NORMAL IL- Just days after verbally committing to play for the University of Notre Dame, Jack Jenkins brought the luck of the Irish with him to the US Cellular Coliseum Friday night, scoring two goals en route to a 5-1 win for the Bloomington Thunder over the Madison Capitols.
The Thunder, who had lost nine of their last eleven games, would get a major spark from Jenkins. Only scoring seven goals heading into the contest, Jenkins big night began when he scored a power play goal just more than halfway through the second period. His other goal would come with less than five minutes left in regulation time on a rebound from shot taken by Joshua Shellman.
When asked if Jenkins felt like he had more to live up to on the ice after verbally committing to play for the Fighting Irish, Thunder assistant coach Harry Mahood agreed, saying that he must deal with the adversity that so many college commitments face in the United States Hockey League.
” These guys carry a lot of pressure to get those types of situations done,” said Mahood. “And then the whole idea, of course, is to go to school and play. And the only way you do that is by performing and developing here. So he really responded well tonight there.”
Matt Mendelson, Ryan Siroky, and Logan Lambdin also contributed with goals for the Thunder while goalie Hayden Lavigne stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced for his second win since recently joining the team. Charlie Gerard, meanwhile, was responsible for Madison’s lone goal of the night.
Bloomington now must be tested by going on a six game road trip, starting with a pair of games against the United States National U17 Development Team both this Saturday and Sunday. The trip will also include stops in Fargo North Dakota against the Force, Des Moines Iowa when they take on the Buccaneers, and then finally wrapping up in Lincoln Nebraska against the Stars. Their next home game will be on February 13th when they host the Cedar Rapids Roughriders at 7 pm.
