Bloomington Thunder Weekly
January 7, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release
The Bloomington Thunder host their rivals on Friday to begin a stretch where they stay in Central Illinois until the end of the month.
Last time out: The Thunder (10-17-0, 20 points, tenth place) missed a chance to leave the Southern Professional Hockey League basement but split a pair of games in Columbus, Ga. last weekend. The Thunder won Friday's game in the final half-minute of overtime on Kyle Watson's goal after the Cottonmouths tied the game with less than two minutes left in regulation. The teams entered Saturday's game tied for ninth but the Snakes earned revenge by handing the Thunder their fourth shutout loss of the season in a 4-0 decision. The Thunder have still won five of their last seven games, although they were shut out in both losses.
Righting the ship: The Peoria Rivermen (13-10-3, 29 points, fifth place) have won their last three games beginning with their New Year's Day 3-0 shutout of the Thunder. The Rivs won a pair of games over the Mississippi Surge in Biloxi last weekend with a 3-2 overtime decision on Friday followed by Saturday's 5-2 triumph. Nick Prockow has recorded three goals and three assists to lead the Rivermen in their last five games.
Lately: The Thunder are led in the last ten games by Kyle Watson with four goals and three assists for seven points and a plus-four rating. Of his four goals during that period, two have been game-winners in the final seconds of play. The Thunder are led in scoring by Tyler Noseworthy (7g, 13a, 20 points) followed by Travis Granbois (4g, 15a, 19 points), although neither has collected a point in the last four games.
Call-up update: Dan Barczuk has scored six goals and three assists for nine points and a plus-four rating in 10 games with the Central Hockey League's Denver Cutthroats since his call-up from the Thunder, including a hat trick at Arizona on New Year's Eve. Defenseman Nic Polaski has played eight games with the Cutthroats but has not registered a point. Forward Sy Nutkevitch has three helpers in six games with the ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets while teammate defenseman Will Lacasse has two assists in 19 games. Forward Kevin Walrod and defenseman Dustin Hopfner were waived by the Evansville IceMen but claimed off of ECHL waivers by Reading and Gwinnett respectively. Walrod collected two assists and Hopfner scored one goal, each in five games with the IceMen. Goalie Garrett Bartus remains on reserve with Evansville. Defenseman Paul Arnott has not recorded a point in five games with the ECHL's Greenville Road Warriors.
Park the bus: The Thunder stay in Central Illinois for the next seven games with four of the contests at U.S. Cellular Coliseum and three others in Peoria. The next road trip of any consequence is January 31 and February 1 at Pensacola, Fla. This Friday's 7:05 p.m. game against Peoria is Scout Night with local scouts participating in several activities and all kids 12 and under eating free Friday until the first Thunder goal. The Thunder then visit Peoria for a 7:15 p.m. game on Saturday.
All Thunder games can be heard on 93.7 FM inside U.S. Cellular Coliseum and on WJBC.com, and viewed on America One Sports through subscription. Links to the audio and video feeds are at www.bloomingtonthunder.com. All road games can be seen at Six Strings, 524 N. Center St. in downtown Bloomington. The latest Thunder information is found on the team web site as well as on Facebook and Twitter (BLMThunder). Group and multi-game discounts and information is available by calling 309-434-2980, and gameday and single-game tickets are available through the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office.
SPHL Stories from January 7, 2014
- Bloomington Thunder Weekly - Bloomington Thunder
- RiverKings' Hosmer Named Easton Player of the Week - Mississippi RiverKings
- RiverKings' Todd Hosmer Named Easton Player of the Week - SPHL
- Rivermen Introduce "Loaded Tickets" - Peoria Rivermen
- Havoc Pick Up Three Points In Three Road Games - Huntsville Havoc
- Pensacola's Joshua Turnbull Named Easton Player of the Month - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Wheeler and Bushbacher Promoted to ECHL Cincinnati - Peoria Rivermen
- Pensacola's Joshua Turnbull Named Easton Player of the Month - SPHL
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