Bloomington Thunder Weekly
November 5, 2013 - SPHL (SPHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release
The Bloomington Thunder return home this weekend with ticket deals and special jerseys to begin a four-game home stand after picking up their first victory last week on the road.
Having seconds: The Thunder scored all of Friday's goals in the second period in a 4-0 victory on Friday in Fayetteville, N.C. over the FireAntz, but the Thunder gave up four power play goals in the middle chapter on Saturday to the Antz to split the weekend series at Crown Coliseum with a 6-3 loss. Kevin Walrod scored twice and added an assist on Friday while Darick Ste. Marie and Willliam Lacasse also lit the lamp. Walrod scored on Saturday's second shift for his third goal of the weekend, followed by Thunder tallies from Paul D'Agostino and Matt Puntereri. Max Strang returned from his call-up to the ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets to take a 36-save shutout win on Friday but took the loss on Saturday with a 31-save effort.
Charming the Snakes: The Columbus Cottonmouths make their first visit to U.S. Cellular Coliseum this Friday and Saturday with the same record as the Thunder (1-3-0) and their only victory earned on Friday at home against Knoxville. Tory Allan and Tom Maldonado lead Columbus with five points while Allan has registered a team-high three goals. Daniel Amesbury is second in the SPHL with 41 penalty minutes. Columbus finished fifth last season with a mark of 28-24-4.
Roster moves: The Thunder released forward Matt Puntereri on Tuesday. He recorded one goal and one assist with 17 penalty minutes in four games. Coach Brian Gratz has signed defenseman Dustin Hopfner, who did not collect a point in two games with Fayetteville this season and registered a goal with three assists for four points with 10 penalty minutes in 12 games last season with the ECHL's Evansville IceMen. Hopfner turns 24 later this month and is a 6-4, 220-pound native of East Pointe, Mich.
Scoring for your Thunder: Kevin Walrod leads the Thunder with six points (3 goals, 3 assists) with all but two assists coming during the past weekend in Fayetteville. Walrod is the only Thunder to collect a point in each of the four games so far. Walrod is tied for fifth in SPHL scoring with Peoria's Garrett Vermeersch and they are tied for fourth among the league's rookies. Dan Barczuk also has three goals to share the Thunder lead in lamp-lighters, and Barczuk, Tyler Noseworthy, Ron Cramer and Darick Ste. Marie each have four points to share second place in Thunder scoring.
Painful penalties: The Thunder are second in the SPHL with 167 penalty minutes and have given up 10 power play goals, most in the circuit. The 11 minors taken on Saturday is the most in a game in the young SPHL season. Bloomington is 4-of-16 on their own power plays for the fourth-best percentage, but their 10-of-29 goals against on the penalty kill ranks them last with only a 65.5 percent kill rate.
Take a shot: Bloomington has faced more shots (158) than anyone else in the SPHL, but only one more than next week's opponent, Louisiana. Both the Thunder and IceGators have scored 14 goals, but Louisiana has played one more game. The Thunder have given up 18 goals, tied with three others for the bottom.
Welcome home: The Thunder play their next four games at U.S. Cellular Coliseum beginning with face-offs at 7:05 p.m. this Friday and Saturday against the Columbus Cottonmouths with several activities planned. Fans can buy two tickets to Friday's game for only $20 by bringing a Pepsi product to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office for Pepsi Date Night, and representatives from the local Jingle Bell Run will attend. Saturday is Military Night with special jerseys worn by the Thunder and auctioned immediately after the game. Elmo from Sesame Street Live will be at Saturday's game courtesy of Country Financial, and ServPro presents Kids Eat Free (12 and under) every Saturday from the 6 p.m. door opening until the first Thunder goal, including hot dogs, corn dogs, popcorn, nachos and fries.
Group and multi-game discount packages are available for any and all of the remaining 25 Thunder home games. More information can be found at www.bloomingtonthunder.com, on Facebook, on Twitter (BLMThunder) and by calling 309-434-2980.
SPHL Stories from November 5, 2013
- RiverKings Announce Roster Moves - Mississippi RiverKings
- RiverKings Announce Local Schools Fundraiser - Mississippi RiverKings
- Bloomington Thunder Weekly - Bloomington Thunder
- Louisiana's Matt Zenzola Named Easton Player of the Week - SPHL
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