ECHL: Erik Middendorf and Ryan Smith Shine As Thunder Sweep Admirals

The Adirondack Thunder headed to Norfolk, Virginia, for a two-game set vs Norfolk Admirals as they looked to avenge the opening game of the season series, where Adirondack lost 6-3 on home ice where the team has yet to find the win column, and Adirondack has shined on the road so far this season and this weekend would be no different as it would Ryan Smith who finished the weekend with two goals, and Erik Middendorf who was the star of the weekend putting up three goals and an assist during the two-game series. Heading into the weekend, Adirondack had only one goalie as Tyler Brennan was up in Utica, and Vinnie Purpura was with Syracuse until Saturday when he was released from his PTO, but Jeremy Brodeur, who has had a solid start to the season, would once again have strong showings in both games against the Admirals.

Harper Picks Up 200th Career ECHL Point As Thunder Sink Admirals

Heading into Friday Night, Adirondack was one of six teams that had not lost when scoring first, as all four of their wins came this season when they scored first, and on Friday, it would be Ryan Smith who has been red hot of late, would open the scoring on a delayed penalty at the 5:54 mark of the opening frame to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead. Adirondack would double their lead as Shane Harper would send Yushiro Hirano on a break-away as he found the back of the net for his third of the season. Harper would pick up his 100th career ECHL point on the assist as the Thunder had two goals on their first four shots of the game; Adirondack would hold a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play as each team had ten shots on net.

In the second, the Admirals would get on the board as Keegan Iverson came down the wing and took a shot from the circle that beat Jeremy Brodeur for his first goal with the Admirals to cut the lead in half, however, it would be Erik Middendorf who’d get his fourth of the season with 24 seconds remaining in the second as the Thunder went up two heading into the third which was huge as coming into the game Adirondack had been outscored 12-5 in the final frame. Norfolk wouldn’t go down quietly as Iverson would find Dany Katic for his first of the season to make it a one-goal game just 3:48 into the third. Adirondack would respond as Erik Middendorf got his second goal of the game, and Patrick Grasso sealed the deal with a PP goal at the 18:47 marker as Adirondack would go on to win 5-2. Travis Broughman, a Virginia native with many family and friends in attendance, would pick up an assist on each of the goals in the third period. Jeremy Brodeur, who took the loss in relief during the first meeting between the two teams, would pick up the win on Friday, stopping 31 of 33 shots for his second win of the season.

Ryan Smith Extends Goal Streak To Four As Thunder Sweep Norfolk

The Adirondack Thunder had a rare Saturday off after winning 5-2 on Friday Night, and on Sunday, they wasted no time getting on the board as Erik Middendorf fed Ryan Smith on a two-on-one to open up the scoring just 2:59 after the opening faceoff. It wouldn’t take long for the Thunder as Patrick Grasso would get denied by Yaniv Perets but would find the puck shortly after and beat Perets short-side to give the Thunder a 2-0 lead less than five minutes in. It was a chippy first period as there were a lot of big hits and a lot of extra-curriculars after the whistles, but before the end of the period, Erik Middendorf would find the back of the net for his third of the weekend as the Thunder would outshoot the Admials 20-9 in the opening frame. The chippiness would finally reach a boiling point as Will MacKinnon and Darick Louis-Jean would drop the gloves just over two minutes into the second period. Both teams would get a chance on the PP in the second, but neither side would take advantage as Adirondack headed into the third up three.

Norfolk would finally crack Brodeur early in the third as Carson Golder would get the Admirals on the board with a PP goal. The Admirals would end up outshooting the Thunder in the frame 11-6 but would fail to find the back of the net again. Brodeur would pick up his fourth win of the season. One thing to note, this was the first game that Will MacKinnon and Colin Felix weren’t paired together, they we’re paired together all last season in Reading. The Thunder will return home on Wednesday to face the Reading Royals, which begins a seven-game homestand for Adirondack.