Thunder Hockey Finish the Week with 6 Points

Edmonton AB – Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder take on Briercrest Clippers at Clarview arena for their second game of the weekend. After a 3-2 win last night Concordia Thunder were looking for another two points during the Saturday matinee game. 

The first period was full of action with a combined total of 4 goals. The first goal of the game was scored by Briercrest # 28 Landon Russell just past the half-way mark of the first period. The Briercrest Clippers took the lead by 2 with a short-handed goal from #5 Halen Cardoni. Concordia Thunder answer back, quickly, with a power play goal from #4 Xavier Parenteau assisted by #8 Brandon Wallis and #13 Tristan Gagnon. The Thunder got hungry and put another one in the net on the power play. A pass in front of the next from #8 Austin Shellenberg was tipped by #8 Brandon Wallis to tie the game. The first period ended in a tie with a score of 2-2.  

The second period of play started a little slow. The Concordia Thunder held the Briercrest Clippers to two goals for the first half of the period, while they spent a lot of their time on the penalty kill. Their luck soon run out when Briercrest Clippers took a 3-2 lead with a goal from #24 Caleb Dolman. The Clippers were not done yet, #14 Trey Doell took the puck end to end and snuck it by Thunder goaltender to further the lead 4-2. With 14 shots on net and a huge 2 on 1 save Thunder goalie Sam Visscher, keeps them in the game. The second period ended with a score of 4-2. 

The Concordia Thunder comes out with a mission in the third period. Thunder #14 Rylan Nivon scores a big goal to start the comeback. With 6.5 minutes left in the game Thunder #13 Tristan Gagnon scores a power play goal. The goal was assisted by #8 Brandon Wallis and #4 Xavier Parenteau. Not even 2 minutes later the Thunder take the lead with a goal from #4 Xavier Parenteau, assisted by #14 Rylan Nivon and #19 Zach Carlson. As the Thunder lead 5-4 Briercrest pull the goalie in a last stitch effort for one minute left in the game. Thunder almost scored on the empty net, but it was tipped away. There was lots of pressure in the offensive end for Briercrest in the last minute of play with the extra attacker but unfortunately, they could not tie it up. The Thunder win 5-4. 

The Big Kuhuna Sport player of the game was number for the Briercrest Clippers #24 Caleb Dolman and for Concordia Thunder #8 Brandon Wallis. 

The Thunder Head Coach Joey Bouchard had this to say after the game: "Huge Character win. Our boys played hard tonight. We had a big third period and we were very resilient group. Over this past week we collected 6 points out of a possible 6 and that was the goal, to get the big win, and prepare ourselves for next week. A huge character win tonight."

Thunder #14 Rylan Nivon with 2 goals and an assist had this to say after the game: "It was a hard-fought game. Briercrest came out and played a hard game. We had to battle back in the third period, and we showed a lot of character and we got the job done. 

The Concordia Thunder play their last home game on Saturday February 19, against Portage at 7:00 pm at the Clareview arena.