By WJBC Staff
BLOOMINGTON – Despite the result, the Thunder were cheered on by the tune of a record 3,700 fans at U.S. Cellular Coliseum at their home opener, resulting in a 4-2 defeat from the Waterloo Black Hawks. The Thunder’s were able to answer the Black Hawks on two occasions but ultimately couldn’t come back from a strong start in the game. Bloomington opens the year 0-1-0 while the Black Hawks go 1-0-0 to open the 2015-16 campaign.
The Black Hawks picked up the first goal of the game on a loose puck in front of the Thunder crease. Shane Bowers found the rebound and put it to the net at 19:05. Despite the late deficit, the Thunder put up nine shots on net and Logan Halladay (University of Minnesota) stopped seven in the frame in route to a 23 save night.
Two more came from the Black Hawks after the intermission when Sam Rossini (University of Minnesota) and Nick Swaney (University of Minnesota-Duluth) turned shots into goals at 3:08 and 9:41.
Cale Morris (University of Notre Dame) was tough to beat in the first stopping nine, but the Thunder were able to take one in the second. Alec Mehr made it 3-1 on a back door pass from Jeremy Davies (Northeastern University). Mehr tapped in the back door slam at 10:46 of the second as the Thunder took the momentum.
The Thunder went to the penalty kill to end the period despite Jake Slaker (St. Lawrence University) being brought down from a trip at center ice on a knee to knee hit.
In the third, the Hawks found a break in the Thunder defense and gave the puck over to David Cotton (Boston College, Carolina Hurricanes) for a tap in on the back door. The game was 4-1 but the Thunder came back and responded again. Bloomington’s Van Barr (Western Michigan University) channeled his inner 2014, grabbing a goal again, in his first game of the year with the Thunder. The tip gave Davies his second assist on the night and brought the Thunder within two.
With the goaltender on the bench, the Thunder gave it one more try, but could not capitalize. Bloomington went 1-5 on the power play and held the Hawks off the board on five power play chances also.
Bloomington heads to Green Bay to take on the Gamblers Saturday night to complete the opening weekend. Puck drop is 7 p.m. as the Thunder look to rebound from the loss. The game can be heard on WJBC.com.
