THUNDER FALL JUST SHORT OF WEEKEND SWEEP IN 2-1 LOSS TO NORFOLK

Norfolk, VA - The Adirondack Thunder fell just short of a weekend sweep as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday evening at the Norfolk Scope.

An up-and-down start to the game led to chances at both ends, but it was Norfolk who struck first on a 2-on-1 break. After Courchaine turned away an Adirondack bid at one end, Steven Whitney carried the puck down the right wing and despite a good defensive play from Mathieu Brodeur, the puck found its way to Pageau, who beat Thunder goaltender Ken Appleby over the glove hand to make it 1-0 Admirals.

Pageau struck again at the 9:05 mark of the first period as he beat Appleby again, this with a wrist shot from the right circle to make it 2-0 Norfolk. As the Admirals broke into the Adirondack zone with a three-on-three rush, Whitney dropped the puck to Pageau, who snapped his shot past Appleby’s blocker for his second goal of the game and the season. Whitney and Alexis Loiseau had the helpers on the play, the second point of the game for both forwards.

Adirondack got one back with less than four minutes to play in the opening period as Michael Kirkpatrick scored his 12th goal of the season to cut the deficit to 2-1. Kirkpatrick skated the puck the length of the ice and dished to Ben Johnson, who saw his shot denied by Norfolk netminder Adam Courchaine, but Kirkpatrick collected the rebound and lifted it into the roof of the netting for the goal. With the goal, Kirkpatrick extended his scoring streak on the road to seven games and overall to four games.

Adirondack threw 36 shots at the Norfolk net, including 16 in the third period, but were unable to get another past Admirals’ netminder Adam Courchaine, who made 35 saves for his second victory of the season against the Thunder.

The loss splits the weekend set between Adirondack and Norfolk at two points apiece. The Thunder are off for the next six days for their holiday break before they return to the Civic Center next Saturday, December 26, to battle the Manchester Monarchs on Star Wars Night. Fans can get a $15 Adult Ticket or $8 Youth Ticket if they come in a Star Wars costume or $3 off admission if they wear a Star Wars shirt or show their ticket stub from the new Star Wars movie.

Don’t miss out on the speed, skill, strength and sounds of Thunder hockey with a partial season flex or mini ticket plan today. The Adirondack Thunder and O’Toole’s Restaurant Pub Holiday Pack is on sale now, consisting of four tickets, an inaugural season Thunder hat and a $10 gift card to O’Toole’s, an $80 value for just $60. Send a jolt into your holidays with the gift of Adirondack Thunder hockey. For more information on all Thunder ticket plans, call 518-480-3355 x1 or visit echlthunder.com

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