Thunder Ready for Event-Filled Weekend

February 13, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


The Bloomington Thunder hope an event-filled weekend beginning with a heavy presence from the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks will lift the hosts in the Southern Professional Hockey League standings.

The Thunder host the Mississippi RiverKings on Friday and Saturday at 7:05 each night and the Fayetteville FireAntz on Sunday afternoon at 3:05 at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The Thunder (15-22-2, 32 points, 10th SPHL) are just one point behind the ninth-place FireAntz and three points behind Columbus and Knoxville for a seventh-place tie. The top eight teams move into the post-season.

Bloomington split the only other two meetings of the season, winning 2-1 on December 7 and losing 2-0 the next day, both at the Landers Center in suburban Memphis. The Thunder are led in scoring by captain Travis Granbois with 28 points on eight goals and 20 assists, followed by Tyler Noseworthy with eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points. Kyle Watson leads the Thunder with 11 goals. A pair of skaters who formerly called Bloomington home lead the RiverKings (22-14-3, 47 points, 4th SPHL) behind 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points from Matt Whitehead and 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points from Leo Thomas.

Fayetteville (15-19-3, 33 points, 9th SPHL) faces the Thunder for the final time this season on Sunday afternoon. The Thunder split the most recent match-ups on January 23 and 24 at U.S. Cellular Coliseum and lead the season series over the FireAntz 4-2-0. Bobby Reed leads Fayetteville with eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points.

Friday is Chicago Blackhawks Night featuring Hockey Hall of Fame member Tony Esposito, who will sign autographs before the game and during intermissions with free color photos of the former Blackhawks goalie available for signing. THe first 1,000 fans receive a 2013 Stanley Cup Champions team photo and other Blackhawks items will be given away, including tickets and the grand prize of a Hawks jersey autographed by Patrick Kane. Friday is Pepsi Date Night featuring two tickets for only $20 when bringing a Pepsi product to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office.

Saturday is Guns and Hoses Night beginning with the annual game between local police and firefighters at 3 p.m. The Thunder will wear special Guns and Hoses jersey during their 7:05 p.m. game that will be auctioned immediately after the contest with all proceeds going to Special Olympics Illinois. Saturday is another Kids Eat Free Night courtesy of SERVPRO in which kids 12 and under eat free hot dogs, corn dogs, popcorn, nachos and fries until the first Thunder goal.

Sunday's 3:05 p.m. game is a Kids Day featuring $5 admission for kids 12 and under and $3 kids meals. Fans of all ages are invited to skate with the Thunder after the game with skate rental available for only $2.

Also this weekend, the Bloomington Junior Blaze host their final home games of the season at 3 p.m. Friday, 12:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday against the Alpena Street Cats. The Junior Blaze are in fifth place in the Midwest Junior Hockey League standings with a record of 12-20-1 for 25 points, behind fourth-place Alpena with a 19-13-0 mark for 38 points.

Information on all of the weekend's activities can be found at www.bloomingtonthunder.com, Facebook and Twitter (BLMThunder). Group and multi-game discounts are still available by calling the Thunder office at 309-434-2980. For individual game and game day tickets, visit the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office or call 309-434-2679.



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