THIS WEEK’S GAMES: (2)
SAT. JAN. 2 AT POINT MALLARD 6:00 PM SUN. JAN. 3 AT POINT MALLARD 2:00 PM
UPCOMING GAMES: WED. JAN. 6 AT ST. LOUIS 7:15 PM FRI. JAN. 8 AT ATLANTA 6:30 PM
SAT. JAN. 9 AT ATLANTA 6:30 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: Having been idle since their last game back on December 19th at Minnesota in the NA3HL’s Annual Showcase Event, the ThunderBolts return to the ice Tuesday, December 29th at their hockey home of Swonder Ice Arena. General Manager/Head Coach Scott Fankhouser will lead his club as it re-convenes at 10:00 am for practice to broach the second half of the squad’s inaugural season. Though they keep coming closer each game, each time out, the ‘Bolts still remain winless through 25-games. However, the ThunderBolts continue to show a growing confidence and unrelenting will to win as demonstrated in their most recent games leading to the Christmas recess break.
ALABAMA BUS BOUND: This upcoming weekend, Evansville will continue 11-consecutve games away from home bay when it launches the New Year with a pair of clashes in Decatur, Alabama against their South Division rivals, the Point Mallard Ducks. Game #1 is set for the docket this Saturday, January 2nd at 6:00 pm with game #2 being a Sunday, January 3rd matinee feature, commencing at 2:00 pm. Radio broadcast times will be 5:30 pm on Saturday and 1:30 pm on Sunday on Evansville’s WVHI-AM 1330.
‘BOLTS/DUCKS DOSSIER: The ThunderBolts have tangled truculently against the Ducks through four previous encounters thus far this season with the latter club carving out a 4(4-0-0) advantage, outscoring the ‘Bolts, 24-12. Evansville is 2(0-2-0) on home ice, bowing on their season’s opening weekend, September 18th and 19th by results of 5-4 and 8-2. In the most recent combat bouts, December 4th and 5th, also in Decatur, the ThunderBolts achieved significant second period leads only to fall prey to Point Mallard back-to-back 4-goal third period rallies in 5-3 and 6-3 setbacks. Ducks’ center Jake Champaign prospered at Evansville’s expense that weekend, firing 5-goals in the two games. The power play factor has been paramount in this 8-games’ season series with the Ducks extra man band percolating at 8-21; 38.1% while the ‘Bolts are 4-18 at 22.2% proficiency rating. The fateful final frame appears to have been the name of the game in the head-to-head confrontations as the Ducks have out-goaled the ‘Bolts, 12-5.
SEASON SERIES SNIPERS: The top scoring sparkplugs in the ‘Bolts/Ducks first four meetings of the current campaign for the ThunderBolts; 1- Jon Grimm 4(2-6-8) +3; 2- Brandon Bornkamp 4(3-3-6) +2; 3- Mike Kelley 3(1- 2-3); 4- Zach Faith 4(1-1-2); 5- Brian Crink 4(1-1-2); 6- Triston Theriot 4(1-1-2). For the Ducks: 1- Justin Dunn 4(3-6-9) +4; 2- Josh Hamilton 4(2-7-9) +8; 3- Jake Cox 4(2-7-9) +2; 4- Stephen Coulter 4(3-5-8) +1; 5- Jake Champaign 2(5-0-5).
AWAY WE GO: Including these two outings coming up for the initial weekend of the calendar year 2016, the ThunderBolts still have five more games remaining during this protracted sojourn abroad. The remaining games in enemy territory for the ThunderBolts include the re-scheduled game from back on Labor Day weekend, the first weekend of September at St. Louis against the Midwest Division pace-setting St. Louis Jr. Blues. The re-scheduled date is set for Wednesday, January 6th at 7:15 pm in the Gateway City. In addition, Evansville has a weekend road series set for Friday, January 8th and Saturday, January 9th in Atlanta, opposing another South Division foe in the form of the Capitals.
THE RETURN TO SWONDER: The ThunderBolts are finally back on home ice at Swonder Ice Arena on the weekend of Friday, January 15th and Saturday, January 16th when they lock horns with the St. Louis Jr. Blues. Opening face-off both nights will be 7:30 pm. ‘Bolts game tickets are always FAN-FAMILY-FRIENDLY priced at only $ 5 !! January 16th has been designated the “Second Penn Station Eating Contest†of the season.
SECOND HALF GRAPH: With the season’s second-half soon to begin, the ThunderBolts will be looking to build and expand on their vastly-improved, positive play which they were fashioning prior to the extended break. The goaltending department, coupled with the overall performance and efforts of the defense have been gauged as so much better as indicated and validated by the sharp decline in team goals against and shots on goal against in each game. Offensively, Coach Fankhouser will be encouraging better ‘Bolts scoring balance. Evansville collected 11- goals in 7-December games with the “K – G – B†line of Mike Kelley, Jon Grimm and Brandon Bornkamp delivering 7 of those 11-successful strikes. With the sound and solid defensive improvement sustained and maintained, blended with better ‘Bolts scoring punch, so many of the razor-close games which punctuated the close of the first half may very well turn into momentous and monumental victories for our true hometown team in the second half.
MEDICAL MALADIES: It appears that the ThunderBolts will start the second-half of the campaign with two players nursing significant injuries. Left Wing Scott Jacobson is hampered with a fractured clavicle and is lost to the team for an indefinite period while right wing Joey Sorensen may be on the injured list for the remainder of the season due to a concussion.
SCORING CATALYSTS: As we get set for the commencement of the NA3HL’s exciting second-half of the season, the ThunderBolts top guns are on parade. 1- Brandon Bornkamp 25(18-14-32); 2- Jon Grimm 25(10-17-27); 3- Mike Kelley 20(7-13-20); 4- Triston Theriot 25(3-11-14); 5- Billy Bonser 22(6-4-10); 6- Brandon Rozema 22(2- 3-5); 7- Scott Jacobson 15(2-3-5); 8- Brian Crink 25(1-4-5).
FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM “FIC:†‘Bolts scoring last 10-games: 1- Mike Kelley (5-8-13); 2- Jon Grimm 5- 7-12); 2- Brandon Bornkamp (5-7-12); 4- Triston Theriot (1-5-6); 5- Brandon Rozema (0-3-3); Nate Thormann (0-3- 3). Most goals scored by the ‘Bolts in one game have been 5 which they have accomplished on 3-separate occasions. They have collected 4-GF in one game also on a trio of times. Most goals in single period have been 4, attained twice. The ‘Bolts have connected on 3-goals in one period on two more occasions. Brandon Bornkamp has delivered 3-multiple goal games; Jon Grimm has registered 2-multi-goal masterpieces. Brandon Bornkamp owns the 2-longest point streaks of the season; 7-games; 7(5-6-11); 6-games; 6(6-3-9); tied with Mike Kelley 6(3-7-10).
THE THUNDERBOLTS RADIO 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 home WVHI-AM 1330 and at 2:30 pm on WEOA-AM 1400 and WEOA-FM Magic 98.5.
