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Thunder Fall to End Home Stand

February 21, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


Bloomington, IL - Bloomington faced arguably the hottestteam in the United States Hockey league and came up just short 4-2 against theWaterloo Black Hawks Saturday night. Goaltender Cale Morris continues to steal the show in the USHL as of late,making 36 saves on the Thunder and making 86 saves on the weekend.

Bloomington isnow 20-19-7 and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference in their first season,while the Black Hawks are streaking in the Western Conference but still eightspots out of the playoffs with an 18-21-5 record.

With 13 saves inthe opening period, the goaltender began to show why he is 9-1-2 since joiningthe Black Hawks as all Bloomington's 13 opportunities were turned away. Onechance made the difference in the frame. JohnWiitala (Ohio State University) connected on a breakaway pass and pushed itto the back of the net with one hand on the stick to make it 1-0 at 10:44.

Bloomingtonwould open the second period looking for the equalizer and would almost get it.Matt Mendelson (Penn State University) hada goal stripped off the board when he tipped the puck and put it by Morris. Theofficials ruled it a high stick and the Thunder would eventually get anotherchance on a penalty shot. Ryan Galt(University of Nebraska-Omaha) came down on Morris and was hooked frombehind, but couldn't get following the penalty shot by the Larkspur, CO native.

Three secondslater Max Gottlieb (Brown University) fireda one timer to the back of the net to tie the game. The Old Bridge, NJ nativehas now scored four goals on the season and leads the defensive core for theThunder with 17 points this season. However the Hawks would tally two goals toend the period, including one short-handed goal by Henrik Rommel to take the 3-1 lead into the dressing room.

The Hawkscontinued in the third with a goal at 1:34 as Tyson McLellan (University of Connecticut) potted his fourth of theseason. The Thunder would get another to cut the lead in half at 7:40. Nikolas Koberstein (University ofAlaska-Fairbanks, Montreal Canadiens) scored his fourth goal from thefar-side wall, but it would be as close as the Thunder would come.

Neither teamscored a power play goal and LoganHalladay (University of Minnesota) suffered his first regulation loss infive games making 22 saves.

Bloomingtonheads to Dubuque for their first road game since February 7th totake on the Fighting Saints. Dubuque sits just above the Thunder in thestandings with 54 points and are coming off three games in three days thisweekend.

Next Home Game: Chicago Blackhawks day is Sunday, March 1stwith Bobby Hull and the 'Hawks Ice Crew. Bloomington welcomes the 'Golden Jet'to meet the fans of Bloomington at the 3:00 pm CST game. Wear Blackhawks gearto the game and get $3 off regularly priced tickets or call the Thunder officefor $10 tickets. It is also an Event Central Family Day so kids get freeconcessions until the end of the first period. Call (309) 434-2980 to gettickets to this once and a lifetime experience.



United States Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2015


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