Saturday, November 25, 2000

 

Thunder Suffer 6-4 Setback vs. Portland Pioneers

November 25, 2000EUGENE, OR…The Eugene Thunder hit the ice tonight prepared for battle. The starting lineup featured Max Manders, Eric Graftaas and Freddy Martinez up front, Garrett Carter and Tommy Baker on defense with Martin Stehl backstopping the crew. Max, Eric and Freddy got things started quickly, putting good pressure on the Pioneers. Mark Demmer, Sean MacDonald and Josh Ankney came out backed up by Jake Meisenheimer and Andreas Collander and they continued where the previous line had left off, hitting hard, moving the puck well and pinning the Pioneers in their own zone. The game was quite physical with both teams finishing their checks. The Portland Pioneers were playing without captain Darrell Draper and forwards Matt Rude and Eric Slaughter, all of whom were serving game misconducts from last night’s contest. Eugene took advantage of the extra ice this seemed to afford them. And while the penalties tonight were minimal compared to the last game, they weren’t non-existant. Portland’s Sean Currigan found himself in the box in the early going for high sticking and the Thunder powerplay went to work. At 8:26 of the first period, Eric Graftaas blasted the puck into the net from the slot for his first goal of the night, a powerplay goal. Assists to Freddy Martinez and Garrett Carter. Then at 15:04 Max Manders found the back of the net for his 2^nd goal in two nights – his 3^rd of the season. Assisted by Freddy Martinez and Eric Graftaas. Just when things started looking like the Thunder were going to pick up where they left off last night, Tommy Baker went to the box for roughing and Portland’s powerplay was able to snipe one by Martin Stehl. Scott Bruce gets credited with the goal, assists to Mitch Dixon and John Satterberg at 18:53. With the score 2-1, the teams retreated to the locker rooms for intermission.Portland came out ready to play in the second. It took them a mere twenty seconds to tie the game at two goals a piece when John Satterberg scored, assisted by Kyle Gustafson. Nolan Baker got called for holding and Portland’s powerplay found their mark again. This time it was Mike McDaniel scoring, assisted by Sean Currigan. Minutes later, Max Manders went to the penalty box for interference. By now, Portland was on a roll. Sean Currigan buried the puck, assisted by Damon Hall, to put Portland up 4-2. Coach Kelly Hubbard called a hasty timeout to calm his guys and try to get everyone back on the same page. This was not the same Portland team that the Thunder faced last night. This Portland team was playing some good hockey and for the most part, keeping their game clean. It was obvious that the Thunder were having a difficult time adjusting to this turn of events, so unexpected it was.Ironically, Portland was then whistled for the next three penalties of the game, giving the Thunder a chance to get back in it. Tommy Baker did not disappoint, firing the puck into the net, set up by Chance Lau and Aaron Roberge. This extended Tommy’s goal scoring streak to four games and brought the Thunder within a goal of their I-5 rival.The third period proved once and for all who wanted to win this game the most. At 13:21, Portland’s Dave Schroeder slipped another puck by Martin Stehl. John Satterberg and Sean Currigan got the helpers on that one. Then during the next play, Damon Hall got mixed up behind the play with Chance Lau. It was a two sided struggle, but the ref didn’t turn his attention to the disturbance until Chance was inflicting harm to Hall…the result: Damon got to skate to the Portland bench laughing while Chance was whistled for roughing. During the ensuing powerplay, the Pioneers worked the puck well and ultimately Scott Bruce buried the puck for his 2^nd powerplay goal of the night, giving Portland a 6-3 lead. His goal was assisted by Mitch Dixon and James Samson.The Thunder weren’t quite ready to give up yet. Eric Graftaas, Max Manders and Freddy Martinez went out and continued working hard as they had all game long. They were rewarded when Eric was able to fire the puck past Portland goaltender Bryan Stoothoff at 16:32, assisted by Martinez and defenseman Garrett Carter. But that would end the scoring. Nolan Baker would get the gate at the 2:31 mark foiling any further attempt the Thunder may have made at tying the game up. Instead they had to scramble to ensure no further damage would be done to them on the scoreboard.Portland played a good game tonight. As huge a game as Aaron Roberge and Nolan Baker had last night for the Thunder, John Satterberg and Sean Currigan had tonight for the Pioneers. These two teams will faceoff again on Friday December 8^th and Saturday December 9^th up in Portland. But first the Thunder will travel to Liberty Lake to take on the Lumberjacks December 1^st and 2^nd.

The Thunder’s next home action will be Friday December 15^th at 7:30 pm and Saturday December 16^th at 3:30 pm against the Puget Sound Kings. Each person who brings a stuffed animal for donation to the hospital to the game on December 15^th will get in free.

 

Player Statistics

Saturday, November 25, 2000 vs. Portland Pioneers

No.	Name	G	A	Pts.	PIMs	PP	SH	GWG	FG
1	Martin Stehl
2	Andreas Collander
4	Cassidy Esty
7	Max Manders	1	0	1	2
8	Sean MacDonald
9	Freddy Martinez	0	3	3
10	Eric Graftaas	2	1	3		1			1
11	Chance Lau	0	1	1	4
12	Andrew Fields
14	Aaron Roberge	0	1	1
15	Lee Jurasevich
16	Nolan Baker				4
17	Mark Demmer
20	Josh Ankney				2
21	Garrett Carter	0	2	2	2
22	Phil Bingman
23	Jake Meisenheimer
24	Tommy Baker	1	0	1	2	1
27	Alan Rasmussen
30	Cory Johnson

 

 

No.	Name	Mins	W	L	GAA	Svs	Sv%	SO
1	Martin Stehl	60	0	1	6.00	23	.793
30	Cory Johnson