CAROLINA THUNDERBIRDS at WATERTOWN WOLVES
November 13, 2017 - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Carolina Thunderbirds News Release
Gjurich Brings Wolves to Victory in First Match Against Thunderbirds in Overtime
Watertown fans got their first look at the newest team in the Federal Hockey League, the Carolina Thunderbirds, as they faced off against the Watertown Wolves at the Watertown Municipal Arena Friday night.
The Wolves scored two goals in the first period. Tyler Gjurich getting the first goal on a pass from Stephen Gallo. Kyle Powell's short-handed goal came with help from Justin LaCorte and John Scully. Carolina's lone goal of the period, in addition to Powell's goal, came on a power play from Anton Lennartsson's slashing penalty.
The Thunderbirds tied the game up on a short-handed goal from Josh Pietrantonio. Jay Croop gave Carolina their first lead in the game. Tyler Gjurich tied the game back up for the Wolves with just forty-seven seconds left in the period for a 3-all score.
Carolina took the lead again just forty-two seconds into the third period with a power play goal from Jan Salak. Tyler Gjurich scored his third goal of the time to tie it up at four goals each. Tempers reached a boiling point when Watertown's Steve Brown and Carolina's Michael Bunn skirmished and took two in the box for roughing. Despite each team getting a power play in the last five minutes of the game neither team could capitalize, sending the game into overtime.
GJurich put the Wolves on top just forty-eight seconds into overtime on assist from Matt Caranci and Jason Berube. Gjurich's 4 goals earned him the first star of the game, with Watertown's Stephen Gallo earning the second star. Carolina's Josh Pietrantonio was credited with the third star.
Coach Trevor Karasawiecz and the Wolves move to 2-1 record with Friday Night's victory. Watertown and Carolina will meet again Saturday, November 11 in a special Military Appreciation game at the Watertown Municipal Arena. The game will start at 7:30 pm.
Thunderbirds Gain Point on the Road, but Drop OT Game to the Wolves
Watertown, NY - Thunderbirds gain point on the road, but drop OT game to the Wolves.
How It Happened:
An early 2 goal lead for Watertown showed a strong momentum pattern for the Wolves. The Thunderbirds would bend but not break, and catch a break when a controversial puck was knocked in past Bobby Bowden by Josh Pietrantonio to cut the Wolves lead in half.
The play would continue back and forth, and a 2 goal Thunderbirds run from Pietrantonio again and Croop adding the go-ahead, had the T-Birds in the driver's seat. But with 48 seconds remaining in the 2nd period Tyler Gjurich, would score his 2nd of 4 goals in the game.
The two squads would battle to overtime, when early on Gjurich would score the game winner showing patience in front of the net to put the puck home.
Notable Stats:
In an emergency goaltender role, Nick Niedert made 27 saves on 32 shots in the loss.
Tyler Gjurich ties the league lead in both points and goals with 8 and 5 respectively.
The same two teams will do battle again Saturday night, 7:30 pm puck drop, the Broadcast begins at 7:15 pm on the Thunderbirds radio network.
NORTH SHORE KNIGHTS at PORT HURON PROWLERS
The Port Huron Prowlers opened up at home in a big way Friday night, in front of a sellout crowd Port Huron skated away with a 5-2 final over the North Shore Knights, with the loss the Knights drop to 0-3-0 on the young season.
Port Huron was led by Frank Littlejohn who tallied four points for the Prowlers, including opening up the scoring in the first period, that goal coming courtesy of Brendan Parkhouse. With those four points (2 goals, 2 assists) Littlejohn also came away with the first star honors.
The second period proved the be the turning point in this game as Port Huron was able to light the lamp early and often with goals coming off the stick of Littlejohn, Matt Robertson, and Dustin Jesseau. Jesseau's goal came unassisted on a breakaway as the Knights were on the powerplay, from that point on the Prowlers never looked back.
Going into the third period Port Huron proved to be too much offensively and defensively as they added to the score to make it 5-2 with a goal off the stick of Forward Branden Parkhouse, assisted by Robertson, and Littlejohn, that score would not change as Port Huron picked up their first win of the season and moved to 1-2-0 overall.
These same two teams will meet again tomorrow as the Prowlers will travel to Gravenhurst Arena, where the Knights will play in front of their home crowd anxious to get into the win column, puck drop will be at 7:30 EST.
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Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from November 13, 2017
- CAROLINA THUNDERBIRDS at WATERTOWN WOLVES - Carolina Thunderbirds
- CAROLINA THUNDERBIRDS at WATERTOWN WOLVES - Carolina Thunderbirds
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