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Thunder Announce Final Roster

September 22, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


BLOOMINGTON, Illinois - The sophomore season for the Bloomington Thunder is just around the corner with only three days to their first game of the year. As of Tuesday afternoon, the 23-man roster has been set by the Thunder featuring 15 returners and 17 players with Division I college commitments.

The Thunder open the season on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. against the Waterloo Black Hawks at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the game and have beer and soft drinks on sale for $1. All fans at the game get a free limited edition home opener T-shirt. Head to Hy-Vee or other participating Thunder sponsors for $10 ticket vouchers to the game. Redeem them at the Thunder Box Office or the Toyota Box Office at the Coliseum.

# PLAYER POS DOB HOMETOWN PREVIOUS TEAM COLLEGE

2 Ghafari, Butrus D 7/4/1996 West Bloomfield, MI Bloomington Thunder Western Michigan University

4 Delmas, Noah D 4/29/1996 Newmarket, ON Aurora Tigers Niagara University

5 Foley, Matt D 4/20/1995 Longmeadow, MA Merritt Centennials

6 Cunningham, Myles D 5/25/1998 Minneapolis, MN Blake High Brown University

7 Kalynuk, Wyatt D 4/14/1997 Virden, MB Lincoln Stars Western Michigan University

9 Davies, Jeremy D 12/4/1996 Montreal, QC Bloomington Thunder Northeastern University

10 Merl, Steven C 2/7/1996 Coral Springs, FL Bloomington Thunder

11 Harrison, Sean RW 5/29/1996 Anchorage, AK Cowichan Valley Capitals Union College

12 Harrison, Will RW 1/7/1996 Springfield, VA Amarillo Bulls St. Lawrence University

13 Slaker, Jacob C 6/28/1996 San Diego, CA Bloomington Thunder St. Lawrence University

15 Dzhioshvili, Vladislav LW 1/6/1998 Moscow, RUS Bloomington Thunder Cornell University

16 Mehr, Alec RW 1/11/1997 Irvine, CA Bloomington Thunder

17 Baker, Tarek C 2/22/1997 Verona, WI Bloomington Thunder University of Minnesota

18 Barr, Van LW 5/5/1997 Kansas City, MO Bloomington Thunder Western Michigan University

19 Curry, Patrick LW 1/9/1996 Schaumburg, IL Bloomington Thunder

20 Chaffee, Mitchell RW 1/26/1998 Rockford, MI Honeybaked

21 Somoza, Ethan LW 5/7/1996 Simi Valley, CA Fairbanks Ice Dogs Bemidji State University

22 Lambdin, Logan LW 11/1/1995 Carleton, MI Bloomington Thunder

23 Gober, Blake RW 1/18/1995 Colleyville, TX Bloomington Thunder

25 Rafferty, Brogan D 5/28/1995 Dundee, IL Coulee Region Chill Quinnipiac University

26 Spicer, Cameron D 2/22/1996 Erie, CO Bloomington Thunder University of Maine

27 Mattson, Mitchell C 1/2/1998 Grand Rapids, MN Bloomington Thunder University of North Dakota

30 Lavigne, Hayden G 4/7/1996 Brampton, ON Bloomington Thunder University of Michigan

33 Halladay, Logan G 8/17/1996 Cary, NC Bloomington Thunder University of Minnesota

The Thunder roster brings in newcomers Noah Delmas (Niagara University), Matt Foley, Myles Cunningham (Brown University), Wyatt Kalynuk (Western Michigan University), and Brogan Rafferty (Quinnipiac University) on defense to help bolster the defensive core. This will be the first USHL experience for all but Kalynuk on the blue line who played with the Lincoln Stars in 2014-15. He had 15 assists for the last place stars one season ago.

On forward the Thunder bring in the new faces of Sean Harrison (Union College), Will Harrison (St. Lawrence University), and Ethan Somoza (Bemidji State University) to add to the offense. Somoza helped the Fairbanks Ice Dogs win the Robertson Cup Final in 2015.

Returners are the main story for the Thunder including captain Jake Slaker (St. Lawrence University) who led the rookie class with 25 points (13g, 12a) in his first season. Both Logan Halladay (University of Minnesota) and Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) return between the pipes to give the Thunder stability in net.

Logan Lambdin and Steven Merl led the Thunder in the preseason with eight points. Lambdin scored six goals including a four goal performance on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 20. Merl had four goals and four assists to lead the way breaking out early in the preseason against his former team, the Musekgon Lumberjacks.

Bloomington finalized their roster releasing defenseman Andrew Roye. Roye played with the Thunder in 2014-15 grabbing 2 assists in 38 games from the blue line.

SEPT. 25, 7 p.m. - Home Opener: Join the Thunder as they kick off their 2015-16 season against the Waterloo Black Hawks. Every fan in the building will take home a special edition Home Opener t-shirt from the game. Join the party early with festivities outside the Coliseum and on the concourse from 6-7 p.m. Beer and soda will also be on sale for $1 during that time. For tickets call the Thunder office at (309) 434-2980.

Season and Partial Ticket Plans: The 2015-16 season will be here before you know it and for just $50 we can reserve your season or partial tickets for the Bloomington Thunder at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Season Tickets start at just $240 and youth season tickets are $150 including all of the same benefits. You'll also have a chance to win a pair of Chicago Blackhawks regular season game tickets during the 2015-16 season.

Can't make it to every game? Check out 20 and 10-game ticket plans starting at only $100. Make it a voucher pack and get all the same benefits with more flexibility.

Reserve your tickets for the 2015-16 season by calling (309) 434-2980.



United States Hockey League Stories from September 22, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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