Marinette Youth Hockey Association

 

Pink Out

The Thunder Pink Out game has become a highlight on the local sports calendar in recent years. Last year’s event drew a packed house and raised approximately $19,000, and the association is anticipating another great turnout on February 2, as they and the community pitch in to support a local family fighting cancer.

All proceeds from this year’s game will go to Lizzie VandeHey and her family. Lizzie, a sophomore at Menominee High School, was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and is currently undergoing aggressive chemotherapy.

The Thunder will take on Manitowoc with the puck dropping at 7:30 p.m., but fans should arrive early to enjoy the festivities, give generously, and take a shot at winning some great prizes.

This year’s game will again feature a gun raffle as well as many other great prizes including a PS5 gaming console, a wine and alcohol pull, raffle baskets, 50/50 raffles for each period and a “free” bake sale where donations will be accepted.

High School

The Thunder headed north to play four games at four different venues this weekend. The team went 2-2 against Ontonagon, Hancock and Houghton.

The action stated in Ontonagon Saturday morning, where a shorthanded Thunder team ran into a hot goalkeeper.

The Thunder were missing the services of both leading scorer Blue Haley and head coach Fred Haley for the game after both were ejected from a penalty riddled contest against Dodgeville last weekend.

Ethan King was outstanding in goal for the Thunder, turning away 36 of the 37 shots he faced. However, Ontonagon captain Mathias Anderson stopped all 31 shots he faced to hand the Thunder their second shutout of the season. Ontonagon’s Delwyn Westeen scored on a two-vs.-one breakaway midway through the third period and added an empty netter in the closing seconds of the contest to win 2-0.

Saturday afternoon, the Thunder took on Hancock JV in Hancock, in what turned out to be a thriller.

Blue Haley was back on the ice and immediately made his presence felt with the game’s first goal six minutes into the contest.

Haley scored again in the second period, but the Bulldogs outscored the Thunder 3-1 in the period to take a 3-2 edge into the final frame.

Midway through the period, Damien Winterbottom tied the game off an assist from Chase Nerat. Haley completed a hattrick with a game-winning goal with 1:01 to play that lifted the Thunder to a 4-3 victory.

Glenn Woordworth came up with 20 saves against 23 shots to pick up his seventh win of the season.

The Thunder and Bulldogs met again at Michigan Tech University’s MacInnes Student Ice Arena Sunday morning.

This time, Nerat started the scoring with a blast three minutes in. Later, Brayden Rounds hit the net from distance to give the Thunder a 2-1 edge at the end of the first period.

In the second period, two goals from Haley and another from Simon Bowers made it 5-3.

Rounds capped off the scoring effort midway through the third period to account for a 6-3 final score.

King was outstanding between the pipes, racking up 20 saves in his first high school victory.

Sunday afternoon, the Thunder took on Houghton JV at historic Dee Stadium.

The Gremlins came out fighting, instigating several scuffles in the first period alone. Houghton picked up nine penalties for roughing, slashing, head contact and fighting while the officiating crew allowed the teams to play through numerous other infractions.

In between the rough-housing, Houghton also managed to rip off a barrage of 49 shots.

The Thunder combatted that attack with senior goalie Glenn Woodworth who was outstanding with an impressive 45 saves.

Meanwhile the Thunder managed only eight shots in the game but scored on two of them. Goals from Nerat and Avery Walloway had the Thunder down just one at 3-2 until Houghton’s Ethan Hainault finally sealed a 4-2 win with a goal in the final minute.

The Thunder have a rare off weekend before heading to Dodgeville, Wis. for the Ice Wolves Invitational January 27-28.

Bantam

The Thunder Bantam team returned to the ice on Sunday after a nearly month-long layoff and split a doubleheader with Appleton. Appleton took game one 6-3 before the Thunder shook off the rust and answered with a 3-2 victory in game two.

The Bantams will travel to Appleton for a rematch on Sunday.

Peewee A

The Peewee A team took third place at the Hodag Invitational in Rhinelander, Wis. this weekend. After dropping their opener 8-0 to Madison, the Thunder defeated Milwaukee Winter Club 6-3 and then topped Manitowoc 5-4 in a shootout.

Trailing 4-2 and down a man with a minute to play in regulation against Manitowoc, the Thunder put in two shorthanded goals, both off the stick of Parker Perket to send the game to overtime. An extra frame was not enough to decide a winner, so the contest went to a shootout. Goalie Landon Dura turned away two of three attempts from the Breakers while Wyatt Kneath and Perket found the back of the net for the Thunder.

The Peewee A and B teams will host the Battle at the REC Tournament this weekend. The B team will open the action against Manitowoc at 4:30 p.m. on Friday while the A team will host Beloit at 6 p.m.

Squirt B

The Squirt B team took part in the Shawano Invitational over the weekend, going 2-2 in four games with wins over Steven’s Point and Shawano.

The team will travel to Manitowoc for a doubleheader on Saturday.