Thunder Move to Top 5 as Elite Team

Published on February 2, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


BLOOMINGTON, Illinois - The Bloomington Thunder have moved up in the latest edition of the United States Hockey League power rankings. The power rankings are released monthly by USA Hockey Magazine and rank all USHL teams from 1 through 17. After finishing the month of December as the fifth place team, the Thunder have moved up one spot as the fourth best team in the USHL this season.

The Thunder are up two spots from their preseason projection in the power rankings. They are also one of five Eastern Conference teams to line the top of the power rankings and the overall USHL standings. Bloomington is in fifth place of the Eastern Conference with 46 points, just one point out of a playoff spot. The team is also just seven points out of first place in the east. This month the Thunder will battle Dubuque, Green Bay, and Youngstown six times, giving themselves a chance to leapfrog the teams above them in the standings.

Bloomington was 6-3-1-0 over the month of January and carried their hot streak from the month of December, where the club was 6-1-0-0. During the last two months, the Thunder had milestones and player streaks that were among the USHL's league leaders. The team captured it's 50th win on Saturday in Omaha and recorded the first organizational hat trick in Muskegon on Jan. 9. Logan Lambdin had the first three goal game, followed closely by Tarek Baker (University of Wisconsin) who had three goals in the game as well.

Baker has the second longest goal streak in the USHL this season at seven games (10g) and the third longest point streak at nine games (10g, 5a), both which began on Dec. 12. The Thunder assistant captain has 31 points (16g, 15a) this season to lead the team.

Defenseman Jeremy Davies (Northeastern University) has maned the blue line for the Thunder and produced an eight game point streak of his own. The Montreal, QC native has 25 points (9g, 16a) and is the third leading scorer on the Thunder. He is also the fourth ranked defenseman this season in the league and has the most goals by a defenseman.

The goaltenders Logan Halladay (Merrimack College) and Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) have been solid for the team from the goal crease. Halladay picked up a win after his commitment to Merrimack College on Thursday and has been 6-1-1-0 over his last nine appearances, including two shutouts. The Cary, NC native also has the seventh ranked goals against average in the USHL. Lavigne has the third most wins in the league, with 15, behind Ben Blacker (Western Michigan University) of Cedar Rapids and Hunter Miska (University of Minnesota-Duluth) of Dubuque. His veteran leadership from between the pipes has produced two shutouts and a 6-3-0-0 record in his last nine starts.

The Thunder are in action this Friday and Saturday in Muskegon, hoping to continue their success from Omaha. Puck drop for both games is slated for 6:15 p.m. CST (7:15 p.m. EST) as the Thunder play games four and five in their six game season series.

NEXT HOME GAME: Friday, February 12th - 7 p.m. - The Thunder battle with the Green Bay Gamblers to open a weekend series from the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Doors open at 6 p.m. and until puck drop there are $1 draft beers and soft drinks at the Coliseum concession stands. Tickets start at $10 for the game and could go even lower with youth, senior, and military discounts. Call the Thunder office at (309) 434-2980 for more information and the best deals on tickets.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2016


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