Thunder ranks thinned by call-ups
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. – Thunder coach Alex Loach has a favorite saying: “In this league, it’s not who you play, but when you play them.”
This weekend, his team travels to Manchester for a crucial twogame series on Friday and Saturday, followed by a third contest at Worcester.
Theonly problem is that Adirondack’s roster was raided this week by its AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Devils, which called upveteran forward Brian Ward and rookie John Edwardh, the Thunder’s second-leading scorer (23 goals, 18 assists) who’s also riding a 15-game point streak.
Meanwhile, Adirondack’s top goal scorer (24), Mike Szmatula, is still up above with the Utica Comets while speedy defenseman Kevin Lough is playing for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.
So the Thunder practically have one hand tied behind their backs before this week’s action gets under way.
Actually, it’s more like jumping out of an airplane with a beach towel instead of a parachute.
Adirondack (30-18- 5-2) just wants to land on its feet with a few more points under its belt by Monday morning. The Thunder are in second-place, five points ahead of third-place Manchester (29-24-2-2) in the ECHL’s North Division standings, with 17 contests left in the regular season.
Adirondack holds 5-2-2 edge in the teams’ season series to date, but Loh isn’t taking things for granted, especially with so many players missing.
“The only constant is change,” he said. “You just have to adjust. This is a time when guys that normally have a lesser role have an opportunity to step up and make an impact.”
If standings stay the way
they are now, this weekend’s series at Manchester would be a mini-preview of first-round playoff action.
“They’re dangerous, they have a lot of offensive talent,” Loh said. “For us, it’s really about maintaining our game, getting off to a good start and going on from there. We need to get a lead early and hold onto it.”
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Alex Sakellaropoulos went 2- 0- 0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and .953 save percentage last weekend to earn ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors.
The 24-year- old stopped 33 shots in a 3-1 win on Saturday and made 28 saves in a 4-2 victory on Sunday, both against the Reading Royals.
Sakellaropoulos is third in the ECHL with 19 wins and ranks seventh with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE: The Thunder have donated $17,950 to Special Olym-
pics of New York from proceeds of a post-game jersey auction after last Saturday night’s Law Enforcement Appreciation night. This amount is the largest donation in Adirondack Thunder history. The specialty jerseys that players wore during the game were provided by the Sheriff’s Offices of Washington, Saratoga and Rensselaer counties. Thunder forward Conor Riley’s jersey sold for a team-high $1,500 in the auction while captain James Henry’s and goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos’ jerseys also topped the four- digit plateau.
Additionally, the Thunder donated a portion of ticket sales to the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute Summer Camp.
A crowd of 5,178 was on hand for Law Enforcement Night.
“It was probably the best crowd in my four years here,” Loh said. “That noise and energy gives us a boost. I’m glad we won. Hopefully it brings people back.”