THUNDER MAKE HISTORY AS THEY MOVE TO 6-0 WITH 4-1 WIN OVER WHEELING

Wheeling, WV – The Adirondack Thunder made history as they moved to 6-0 to open the 2015-16 season with a 4-1 win over the Wheeling Nailers. The Thunder became the first team in Adirondack professional hockey history to win six straight games to open a season.

The Thunder got out to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period as Gunnar Hughes redirected home his first career professional goal. A hard working shift from Alex Carrier got the puck to Mike Bergin at the point, where the RPI graduate faked twice before he fired a shot towards the net, which Hughes tipped home in front to score in his professional debut.

Adirondack doubled its advantage at the 14:44 mark of the opening period, as Rob Bordson buried a power-play tally to make it 2-0 for the Thunder. Bordson positioned himself in front and put a David Shields rebound past Wheeling netminder Franky Palazzese for his fifth goal of the season. Shields and fellow defenseman Ryan Constant collected the assists on the play.

The Nailers got on the board with 2:50 left in the first, courtesy of forward Patrick McGrath, who put a rebound past Thunder goaltender Ken Appleby. A nice sequence in the offensive zone for Wheeling led to a shot from the point from Harrison Ruopp, which Appleby denied, but McGrath found the loose rebound and swatted it home with the backhand for his fourth career ECHL goal. Defense Brett Stern also collected an assist on the play.

The visitors regained a two goal advantage with the second period’s only goal, once again off the stick of Bordson. The Thunder moved the puck terrifically with the man advantage, as Flanagan went cross ice to Shields, who went back across the netmouth to an open Bordson, who slotted it home for the finish. The goal increased Bordson’s league leading point total to 11, while Flanagan collected his sixth assist of the season on the play.

The Thunder put the icing on the cake with just 2:20 to play in the third period as Mitchell Heard uncorked a twisted wrist shot from the slot past Palazzese to make it 4-1. Positioned between the circles, Heard took a feed from defenseman Joe Faust, took a stickhandle, and fired a wrist shot under the crossbar and into the back of the net to put the Thunder out of sight. Heard now has six points in five games since he joined the Thunder from Stockton.

The Thunder will return to Glens Falls to regroup before they head back on the road to Kalamazoo for a 10:35 a.m. puck drop on Wednesday afternoon. The Thunder finally play at home again at the Civic Center on November 18 as the Norfolk Admirals come to town.

Full season, partial season, flex and group ticket plans are now available to renew or purchase for the Adirondack Thunder’s inaugural 2015-16 season, presented by Bud Light. The benefits of being a Thunder season ticket holder include a savings of 27 to 42 percent off box office pricing. All full season, 22 game and 12 game Thunder season ticket holders are entitled to unlimited unused ticket exchange, playoff ticket priority and the ability to buy tickets all season long at the discounted season ticket price

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The Days Of Thunder Are Coming To Glens Falls