The Adirondack Thunder had a busy Wednesday as they got some help from the Utica Comets prior to their weekend series against the Reading Royals. Taylor Ford, who was activated off the 14-day IR Monday, was placed back on the 14-day IR on Wednesday. Ford has not played since October 26th vs. Trois-Rivieres Lions. Chase Brand has one assist in six games this season and has now been placed on the 3-Day IR. Defenseman James Marooney, who has played in five games this season, was placed on reserve.
Help From Utica
Heading into a big three-in-three weekend and the start of seven games in ten days, the Thunder would get three bodies in forwards Filip Engaras, Will MacKinnon, and Josh Filmon.
Will MacKinnon– The 24-year-old defenseman is one of two familiar faces to the Thunder after playing in 29 games with the team last year while putting up a goal and three assists in 29 games, and would add five assists while playing in 12 games with Adirondack during the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs. It’s been a rough start for MacKinnon this season in Utica as he’s yet to find the scoresheet in 12 games and is also a -9. I expect MacKinnon to play big minutes for the Thunder this weekend against his former team.
Filip Engaras- The 25-year-old forward spent the majority of last season in Utica, playing in 53 games while putting up six goals and six assists for 12 points in 53 games; he would come alive for the Thunder during the Kelly Cup Playoffs last season, where he had seven goals and two assists for nine points in 17 games. Engaras has played in five games this season in Utica and found the back of the net in the last game he played with the Comets, which came on October 25th against the Laval Rocket.
Josh Filmon- The sixth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils back in 2022 is in his first year as a pro after signing his three-year entry-level deal with the Devils on March 31st, 2023. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native spent parts of four seasons in the WHL with the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL, where he put up 99 goals and 90 assists for 189 points in 212 games before going pro. He has yet to find the scoresheet in eight games with the Utica Comets this season. I expect Filmon to be a solid part of the Thunder roster while he’s down here.
