Thunderbirds Put Up Dominating Effort To Sweep Ice Breakers

Winston-Salem, NC - The Carolina Thunderbirds put the foot on the gas and through the floor on Saturday night with a big 9-0 win over the Mentor Ice Breakers in front of a sellout crowd.

Mike Baker opened up the scoring 5:36 into the first period with a left point shot that found its way past Kelly Curl and into the net. Later in the first Jan Salak fired a quick wrist shot that kissed off the left post past Curl and in. The score after one was 2-0 Carolina and the shots were an even more ludicrous 23-7.

The shot total continued to climb and the goals continued to pour in from there on out.

Karel Drahorad picked up a short handed tally 4:32 into the second after Curl gave up a juicy rebound off a Josh Pietrantonio shot. Next up was Joe Cangelosi who had back-to-back goals 3:29 apart that would eventually run Curl out of the game.

Derek Moser did not fare much better on this night unfortunately for Mentor fans, as Taylor Love would score 2:03 into Moser's time on the ice with a snipe to the top left corner and it was 6-0 at the break.

Carolina wasn't done there though. Michael Bunn 1:34 into the third made it a touchdown lead for the Thunderbirds. Taylor Love would add his second at the 10:44 mark of the third and Ray Boudiette got a goal in his first home game this season on the power play to make it 9-0.

For what its's worth, Carolina has never scored 10 goals in a game in franchise history and will still be searching as a Jay Croop potential goal was waved off for goaltender interference in the second period.

Christian Pavlas set an FHL record with this win. No goaltender in FHL history has ever had five shutouts in a season until tonight. His 19 saves got the job done and kept the Ice Breakers goalless.

Kelly Curl takes the loss stopping 27 of 32 shots and Derek Moser in relief stopped 28 of 32.

The Thunderbirds now look ahead to the Elmira Enforcers for a two game weekend set at the Annex. Tickets available at the Fairgroundsd Box Office or online at TicketMaster

Three Stars of the Game

Joe Cangelosi
Mike Baker
Brad Nolan