Gameday: Adirondack vs. South Carolina
January 8, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Adirondack Thunder News Release
TONIGHT'S MATCHUP: Tonight is the first meeting ever between the Thunder and the South Carolina Stingrays of the South Division. After tonight's game, the Thunder will do it again tomorrow in a rematch South Carolina at the Civic Center before a date with the Norfolk Admirals next week. The Thunder are coming off of a 5-2 win over the Manchester Monarchs on Wednesday, where they moved to within one point of the divisional lead.
CLARK KENT: On Tuesday, after spending much of the season with the Stockton Heat, Kent Simpson returned to the net on Wednesday for the Thunder and made a big impression, with his third win in as many starts in an Adirondack uniform. Simpson made a number of critical saves and allowed just two goals on 27 shots faced to keep the Manchester Monarchs at bay in the 5-2 win.
PATCHING THINGS UP: Defenseman Patch Alber collected two assists in the Thunder's win on Wednesday against Manchester. It was his second multi-point game in a row and the Boston College graduate is now up to eight assists on the season from the blue line. Alber was named the Thermal Associates Player of the week last week for his three-assist week, which included two helpers in Sunday's win over Reading.
GUNNS AND ROSES: Another man with a multi-point night for the Thunder on Wednesday was Gunnar Hughes. The Adirondack forward posted an assist on Wednesday's game winning goal and added his sixth goal of the season on an empty net to clinch the game for the home team. It was Hughes' second multi point game of the season, with the other also coming against Manchester on December 12th.
MONTH OF KIRK: Thunder rookie Michael Kirkpatrick was named as a runner up for ECHL Rookie of the Month for December, finishing behind only Elmira goaltender C.J. Motte. Kirkpatrick scored five goals and nine assists for a total of 14 points in 12 games played in December. Kirkpatrick's numbers led all ECHL rookie scorers and finished tied for fifth amongst all players leaguewide.
SOMETHING CLEVER: Adirondack put on a balanced offensive display on Wednesday night as five different players lit the lamp. Each goal, with the exception of the empty net marker, came within the opening two and half minutes of the period beginning, with two goals being less than 30 seconds apart, including Mads Eller's game winning tally early in the second period.
DONT GET STUNG: South Carolina's rookie netminder Branden Comm is 6-1 in seven starts with South Carolina and has a 1.87 goals against average. Mark Dekanich has made the most starts for the team with seven wins, to go along with a GAA of just under two in addition to a .925 save percentage. Backed by strong goaltending, the Stingrays are second in the ECHL in goals allowed per game with an average of just 2.12.
ECHL Stories from January 8, 2016
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- Allen's Two Points Power Admirals Past Cincinnati - Norfolk Admirals
- Mallards over Fort Wayne - Quad City Mallards
- Royals Pound the Pressure But Are Left Empty Handed By - Reading Royals
- Cyclones Drop Heartbreaker in Norfolk - Cincinnati Cyclones
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- Atlanta Defeats Alaska 3-2 in a Shootout - Atlanta Gladiators
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- Cyclones Add Vazzano - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL Transactions - January 8 - ECHL
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- Game Preview: South Carolina at Adirondack, 7:00 p.m. - South Carolina Stingrays
- Game Day Capsule: Tulsa at Wichita, January 8th - Wichita Thunder
- Game Notes: January 8 vs Norfolk - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Nailers vs. Solar Bears Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
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- Elmira Opens Season-Long Home Stand against Manchester - Elmira Jackals
- Oilers at Thunder Tonight: Game Preview - Tulsa Oilers
- IceMen Receive Hobbs from Binghamton, Anthoine Traded - Evansville IceMen
- Defenseman Joey Leach Recalled to Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
- Gameday: Adirondack vs. South Carolina - Adirondack Thunder
- ECHL Today - January 8 - ECHL
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