GLENS FALLS, NY — For the first time in 598 days, hockey was back in the Glens Falls area, as the Adirondack Thunder hosted their 2021 home opener before a sold out crowd of 4,999 spectators. With the boarders open, they welcomed the Newfoundland Growlers, but dropped the contest 3-2 at Cool Insuring Arena.
However, it felt like the Growlers weren’t the same team they were in 2019-20, and it looked like for the first time in a long time, the Thunder were able to compete with this Newfoundland team, but made too many self-caused errors for them to find themselves in the win column. Saturday’s game had its electric moments, especially during the pre-game introductions for the first time in two years. With the victory, the Growlers move to 3-0 on the season and Adirondack drops to 0-1.
Thunder Drop Home Opener
The Thunder got off to a quick start, as Robbie Payne took advantage of a Newfoundland turnover and beat former teammate Evan Cormier to give Adirondack an early 1-0 lead. The Thunder would get a chance later on to take the lead, as they had a five-on-three for 1:11, but wouldn’t be able to take advantage. Speaking of special teams, that would be the storyline of Saturday’s game, as Adirondack would finish the contest 0/7, “We haven’t had time to practice five-on-three’s in practice,” Payne said after the game. “You only have so much you can work on in a week and a half.” Newfoundland would knot up the meeting, as Nathan Noel would feed Todd Burgess on a two-on-one, then finding the back of the net.
Once the Growlers tied it at one apiece, the physicality of both teams grew, as there were a ton of bodies flying across the ice in a content that resulted in 40 minutes worth of penalties between the two teams. This included a fight between Nick Rivera and Brennan Kapcheck. “It’s definitely mixed emotions,” Joe Masonius said to the media. “I hate to lose, but I love to win.” Newfoundland, unlike Adirondack, would take advantage of the power play, as Noel Hoefenmayer pounced on a golden opportunity from the slot, which put the Growlers up ahead 2-1. Once again, Newfoundland would find a way to score on special teams, as Matteo Pietroniro scored a short-handed goal, which expanded the deficit, leading the Thunder 3-1.
Despite being down by two, Adirondack was not finished yet, as Masonius fired a laser of a shot from the point and put it behind Cormier, which the Thunder had Sakellaropoulos pulled from the game for the extra attacker. Once they added that goal at the 18:55 mark, it seemed as of the intensity had risen, but when talking with Alex Loh after the game, he said, “They were on the backend of a three-on-three and that’s something we should have taken advantage of.” Expanding on that, he continued to say, “It’s definitely there, we need to apply more of that five-on-four, diving to get to get loose pucks, diving to win puck battles, diving for pucks, and I think we were a little lacklustre tonight.” Sakellaropoulos made 25 saves in his first game back in Adirondack since 2018-19. Captain Pete MacArthur, who also played with the Thunder that season, had an assist on Masonius’ goal in the third. Adirondack will look to tally their first win of the season on Wednesday, as they host the Worcester Railers at 7:00pmET.