We all saw this coming once the major sport organizations shut down due to this vastly spreading disease. The coronavirus statistically has less fatalities than the prior swine flu and flu breakouts in the past.

For the time being, all ECHL games have been suspended and will not resume until further notice. The Thunder along with all the teams will have some downtime due to this disease.

Well, Thunder is at it again. Doing what they do best, at least this season; Losing. The Thunder has fallen the last 5 games, 5 of which were crucial for their playoff contention.

The Thunder although having not been officially eliminated, has basically fell out of the playoff picture for the ECHL.

Rookie Nick Hutchinson, recently called up from college, scored one goal and one assist in his debut game with the Thunder.

Eamon McAdam finished with 18 saves on the day, having let in 5 goals to Worcester.

This season, the Adirondack Thunder have been notorious for bringing games to shootout only to lose every time. This was not the case on February 28th, when the Thunder were down against the visiting Reading Royals.

Matt Salhany, Adirondack forward, scored 4 goals on the day. Salhany has been quite the productive wing, having 13 points in the last 7 games, 9 being goals.

Eamon McAdam has been playing his strongest, while this game he was overwhelmed but held it together, having a 40 save game, letting in 5 goals. The Thunder would come back to tie it and McAdam would serve as a brick wall to allow the Thunder to rally in shootout. McAdam has grown to be a strong favorite for the Thunder fanbase, as he has been performing solidly in net. Evan Cormier, who now serves as the backup, has been arguably struggling, despite his 25 save game in Atlanta. Cormier has only been seen playing in net once at home recently, which was when McAdam was ejected. Cormier only made a couple stops, along with letting a goal by him in a controversial night hosting Newfoundland.

James Henry has checked back in the lineup, having been reportedly out due to injury. Henry has been rather quiet, nonetheless good for the Thunder to have their serving captain back in their starting lineup.

February 29th was a different story, as the Thunder went down 4-2 against the visiting Reading. The fanbase continues to be frustrated with the referees calls, as they seemingly lack their ability to call fairly. Shots on goal were at an even 26 for both teams. McAdam was 22 for 26, with an 84.615 SV%. Tom McCollum was 24 for 26, with a 92.308 SV%.

The Adirondack Thunder won 2 of their 3 home games this weekend. (2/21-2/23)

February 21st – vs Brampton Beast

Thunder prevail in a dominant 6-1 victory over the declining Brampton Beast. John Edwardh scored a hat trick in this amazing bout between these two teams, with Matt Salhany coming close with 2 goals on the day. McAdam, after a prior rough home weekend, came back to please the fans with his outstanding play in the net for this weekend. McAdam only let one goal by him, with his 22 saves on the day.

February 22nd – vs Maine Mariners

An unfortunate home loss for the Thunder, as they only fall by 1 in a 2-1 loss. McAdam still having a 26 save game along with Mike Szmatula’s lone goal for the Thunder.

Maine continues to be on the rise in the division, now holding multiple wins against the Thunder, who remain in the 5th seed. McAdam remains to be the starting goalie, as well as a seemingly good one.

February 23rd – vs Reading Royals

This one was a pleasing one, with the Thunder pulling out the 5-2 win over the Royals. Connor Riley, staying rather silent the prior 2 home games, scored a goal and an assist. Salhany, Larsson, and Summers all shared singular goals on the Royals. Eamon McAdam had 29 saves on the day.

The Adirondack Thunder’s weekend event “Paint the ice; Stick it to Cancer” 2/7-2/8, ended up being a disappointing weekend for Adirondack, as they fall to Newfoundland 7-4 in an expected loss on Friday, however a very upsetting and disputable 4-2 loss on Saturday.

The Thunder held a 2-1 lead heading into the 3rd period on Saturday’s game against Newfoundland. A few minutes into the 3rd, Newfoundland’s Dylan Vander Esch scores and ties the game 2-2. Late into the 3rd, the game got intense, as it remained 2-2 with only a few minutes left in the final period of the game. Newfoundland scored a very questionable goal, as it had goaltender interference written all over it. The referee officiating that game, Matt Mettini, kept the goal no question. Eamon McAdam, the starting goalie for Adirondack for that game, having 27 solid saves in what was going to be a big game for him, was infuriated about how the situation was handled. There was no indication of even any consideration of the penalty, as Matt Mettini was just ready to keep play going right away. McAdam approached the referee, (assumingely too aggressively) and immediately got ejected from the game. Evan Cormier checked in the game to replace him. The Thunder went on to lose all of their motivation to win that game, so it seemed, and lost the game 4-2, poorly capping their “Stick It To Cancer; Paint The Ice” weekend.

“I don’t know what I said to get thrown out of the game,” McAdam said. “I went over to tell him he was wrong; I guess I went in too aggressively. He wouldn’t even give me the time of day.” says McAdam, reported by the Post Star. “Usually at least there’s a conference between the official and linesmen to make a call on it because especially in a situation like that, it’s a game-changing call,” McAdam said. “It’s frustrating that twice now they’ve decided on their own that they’re right, when video shows they’re not and there’s no discussion about it.”

Alex Loh, head coach of the Adirondack Thunder, was confounded at the situation. After the game was over, every fan in the arena saw his frustration as he expressed his grief by slamming one of the doors on the way to the back. “I guess he knew he made the wrong call and didn’t want to own up to it,” Loh explained. “I’m sure he saw a replay, saw he was wrong and didn’t feel like getting yelled at.” according to the Post Star.

Goaltender Sean Romeo was released from the team, and sent to the Norfolk Admirals to further his career. He played just 2 games with the Thunder, having a GAA of 2.50 and a SV% of .886.

Many fans were fond of this new addition to the team, however he was apparently not a fit for the team’s scheme and was shipped off. Goalies Evan Cormier and Eamon McAdam are left to carry the team’s goaltender game.

Adirondack adds another loss to their record with their struggle- game against the visiting Maine Mariners, who had knocked Adirondack senseless with a 5-2 victory.

The newly acquired goalie from the Florida Everblades, Sean Romeo, has started his first 2 games with his new team. Showing from his 6-0 shutout in Worcester, he set himself a good starting reputation. After the loss to Maine, allowing 5 goals on 23 shots, the starting goaltender situation for Adirondack is up in the air. Goaltender Evan Cormier is back on the active Thunder roster, along with Romeo and McAdam.

Although having a strong willed offense, it stills seems underwhelming as they still fail to take shots in the offensive zone, as well as miss passes and cost them opportunities. Their defense is the main problem, so it seems. Alex Loh, head coach, has no worries and they will work on getting back on track, as they are neck and neck with Maine for 4th place in the ECHL North.

Adirondack, now down 3 points in the standings from 4th place, which is held by their division rival, the Maine Mariners, hopes to get on a winning streak and propel themselves ahead of Maine, and qualify for the playoffs. This 2019-2020 season would be the first season the Adirondack Thunder would not be in playoff contention.

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