PrairieThunder earn victory
October 11, 2008 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
MUSKEGON, Mich. - John Nail scored two goals and had one assist in the third period as the Bloomington PrairieThunder exploded for four goals Saturday on its way to a 7-4 exhibition victory over Muskegon at Walker Arena.
Nail's first goal came with 16:09 remaining in the third period off assists from Kevin Crowder and Voldy Dashko to extend Bloomington's lead to 4-2.
After a Muskegon score cut the PrairieThunder advantage to 4-3, Nail scored again with 9:50 to go for a 5-3 lead. Travis Granbois had the assist. A goal by Crowder three minutes later put the Thunder ahead, 6-3, off another assist by Granbois.
Granbois scored the final goal for Bloomington - an empty netter - off assists from A.J. Bozoian and Nail with 1:55 remaining to give the PrairieThunder its first exhibition triumph in two games. Muskegon finished the exhibition season winless in two games.
Riccardo Rigamonti and Jordan Black scored back-to-back goals in a 62-second span in the first period to erase a 1-0 deficit and give the Thunder a 2-1 lead.
Rigamonti's goal came with 13:48 remaining and was assisted by Don Parsons. Black's goal came with 12:46 left off an assist by Bozoian. Parsons gave Bloomington a 3-1 advantage with 3:06 to go in the second period off assists by Geoff Rollins and Jon Booras.
The Lumberjacks took a 1-0 with 6:16 remaining in the first period on a short-handed goal by Maxime Lincourt off an assist from Adam Bartholomay.
"The guys' hard work paid off," said PrairieThunder coach Jarrod Skalde, whose team opens the regular season Friday against Flint at 7:05 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington.
"We played hard for 60 minutes and got rewarded in the second and third periods," added Skalde. "I told the guys to stay patient after the first period and the goals would come. Now, I have some tough decisions to make."
Skalde has to make final cuts Sunday to get the roster to the league maximum 21 players. The PrairieThunder started camp with 29 players.
The PrairieThunder owned a 29-21 advantage in shots. Both teams were unsuccessful on five power play attempts. Veteran goalie Scott Fankhouser earned the victory.
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International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 11, 2008
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