Thunder bolster lineup for busy weekend
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. » The Adirondack Thunder got a much-needed goaltending boost Thursday as they prepare for a busy threegame weekend.
Drew Fielding, 27, returns to the Thunder for his third season with the team.
The 5-foot-10 netminder has appeared in 48 career ECHL games, including 38 with Adirondack. Fielding has a 21-18-5 record throughout his ECHL career to go along with a .903 save percentage and a 2.88 goals against average.
The Burlington, Ontario native recorded a. 914 save percentage last year with the Thunder, as he appeared in 25 regular season games as well as one Kelly Cup playoff contest.
He’ll no doubt see action this weekend as the Thunder host the Toledo Walleye on Friday and Saturday (7 p.m. both nights), before traveling to Reading, Pa. for a 4 p.m. battle on Sunday.
Goaltender Nick Riopel has played every minute of Adirondack’s first four games of the season.
The Thunder, 2-1-1, are trying to get back on track after suffering a 4-1 defeat, their first loss of the season, on Tuesday against Brampton.
Adirondack has scored 19 goals in four games, but has allowed 20.
In addition to Fielding, two other roster additions have been made since Tuesday.
Defenseman Colton White has been assigned to Adirondack from the AHL’s Binghamton Devils, and forward joins the Thunder from the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.
White, 20, made his professional debut on Oct. 21 against Lehigh Valley. He was a New Jersey Devils fourth-round draft pick in 2015, and previously skated four seasons with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds where he ranks sixth in franchise history with 256 games played. He had 93 points during his OHL career, in addition to a plus66 rating.
Conacher played 10 AHL games over the past two seasons with the Toronto Marlies, where he had two goals and an assist. He also recorded 11 points (2-9-11) in 25 regular season games a season ago with Orlando, in the ECHL, and scored five points (1-4-5) in even Kelly Cup contests.
“We want these games, we want these points,” Thunder defenseman Dylan Olsen said. “It’s fun to win. This team just doesn’t stop working and trying to get that next goal.”