Tommy Gannon isn’t known for his goal-scoring prowess for the Twin City Thunder, but he knows how to light the lamp when needed.
Entering Saturday’s USPHL’s NCDC North Division game against the Junior Bruins, Gannon totaled three goals in 36 regular season and playoff games between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Saturday, he scored a big one, an overtime goal in a 4-3 victory for the Thunder at Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn. The goal came 65 seconds into OT.
“It’s a big year for him, with looking at colleges,” Thunder coach Dan Hodge said. “…It’s good to see him get on the score sheet regularly, and you are always looking for scoring depth. He has been doing that the last couple of games.”
Gannon also scored in Friday’s 3-1 win against the Bruins.
Christopher Jackson made his second straight start in goal for the Thunder (10-7-1, 21 points), and he stopped 40 shots for the win. He made 43 saves Friday.
“He’s playing real solid, he’s doing everything we are asking him (to do),” Hodge said. “As a (2002-birth year), he’s a great leader in the locker room. We are very lucky to have two capable goalies, with (Trey) Miller and Jackson.”
Jack Felicio scored the lone goal of the first period, giving the Bruins (4-12-4, 12 points) a 1-0 lead late in the stanza.
The power play led to the Thunder taking the lead in the second period. Defenseman Cullen McCormick tied the game at 1-1 early in the period.
Forward Trace Norwell scored a power-play tally at the 12:43 mark of the middle frame, giving Twin City a 2-1 lead. Richard Davis and Ben Portner notched assists on both goals.
Twin City worked on the power play this past week in practice, according to Hodge.
“Just (working on) moving the puck and not trying to stand still, not trying to be so stationary, (trying to create) good puck movement,” Hodge said.
Defenseman Martin Marnauzs gave the Thunder breathing room with a 3-1 lead 15 seconds after Norwell’s tally.
The Bruins responded a minute later with Shane Baker scoring his sixth goal of the season, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
The game remained 3-2 well into the third period before Greg Peltz evened the contest in the final five minutes.
Cameron Carroll made 30 saves in the loss for the Junior Bruins.
The Thunder are in Massachusetts this week for the Islanders Hockey Club Showcase. Tuesday, they face the first-place team in the South Division, the Jersey Hitmen, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, they take on the Mercer Chiefs at 9:30 a.m., and then the Utica Jr. Comets on Thursday at 10 a.m.
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