WOLFES HAT TRICK POWERS THUNDER PAST ADMIRALS 5-1

Glens Falls, NY –The Adirondack Thunder opened a critical three-in-three set on home ice with a 5-1 win over the Norfolk Admirals, powered by a hat trick from forward Greg Wolfe. The three-goal output was the first of Wolfe’s professional career and the first hat trick on home ice in Thunder franchise history.

Norfolk opened the scoring just past the halfway mark of the first period as forward Nick MacNeil capitalized on a crowded crease area and banged the puck past Adirondack netminder Ken Appleby for his fifth goal of the season. After Appleby made a pair of nice saves on two Norfolk chances, MacNeil was left unmarked in front and he put the loose puck home to open up the 1-0 advantage. Gabriel Verpaelst and Braden Christoffer collected the helpers on the play, Verpaelst’s 25th of the season.

Adirondack ended its scoreless drought on home ice early in the second period as they converted just 31 seconds into the middle stanza. Thunder Captain Peter MacArthur hit a streaking Wolfe with a well-timed homerun pass and the Thunder winger sniped his shot over Norfolk netminder Nic Riopel’s glove for his 11th goal of the season. The lone assist on the play went to MacArthur, his 25th helper of the season.

The Thunder took their first lead of the night after sustained pressure in the offensive zone finally turned into a goal. After Adirondack fired four shots at the Norfolk net, defenseman Mike Bergin crashed the net from the point and poked home a loose puck for his third tally of the season. Forwards Michael Kirkpatrick and Louick Marcotte, who each had a shot on the play, collected the assists, the team leading 26th helper of the season for Kirkpatrick.

The home side doubled its advantage with just 13.3 seconds to play in the second as they converted with a power-play goal to extend their advantage to 3-1. Stationed at the right hand boards, MacArthur sent a seeing-eye pass through to Wolfe at the back post, who saw his redirect denied by Riopel, but he then crashed the net and poked home the loose puck for his second tally of the night and 12th of the season. Defenseman Ryan Constant collected the secondary assist on the play.

The Thunder added a fourth goal less than 90 seconds into the third period as Marcotte made it a two-point night with a goal of his own at the 1:27 mark of the final stanza. After a nice forecheck from Lomberg, Kirkpatrick collected the puck in the office behind the net and hit a wide-open Marcotte in front, who finished for his 16th goal of the season. Kirkpatrick picked up his second assist of the evening while Lomberg’s helper marked his 14th assist and 30th point of the season.

After a series of penalties assessed to the Admirals, Wolfe completed his hat trick as he buried a power-play marker with less than five minutes to play in the game. As Adirondack controlled the puck off the faceoff, Lomberg hit Wolfe for a rocket of a one-timer, that beat new Norfolk netminder Tyler Green for Wolfe’s third goal of the night. Lomberg and Constant collected the helpers on the play, giving both players multiple assists on the evening.

Adirondack continues on its six-game homestand next weekend as they continue their three-in-three The Thunder host Brampton for the first of two games against the Beast. Tomorrow is Fireman’s Appreciation Night and NYSCOPBA Night, where NYSCOPBA is paying for a free ticket for all youth hockey players. Visit the Thunder offices tomorrow of call 518-480-3355 x1 to get your tickets.

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. Full Season Ticket Holders 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.

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