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Thunder Defeat Gamblers 3-1, Complete Successful Debut Season

April 11, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


Bloomington, IL - The inaugural season for the Thunder finished with an undefeated month of April, topping the Green Bay Gamblers 3-1 from the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Bloomington finished the expansion year in the United States Hockey League with a final record of 29-24-7 and held the best record in the USHL outside of the playoff picture. The Thunder finish with just the second winning season in Bloomington, IL hockey history, with a .542 win percentage.

Controlling the pace of play in the first period, the Thunder somehow found themselves on the wrong side of the shot totals. Green Bay put up 11 shots to the Thunder's four. Ryan Smith scored the lone goal in the period on a rebound that snuck through the body of Logan Halladay (University of Minnesota). The goal came at 11:39 of the period and Halladay turned aside multiple chances, making ten saves before the break.

Three unanswered goals and 20 shots in the second period helped the Thunder take a 3-1 lead over the Green Bay Gamblers. Van Barr (Western Michigan University) broke the tie after breaking into the zone, receiving the puck from Mitchell Mattson (University of North Dakota). The Kansas City, MO native fired it over the shoulder of Kevin Reich to tie the game with his 13th of his rookie year.

Mattson continued his performance, scoring on the power play from the low slot to make it 2-1. Shane Bednard (Bowling Green State University) extended his point streak to six games on a centering play to Mattson who hammered it past Reich. Bednard finished his first and only USHL season with a team leading 39 points (16g, 23a). Bednard also scored eight points in those six games to finish the year on a high note.

Another rookie forward, Vladislav Dzhioshvili netted the third goal for the Thunder at 13:55, giving him three in nine USHL games as an affiliate player.

A scoreless third period saw tensions and penalties fly, helping the Thunder to move 5-1-0 against Green Bay this season. Bloomington was 1-8 on the power play and stopped all six chances for the Gamblers in the win.

Halladay turned aside 26 saves in the game for his fifth win in six games to round out the year. The Cary, NC native concluded his 2014-15 USHL season debut with a record of 13-11-5.

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