Thunderbolts beat Cottonmouths 5-2 in season finale
The Thunderbolts played their final game of the season on Saturday night, beating the Columbus Cottonmouths by a score of 5-2. This final meeting of the season came after a testy affair the night before, a 6-5 Columbus shootout-win. Columbus had clinched the final spot in the playoffs with that win and as Evansville had been eliminated from contention the week prior, Saturday night’s game became a pride match, with the Thunderbolts showing that in spades.
Columbus would open the scoring at the 8:47 mark of the first period as Andy Bathgate potted his 13th goal of the season. After that goal, the ice would take a drastic tilt in the Thunderbolts’ favor as Cory Melkert and Austin McKay would score back-to-back goals just 41 seconds apart in the latter stages of the first. Dave Williams and Al Graves would score the only goals of the second period, making it 4-1. Graves’ goal capped off a big weekend for the big man as he registered four points (2g, 2a) in two games along with a “Gordie Howe” hat trick the night before, achieving the feat by brawling with Columbus’ Alexander Taulien and scoring the game-tying goal late in the third.
Nick DAvolio and David Watt would trade goals in the third to make it 5-2 in favor of the Thunderbolts, which would hold to be the final score. McKay, Stephon Thorne and Graves all had two points each. Evansville dominated on shots 35-21, even as Columbus managed to not take a penalty the entire game. The game would end with a feel good story, as local Evansville men’s league netminder, Derek Yeager, would make his professional debut for the Cottonmouths. Yeager dressed for Columbus so starter Mavric Parks could rest for the playoffs so with the game out of reach and Spencer Bacon struggling, Yeager would enter the game and was perfect for the last 15 minutes of play, stopping all eight shots he faced. On the other end, Evansville backup, Nick Kohn, would get his first professional win, making 19 stops along the way.
The Evansville Thunderbolts would like to thank the fans, boosters, and sponsors who’ve supported the team all year. This season would not have been possible without all of the great hockey fans of Evansville. We sincerely thank you for your continued support and patronage. We look forward to bringing you all a great season in 2018! Season ticket packages are now available for the 2017-18 season. A variety of packages can be purchased online or by telephone at 812-777-4111.
