The Twin City Thunder couldn’t stop Islanders Hockey Club’s Timmy Kobler on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Switzerland native had a hat trick to pace Islanders HC in a 5-1 USPHL Premier victory in the third-ever game for the Twin City franchise.
Buxton’s Tanner McClure, who was a standout on Massabesic/Bonny Eagle/Old Orchard Beach hockey team, had a goal in the win. Winslow’s Brandon Nale, who helped Messalonskee to back-to-back Class B state championships in 2014 and 2015, had two assists in the win.
“We gave up two power-play goals and a couple of even-strength goals, mostly with breakdowns in our own zone with coverage,” Thunder coach Doug Friedman said. “Again, that’s the big area of improvement we need to have. They capitalized on their chances and they outshot us quite a bit, as well.”
Kobler made it 1-0 five minutes into the game off an assist from Keanu Maunula. It was the lone goal of the opening period.
Kobler stretched the lead to 2-0 just 75 seconds into the second on an unassisted effort. Just past the six-minute mark, McClure found the back of the net, with the helpers going to Spence Smith and Nale.
The hat trick was completed when Nale found Kobler 6:55 into the third period. John Henry Kaso also got credit for an assist on the power play goal.
Matt Hanlon put the Thunder on the board with his second goal of the season with 5:03 remaining in the game. Zachary Desmarais tallied his third assist of the season.
“They have been two of our more consistent forwards,” Friedman said. “They have shown up in every game, and the big key for them has been their work ethic. They have been playing the (offensive) system pretty well, but they are working really hard — their opportunities have come off their hard work.”
Anthony Ceolin picked up the Islanders second power-play goal of the game with 4:13 remaining. The goal was set up by Hunter Wiedenkeller.
The Islanders were 2-for-4 on the power play, while the Thunder went 0-for-10 with the man advantage.
“It’s not clicking, we aren’t getting enough shots,” Friedman said of the power play. “When we do get shots, we don’t have guys willing to get right in (front of the net) to screen, deflect or jump on loose pucks that are rebounds. Until we get that, we are going to have some struggles here.”
The Thunder return to Norway Savings Bank Arena on Friday night at 7 p.m. for an exhibition contest with the Middlesex Bears of the Academic East Hockey League.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
