Bloomington Thunder Weekly
October 8, 2013 - SPHL (SPHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release
A roster has been set for next week's training camp as the Bloomington Thunder prepare for play in about two weeks in the Southern Professional Hockey League.
Travis treat: Notable among the signings is the return of fan favorite Travis Granbois for his fifth season in Bloomington. The native of Campbell River, British Columbia recorded 14 goals and 33 assists with 143 penalty minutes and a plus-4 rating last season and was voted Fan Favorite by Bloomington fans. This is his eighth professional season and he will also serve as a player/assistant coach under Thunder Coach Brian Gratz.
"(Granbois) has been part of this city's hockey success for many years and we welcome him back on the ice, this time as a captain and player assistant," said Gratz. "His style of play is something that fans in this area have come to know and love, and we are excited to have him back in the Bloomington-Normal community."
The training camp roster can be found at www.bloomingtonthunder.com. Players are set to arrive this weekend with the first workouts planned for Monday. After the first day of camp, fans and media are welcome to attend workout sessions at U.S. Cellular Coliseum with times to be announced in next week's Thunder Weekly. The Thunder will face the Peoria Rivermen in a home-and-home pair of exhibition games next weekend, Friday, October 18 in Peoria and Saturday, October 19 in Bloomington.
Junior update: Bloomington has started 0-3 in the second season of play in the Midwest Junior Hockey League as the Junior Blaze dropped decisions of 12-2, 4-1 and 4-2 to the Alpena Street Cats last weekend in Alpena, Michigan. John Urmetz recorded three assists while returning skater Steven Smoltz lit the lamp for two goals. The squad opens its home season this weekend with a three-game series against the Detroit Fighting Irish on Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. More on the juniors can be found at www.bloomingtonblazejr.com.
Schedule shuffle: The Thunder and the Peoria Rivermen have swapped home dates in their back-to-back weekend in mid-January. The Thunder will now host the Rivs on Friday, January 10 with the rematch the next night in Peoria. The regular season opens Friday, October 25 at 7:05 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Coliseum against the Rivermen with the opportunity to win a car from O'Brien Mitsubishi in Normal. The Thunder and Rivs will play a pair of exhibition games during the previous weekend beginning in Peoria on Friday, October 18 and switching to U.S. Cellular Coliseum for the lone home exhibition contest on Saturday, October 19.
Season ticket and group packages are available at a discount from the per game rate. Individual game tickets are also now on sale. For more information, call 309-434-2980 or visit Facebook, Twitter (BLMThunder) and www.bloomingtonthunder.com.
SPHL Stories from October 8, 2013
- Bloomington Thunder Weekly - Bloomington Thunder
- Rivermen Announce New Trainer and Medical Partners - Peoria Rivermen
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