Thunder Week Features Blackhawks Legend, Guns and Hoses Night
February 11, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release
The Bloomington Thunder launch a seven-game homestand with four contests this week including a Tuesday match with their rivals, a Chicago Blackhawks Night on Friday featuring a visit by a Hockey Hall of Famer, and an annual battle between local police and firefighters.
Here come the Hawks: The Thunder's four-game week continues with three games this weekend filled with special events. Friday's 7:05 tilt against the Mississippi RiverKings is Chicago Blackhawks Night featuring ticket giveaways, team photos to the first 1,500 fans and an appearance by former Hawks goalie and Hockey Hall of Famer Tony Esposito. Tony O will sign autographs and meet fans in the U.S. Cellular Coliseum concourse before the game and during intermissions. Friday is a Pepsi Date Night with two lower end tickets for only $20 when bringing a Pepsi product to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office. Saturday's 7:05 rematch with the RiverKings is Guns and Hoses Night featuring special Thunder jerseys that will be auctioned immediately after the game to benefit Special Olympics Illinois, and the annual battle on the ice between local police and firefighters will take place on Coliseum ice at 3 p.m. Kids 12 and under eat free on Saturday until the first Thunder goal courtesy of SERVPRO. Sunday's 3:05 game against the Fayetteville FireAntz is Kids Day with $5 tickets and $3 kids meals for those 12 and under, plus a post-game skate for all ages with the Thunder after the game.
Welcome home: The Thunder play their first February game at U.S. Cellular Coliseum on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. against the Peoria Rivermen. The Thunder (14-22-2, 30 points, 10th SPHL) are also looking for their first February win after dropping the first three games of the month, most recently 4-2 and 4-0 decisions last weekend at Huntsville. The Rivermen (20-13-4, 44 points, 5th SPHL) are 2-0-1 in February and notched a pair of 3-2 wins at home over Columbus on Friday and Saturday. Tuesday is Pack the House Night presented by Easton Sports with $2 tickets available when presenting the same number of vouchers to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office, plus $2 drafts, soda, hot dogs and popcorn all night.
Playing in Peoria: Although the Thunder dropped the first six meetings with the Rivermen, they are 5-2-1 against their rivals since then. Tyler Noseworthy (4 goals, 6 assists) and Travis Granbois (3 goals, 7 assists) lead the Thunder with 10 points against Peoria. Rivermen rookie Garrett Vermeersch has feasted against the Thunder by collecting 21 of his 38 points against Bloomington on 14 goals and 7 assists. The teams have not met since a 4-2 Thunder win in Peoria on January 19. The Thunder are on a three-game losing streak but the Rivermen have earned points in the last six games, winning five of those contests.
Showing his Strang-th: Thunder goalie Max Strang was called up to South Carolina on Saturday, marking the second time the rookie has been sent to an ECHL club after spending time earlier this season in Fort Wayne. With the Thunder, Strang is 9-12-1 in 22 games with a 3.31 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. The Thunder also signed forward Bobby Watson, a 5-7, 160-pound native of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma who played junior hockey in the North American Hockey League in Wichita Falls, New Mexico and Chicago.
Junior Blaze return home: In addition to all of the Thunder activities this week, the Bloomington Junior Blaze host the Alpena Street Cats in a three-game weekend set in Midwest Junior Hockey League play. Contests on U.S. Cellular Coliseum ice precede the Thunder games with the juniors facing off at 3 p.m. Friday, 12:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday. Games can be viewed via subscription through Fast Hockey with the link found at www.bloomingtonblazejr.com.
Following the Thunder: Thunder games can be heard inside U.S. Cellular Coliseum on 93.7 FM and online at WJBC.com and viewed on America One Sports. Online broadcast links are at www.bloomingtonthunder.com. Information on the Thunder including group and multi-game packages can be found on the team web site, Facebook and Twitter (BLMThunder) and by calling 309-434-2980. Individual and gameday tickets are available directly through the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office.
SPHL Stories from February 11, 2014
- Mississippi RiverKings Vanquishes Huntsville in Shootout, 4-3 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Thunder Break Skid with Triumph over Rivermen - Bloomington Thunder
- RiverKings Announce Roster Moves - Mississippi RiverKings
- Louisiana's Matt Zenzola Named Easton Player of the Week - SPHL
- Hang out with the Surge Today - Mississippi Surge
- Ice Flyers to Hold Second Annual Bowling Tournament - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- After Tough Road Trip Snakes Prep for Two at Home - Columbus Cottonmouths
- Thunder Week Features Blackhawks Legend, Guns and Hoses Night - Bloomington Thunder
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