By Bloomington Thunder Sports Information:
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – A large scoring outburst by the Bloomington Thunder early gave Bloomington a 4-2 win over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders on Saturday night. Mitchell Chaffee had two goals and Butrus Ghafari (Western Michigan University) picked up three assists in the game, giving him five points in his last three games. Bloomington (6-5-0) moves into a tie for second in the Eastern Conference with the Madison Capitols.
The first period was the most exciting of the season for the Thunder. They turned in three goals in just over six minutes. Bloomington’s Mitchell Chaffee was awarded his second of the season to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead on a rebound just 2:20 into the game. After being knocked out of the game with a mild injury, Van Barr (Western Michigan University) came back and made it 2-0 on another rebound in front of Ben Blacker (Western Michigan University). It was Barr’s second of the season and was also one of 14 shots in the period for the Thunder. Ghafari turned in assists on both goals to start the game.
The RoughRiders struck back with a power play goal under a minute later. The goal was scored by Ross Colton (University of Vermont) and put them down by just one. However, the Thunder were not done in the period. Chaffee scored his second of the game to regain the momentum. All happening prior to the halfway point of the first period, the Thunder took the lead to the dressing room at 3-1.
Blake Gober put his body in the right spot as a shot from Myles Cunningham (Brown University) bounced off his body and past Blacker. The goal came under six minutes into the period and gave the Thunder a 4-1 lead. Colton got his second power play goal of the night on a shot from neutral ice. It snuck into the back of the net at 11:06 to put the RoughRiders back in the game.
Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) made a season high 38 saves in the game including some odd man chances for the RoughRiders and a late charge. The Thunder goaltender is now 6-2-0 on the season with his third win in a row.
Cedar Rapids managed one more in the game with the goaltender pulled Matt Gosiewski (Harvard University) scored the final goal of the game on a rebound. It was not enough as the Thunder held on and Gober earned the game-winning goal. Blacker suffered his third straight loss of the season with 25 saves in the game.
The Thunder return to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum to take on the Dubuque Fighting Saints (7-3-0) in an afternoon battle. Game time is 3 p.m. but come out early for free hot dogs and trick or treating around the concourse. Dubuque is first in the Eastern Conference after a loss to the Des Moines Buccaneers on Friday night.
NEXT HOME GAME: Saturday, October 31st – 3 p.m. – Don’t be tricked; be treated at the Thunder’s Halloween afternoon game presented by CM Promotions. Kids can take part in a free trick or treat around the concourse at the game. Tickets start at $5 for kids and $10 for adults when calling the Thunder office. It’s also part of the Saturday food special games. Kids get a free hot dog voucher when they enter the building and from 6-7 p.m. its buy one get one free hot dogs for everyone.
