Thunder Host League Leaders in Season-Ending Series
March 20, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release
After staying in the playoff picture until the final week of the season, the Bloomington Thunder finish their first campaign on home ice against the regular season champions.
The Thunder take on the Pensacola Ice Flyers (36-13-5, 77 points) this Friday and Saturday at 7:05 each evening at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The Ice Flyers have won nine straight games and are on a 20-game point streak, including the previous meetings with the Thunder with a 3-2 overtime win on January 31 and an 8-3 victory on February 1 at Pensacola Bay Center.
The Peoria Rivermen served as the most recent opponent for both squads. The Thunder were officially eliminated from the playoff hunt with Tuesday's 4-1 loss at Carver Arena, while the Ice Flyers beat the Rivs last Friday and Saturday by the same 2-1 score in Pensacola.
The Ice Flyers are the defending President's Cup champion in the Southern Professional Hockey League and have clinched home ice through the playoffs. They are led in scoring by Joe Caveney with 25 goals and 30 assists for 55 points, which is second in the SPHL. The Ice Flyers' 199 goals, 333 points and 532 assists also leads the league.
The Thunder (20-31-3, 43 points, 10th SPHL) are led in scoring by captain Travis Granbois with 12 goals and 30 assists for 42 points. Newcomer Mike Henderson has the hottest hand for the Thunder, scoring a goal in each of the last two games and lighting the lamp six times in his nine games in Bloomington.
Friday is another Pepsi Date Night with two lower end tickets for only $20 when bringing a Pepsi product to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office. Saturday's finale is a Kids Eat Free Night presented by SERVPRO with young fans 12 and under eating hot dogs, corn dogs, nachos, popcorn and fries for free until the first Thunder goal. Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night featuring end-of-season player awards before the game and a player jersey auction immediately after the contest.
Thunder games can be heard on 93.7 FM inside U.S. Cellular Coliseum and on WJBC.com, and viewed via subscription on America One. Links to the online broadcasts and team information can be found at www.bloomingtonthunder.com, Facebook and Twitter (BLMThunder). Group discounts are also available for both games in final season series by calling 309-434-2980. Individual tickets can be purchased at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office.
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SPHL Stories from March 20, 2014
- Ice Bears Fall to Havoc - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Huntsville Uses Early Goal to Top Knoxville, 3-1 - Huntsville Havoc
- Rivermen Close out Regular Season in Fayetteville - Peoria Rivermen
- Thunder Host League Leaders in Season-Ending Series - Bloomington Thunder
- Ice Flyers Organize Bus Trip for Game Two in Biloxi - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- RiverKings on Road for First Round of the Playoffs - Mississippi RiverKings
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