Thunder Return Home Friday to Host Rival Rivermen
January 9, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release
The Bloomington Thunder will become even more familiar with their Central Illinois rivals in the Southern Professional Hockey League as they meet for the first of five straight contests beginning Friday at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
The Thunder (10-17-0, 20 points, tenth SPHL) host the Peoria Rivermen at 7:05 p.m. Friday on Scout Night plus another SERVPRO Kids Eat Free Night where those 12 and under eat free hot dogs, corn dogs, nachos, popcorn and fries until the first Thunder goal. The teams conclude their home-and-home weekend series on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. in Peoria.
The Thunder have won five of their last seven contests, concluding a holiday stretch of six games in nine days with a 4-0 loss to the Columbus Cottonmouths last Saturday in Columbus, Ga. The Rivermen (13-10-3, 29 points, fifth SPHL) have won their last three games and are coming off of a 5-2 win over the Mississippi Surge last Saturday in Biloxi. The Thunder are 2-7-0 against the Rivermen with Peoria taking the most recent meeting in a 3-0 decision on New Year's Day at Carver Arena.
Leading Thunder scorer Tyler Noseworthy (7 goals, 13 assists, 20 points) is expected to return to the lineup this weekend after sitting out Saturday's game in Columbus with an upper body injury. The Thunder roster has been hit with nine call-ups this season although none in the past week, but the Rivermen recorded their seventh and eighth call-ups this week with the departure of two-way player Nick Wheeler (26 games, 6 goals, 5 assists, 11 points) and forward Phil Bushbacher (4 games, 0 points) to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.
Before Friday's Thunder contest, the Bloomington Junior Blaze host the Soo Firehawks in Midwest Junior Hockey League play at 3 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The junior squads will also meet on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at Pepsi Ice Center and Sunday at 11 a.m. at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
Friday's Thunder-Rivermen game can be heard on 93.7 FM inside U.S. Cellular Coliseum and on WJBC.com as well as viewed via subscription through America One Sports. Links to the online broadcasts are found at www.bloomingtonthunder.com. For group and multi-game discount packages, call 309-434-2980 and for single-game and gameday tickets, visit the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office or call 309-434-2679. The latest Thunder information can be found on www.bloomingtonthunder.com, Facebook and Twitter (BLMThunder).
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SPHL Stories from January 9, 2014
- Thunder Return Home Friday to Host Rival Rivermen - Bloomington Thunder
- Load up the Crew for "Carload Night" on January 24 - Peoria Rivermen
- Donate Books at Saturday's Game - Mississippi Surge
- Preview: Rivermen Set for Healthy Dose of Thunder - Peoria Rivermen
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