Louis for a duel with the Midwest Divisional leaders, the Jr. Blues. Game time is 7:15 pm with broadcast time on Evansville’s WVHI-AM 1330 set for 6:45 pm. St. Louis leads the 8-game season series, 2-0, after sweeping a pair of clashes here in Evansville back on October 3rd and 4th by results of 9-0 and 10-2. This game is one of the re-scheduled games from the Labor Day weekend postponements of September 4th and 5th.
HOME & HOME VS. NASHVILLE: After an absence of 19-days from home ice, the ThunderBolts return to the friendly climes and environs of Evansville and Swonder to launch a two-game home-and-home series with another nearby divisional archenemy, Nashville. The ‘Bolts host the Jr. Predators on Friday night at 7:30 pm with game tickets FAN-FAMILY-FRIENDLY priced at ONLY $5 !!! The following evening, Evansville reciprocates by traveling to Nashville for a 7:00 pm encore engagement with broadcast time on WVHI-AM 1330 being 6:30 pm.
RIDDLED RAVAGED ROSTER: As the ThunderBolts squadron sustains its marked, sharp improvement, the latest obstacle to hurdle is the recent bevy of injuries and maladies that have crippled this club. The litany reciting includes defensemen Brett Siewertsen and Joey Sorensen, center Zach Faith, right wings Oliver Breton and Richard Dial. So understaffed were the ‘Bolts on Saturday that GM/Coach Fankhouser was compelled to improvise by securing the services of four young prospects from the TPH AAA Atlanta Thunder program. Defenseman Nash Wood, left wing Eric Hirschaaut center Zack Zalar and right wing Matt Curley each made their respective NA3HL elite junior hockey debuts with the quartet acquitting themselves quite admirably.
HOOSIER HIERARCHY: The past week, through vote by team player personal the ThunderBolts elected local product Jon Grimm as first-ever team captain with a pair of defensemen, Brian Crink and Triston Theriot being selected as team alternates. The State of Indiana is well-represented on the ‘Bolts leadership team as Grimm hails from Newburgh while Crink’s hometown is Indianapolis and Theriot resides in Fort Wayne.
UNEVEN STRENGTH STATUS: In their lone outing for the week, the 5-1 affair in Atlanta the ThunderBolts special teams could not quite match their recent successes. The power play, which had connected for 7-goals in the first 8-games, was defused and disarmed on all 4 of its advantages with two of those coming consecutively in the middle stanza shortly after the ‘Bolts had equalized matters at 1-1 in the same frame. Meanwhile, the penalty-killing cast saw its 8-8 streak spanning the past two games halted when Atlanta struck on its lone power play opportunity for the game.
POINT PRODUCING PROWESS: 1- Brandon Bornkamp 9(6-6-12); 2- Jon Grimm 9(2-7-9); 3- Billy Bonser 6(5- 2-7); 4- Brett Howard 6(2-4-6); 5- Triston Theriot 9(2-2-4); 6- Brian Crink 9(1-2-3); 7- Brett Siewertsen 7(0-3-3).
FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM “FICâ€: Right wing Billy Bonser has fired 3-goals in the last 2-games and has totaled 4-snipes in the past 5-games for the ‘Bolts. Center Brandon Bornkamp in his last 2-games; 2(0-3-3). The 39- SOG allotted in Saturday’s setback in Atlanta, were the fewest SOG against Evansville thus far this season. The ‘Bolts 12-SOG Saturday were their fewest of the season. The ‘Bolts have been outscored in the first period, 21-1 and have not scored a first period goal since back on opening night, Sept. 18th when they bowed to Point Mallard, 5-4. They have allowed 19-consecutive opening stanza strikes. Billy Bonser’s GTG at 2:03 of the second period Saturday, marked the third time the ‘Bolts have stalemated the game; though they have yet to achieve the lead in any game at this stage of the season. Through their last 6-games, the ThunderBolts have been limited to 9-GF for a GFA of 1.50.
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 flagship station WVHI- AM 1330 and at 2:30 pm on WEOA-AM 1400 and WEOA-FM 98.5.
