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Thunder Take Trip to Youngstown

February 26, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Fresh off a 1-0 win over the National Team Development Program Under-17 team, the Bloomington Thunder make the trip three hours east to Youngstown where the road trip continues. The Thunder and Phantoms square off at 6:05 p.m. (7:05 p.m. EST) from the Covelli Center. Both the Thunder (25-17-3-1) and Phantoms (22-14-4-5) are neck and neck in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Bloomington has fourth place and pushed Youngstown out of the contention last night to fifth place.

Listen live to all Thunder games this season by going to portal.stretchinternet.com/wjbc/. Tonight's broadcast begins at 5:45 p.m. for pregame coverage. Games will also be broadcast with live video on FastHockey.com. Don't forget to check out the Thunder's Twitter account, @BLMThunder, for updates during the game with our hashtag #BLMvsYNG.

The Thunder topped Team USA 1-0 behind an overtime game-winning goal from Wyatt Kalynuk (Western Michigan University). The defenseman scored his first career game winner for the Thunder on his second goal with the team. The blue liner began his career with the Lincoln Stars before being acquired by the Thunder during the off-season. He scored the goal in his 100th career game and has 18 points (2g, 16a) this season.

Collecting the shutout was goaltender Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) who has accrued three this season and four in his United States Hockey League career. His 24 stops out dueled Adam Scheel (University of Notre Dame) and gave him the leagues third best 18 wins. The third year netminder from Brampton, ON reached 40 wins in his career in Thursday night's shutout.

The Thunder and Phantoms have squared off four times this season and Youngstown has held the upper hand. The Eastern Conference rivals play eight times for the second year in a row, the most of any opponent in the USHL for Bloomington.

Youngstown has been playing .500 hockey over their last eight games, going 4-4-0-0 in that stretch. They are coming off a weekend split with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders falling in the second game of the weekend.

Youngstown has the top young player in the league as Cameron Morrison (University of Notre Dame) leads the team in points. The 17-year-old has 49 (26g, 23a) this season and is the top scoring rookie in the league. The Aurora, ON native also ranks second in the league in overall scoring and goals behind Rem Pitlick (University of Minnesota). Morrison has proved to be a two way forward, averaging just over a point a game and holding the top plus minus in the USHL this season.

Detroit Red Wings Draft Pick Chase Pearson (University of Maine, Detroit Red Wings) is second on the team with 34 points (9g, 25a). Already with the league's highest point streak of 10 games, Pearson has hit a slight snag over the last eight games, grabbing just two helpers.

NEXT HOME GAME: Friday, March 4th - 7 p.m. - Chicago Blackhawks night is back at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum to bring a slice of the reigning Stanley Cup Championship organization to Central Illinois. 2013 Stanley Cup Champion Jamal Mayers will be at the game signing autographs and dropping the ceremonial puck after soloist Jim Cornelison performs the Star Spangled Banner. The Blackhawks Bud Light Ice Crew will also be at the game to sign autographs and meet fans in the stands. Get to the game early for $1 drafts and sodas all the way until puck drop. Tickets start at $10 with $5 youth tickets when you call ahead. In order to receive these discounts you MUST call ahead. To reach the Thunder office, call (309) 434-2980.



United States Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2016


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