LOMBERGS FOUR GOALS POWER THUNDER PAST SOLAR BEARS

Orlando, FL –Ryan Lomberg collected the first hat trick in Adirondack Thunder franchise history as the winger’s four goals powered the Thunder past Orlando on Thursday evening at the Amway Center in Orlando, FL. Forward Peter MacArthur collected assists on each of Lomberg’s goals, tying his ECHL career high with the four helpers.

The Thunder opened the scoring late in the first period as Lomberg collected his 13th goal of the season with 4:55 to play in the opening stanza. After a scrum in front, the puck trickled through the slot to Lomberg, who moved it to his backhand and beat Orlando netminder Rob Madore for a 1-0 lead. MacArthur and Kevin Lough had the assists on the play, the 18th of the season for MacArthur and the first professional point for Lough.

It took the visitors just over two minutes to double their advantage as a power-play goal put the Thunder ahead by two at the 17:14 mark of the first period. The duo of MacArthur and Lomberg struck again as MacArthur fed a pass from the right point to Lomberg in front and the speedy winger put a nice move on Madore and slid the puck home for his second goal of the night. Lomberg’s tally gives him multiple goals in both games this season against Orlando, while MacArthur collected his fifth multi-point game over his past nine games. Greg Wolfe also picked up a helper on the play, his 21st of the season.

Lomberg completed the hat trick midway through the second period as he put home his third goal of the evening at the 11:19 mark. After he took a pass from MacArthur, Lomberg had his first bid deflected wide but followed his rebound and put home a wrap-around shot for his 15th tally of the season. Lomberg’s trio of goals went down as both a natural hat trick and the first hat trick in Adirondack Thunder franchise history. MacArthur and Louick Marcotte had the assists on the play, MacArthur’s second three-assist game of the season.

A three-goal game became a four-goal game as Lomberg buried his fourth of the night with a goal early in the third period. MacArthur carried the puck behind the net and slid a perfect feed into the path of Lomberg, where the Richmond Hill, ONT native put the puck home for his 16th goal of the season. MacArthur tied a career high with his fourth assist of the game, equaling his mark set on October 28, 2011 with the Las Vegas Wranglers, while Marcotte picked up his second tally of the night with the secondary assist.

Adirondack winger Alex Carrier ended the Lomberg scoring parade as he found the back of the net himself to extend the Thunder advantage to 5-0. After a fast-break opportunity, Terrence Wallin and Carrier went into the attacking zone on a two-on-one rush and Wallin hit Carrier with a perfectly timed feed for the goal. The tally was Carrier’s fourth of the season and came against his former team, where he spent a portion of the 2014-15 season. Wallin and Gunnar Hughes had the helpers on the play.

Orlando got on the board with just over eight minutes to play in the third period, as they converted on their first power play of the evening. After some nice puck movement in the attacking zone, forward Rylan Schwartz fed Brenden Miller at the point and the defenseman one-timed the feed past Adirondack netminder Drew Fielding for his third goal of the season. The Solar Bears would add another late goal with just 3:15 on the clock in the third, the 16th tally of the season for forward Johnny McInnis. Erik Bradford and Austin Block collected the helpers on Orlando’s second goal, the 17th of the season for Bradford.

Adirondack added an empty net goal with just under a minute to play in the period as Mathieu Brodeur fired home his seventh goal of the season on an unassisted play.

The Thunder look to rebound continue their offensive assault in Orlando as they face off against the Solar Bears twice more on Saturday and Sunday after an off day tomorrow. The Thunder then return home on March 22 and will have seven of their final eight games at the Civic Center as they push towards the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Full Season Tickets for the 2016-17 Adirondack Thunder season are on sale now for just 13 dollars per seat no matter where you sit. Experience Adirondack Thunder Hockey in a more affordable way than ever before. Sign up by March 31st and pay even less. Full Season Ticket Holders also have exclusive access to 2017 CCM/ECHL All Star Classic tickets. For more information and to get your seats now, call 480-3355 extension 1. Experience Thunder Hockey like never before.

###

Experience The Thunder