Under-18 Thunder host two games

By Rob Vogt

The Claresholm Thunder Under-18 came close in two home games in Tier-3 Central Alberta Hockey League on the weekend.
The Thunder hosted Pincher Creek at Claresholm Arena on Saturday, Jan. 18, dropping a hard-fought 6-4 decision.
Pincher Creek led 5-1 after the first period, with the Thunder goal coming off the stick of Ty McLean with just 10 seconds left in the period. Assists went to Josh Gibson-Morrison and Micah Rice.
It was all Thunder after that as they stormed back to get back in the game.
Colby Symens scored the lone goal of the second period, assisted by Carson Ring and Kieran Pothegadoo, making the score 5-2 after 40 minutes.
After Pincher Creek made the score 6-2, Claresholm mounted a furious comeback.
Rice scored unassisted with eight minutes to play, closing the gap to 6-3, then three minutes later Gibson-Morrison scored unassisted to make the score 6-4.
Despite numerous chances, Claresholm could not get any closer, losing by that 6-4 score.
Goaltender Finn Buhmiller was strong in net making 33 saves.
The Thunder were back on home ice on Sunday, Jan. 19, where they lost another close game, this time by a 5-3 score to Vulcan.
Once again the Thunder fell behind early, trailing 4-0 after the first period.
However, they came to life in the second period with three unanswered goals to close the gap to 4-3 after 40 minutes.
Claresholm goals came from Kieran Pothegadoo, assisted by Ring and Seannon Ocampo; Kaden Pothegadoo, assisted by Kieran Pothegadoo and Ocampo; and Kaden pothegadoo again, assisted by Ring and Gibson-Morrison.
Vulcan upped their lead to 5-3 three minutes into the third period, and the Thunder couldn’t respond, making 5-3 the final score.
Goaltender Brooklyn Chodyka made 40 saves for the Thunder.