Thunder faces defending champion Newfoundland
Carrier wants league championship
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. » Alex Carrier has no grand illusions about his future in pro hockey.
Now in his eighth season, a trip to the NHL isn’t likely for this 28-year-old forward who’s spent most of his career in the ECHL.
Along the way he’s played for teams from Atlanta to Wichita, and Orlando to Trenton.
But he’s fallen in love with his new home in Glens Falls where he might hang up his skates when this year’s Adirondack Thunder season is over. He decided to play at least one more year because there’s something special he’s ever experienced — a league championship.
“I think we’ve got what it takes,” Carrier said. “We’ve got re
ally good veteran leadership who shows the young guys what’s expected of them.”
The Thunder (7-5-0-2) take on the defending Kelly Cup champion Newfoundland Growlers (9-5-0-0) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls.
“They’ve got a lot of good young players on AHL and NHL contracts,” Adirondack Coach Alex Loh said.
The Thunder are coming off a 4-0 victory on Sunday at Maine. But it was somewhat of a bittersweet win because goaltender Alex Cormier was called up to Binghamton (AHL) right after recording the shutout win.
Adirondack and Binghamton are part of the New Jersey Devils organization. The goaltending change was necessitated after the Devils placed NHL veteran Cory Schneider on waivers.
This created a vacancy at Binghamton, which Cormier was called on to fill.
Eamon McAdam will likely get the nod in net for Adirondack on Wednesday.
But Cormier’s departure comes at an in opportune time as Wednesday’s contest is the first of seven in a 12-day span. It’s left Loh scrambling to find a suitable backup for McAdam during this tough stretch of upcoming games.
For most of his career, Carrier has been a grinding power forward counted on more for his physical toughness than scoring ability. In 48 games last year he had eight points (two goals, six assists).
This year, however, Carrier knows he needs to provide more offense so he’s made major adjustments to his style of play and already has three points (one goal, two assists) in just six games.
The Thunder trail firstplace Reading by six points in the ECHL’s North Division, so a win on Wednesday would be key before hitting the road for a Thursday game at Brampton, Ont.
“Every team in this league is good,” Loh said. “You have to be ready each night out.”