Thunder Open Weekend in Des Moines

Published on February 6, 2015 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


Des Moines, IA - In order to complete their six-game road trip, the Bloomington Thunder will head to Des Moines to take on the Buccaneers for their first game of the weekend. Puck drop is 7:05 from Buccaneer Arena as Bloomington officially kicks off the final 20 games of their 60 game regular season.

Game Notes

Bloomington is on a hot streak and undefeated in regulation in their last six games, going 4-0-2 in the stretch. The push puts them 16-16-7 and sixth in the United States Hockey League's Eastern Conference with 39 points, just four points out of the fourth and final playoff spot.

Can't make it out to the game? Listen live by going to portal.stretchinternet.com/wjbc. You can catch all the action starting with the pregame show at 6:45 pm CST. You can also follow the Thunder on social media for updates during the game.

The Thunder visit the Bucs after a three point weekend in Fargo. The Thunder fell in the shootout to the Force despite 47 shots on net. Goaltenders Logan Halladay (University of Minnesota) and Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) have been instrumental for the Thunder in their win streak. The netminders have allowed only 12 goals in their six-game stretch for a combined goals against average of 1.95 and a .925 save percentage. Defenseman Cameron Spicer (University of Maine) and forward Mitch Slattery (St. Cloud State University) joined the Thunder this week from the Tri-City Storm and the Fargo Force respectively.

Des Moines hosts Bloomington after a two-game series with the Lincoln Stars to finish the month of January. The Bucs are on pace for one of their best seasons in recent USHL memory. They are fourth in the Western Conference with 43 points and an 18-13-7 record. Tied for the team lead in points are forwards Tanner Karty (17g, 14a) and Joe Widmar (University of Massachusetts) (16g, 15a) with 31 points each. Not far behind them and at the top of the USHL defensive scoring charts are Corey Schueneman (Western Michigan University) with 30 points (10g, 20a) and Alec Rauhauser with 27 points (7g, 20a).

The game is the first between the teams who will meet again just before the end of the regular season on April 10th at the Des Moines Buccaneers Arena. Bloomington travels to Lincoln to finish their weekend on Saturday night.

Next Home Game: Friday, February 13th at 7:00 pm CST is the Thunder's Par-A-Dice Casino T-shirt Giveaway Night. Be one of the first 1,000 fans in the building to get a free Par-A-Dice Casino Thunder T-Shirt when the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders return to the Coliseum for the final game of their season series. There will also be 500 Thunder posters available to the first patrons in the building. The Thunder poster is number five in Bloomington's seven part series. Call the Thunder office at (309) 434-2980 for tickets today.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2015


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