Under-18 Thunder blast Brooks

By Rob Vogt
The Claresholm Under-18 Thunder returned from their Christmas break with a vengeance, smothering Brooks in their lone Tier-3 game in weekend Central Alberta Hockey League action.
The Thunder hosted Brooks on Sunday, Jan. 7, winning by a score of 7-1, coming within just under two minutes of shutting them out.
Claresholm took control early, pouring in three goals in the first period off the sticks of Kaden Pothegadoo, assisted by Nathan Keller and Josh Gibson-Morrison; Joey Van Rootselaar on the power play, assisted by Kaden Pothegadoo; and Seannon Ocampo, assisted by Reid Schooley.
The Thunder extended their lead to 6-0 after two periods, with goals by Schooley, from Van Rootselaar; Carson Ring, from Colby Symens; and Kieran pothegadoo on the power play, from Schooley and Gibson-Morrison.
Keller made the score 7-0 just seven minutes into the third period, assisted by Vann Woodman, and that looked to be the final score. Then, with 1:40 to play, a bouncing puck found its way into the back of the Claresholm net, giving Brooks their lone goal, and making 7-1 the final score.
Goaltender Finn Buhmiller was outstanding in net, stopping 33 of 34 shots, as Brooks outshot Claresholm for the vast majority of the game.