Twin City Thunder coach Dan Hodge said the effort was there Saturday night, but the results didn’t come.

South Shore goalie Jacob Torgner made 48 saves as the Kings defeated the Thunder 3-2 in a USPHL NCDC North Division game at Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn.

“We played hard today, we showed up, we got 50 shots, good effort, just not enough to win the game. But I give our guys credit for bouncing back after a sub-par effort (Friday) night),” Hodge said.

Twin City’s (10-13-1, 21 points) losing streak has now extended to six games.

The Kings (11-11-2, 24 points) opened a lead in the first period when forward Benjamin Jenkinson scored midway through the first period with his fourth goal of the season.

Defenseman Fabrizio Mazzarelli stretched the Kings’ advantage to 2-0 late in the first period.

Nathan Stachowiak extended South Shore’s lead to 3-0 with about four minutes remaining in the middle frame, beating Thunder goalie Christopher Jackson (28 saves).

“They capitalized on our mistakes and turnovers,” Hodge said. “The third goal was a turnover in their end, we turned the puck over in the high slot and they went down, scored from a bad angle with a nice shot. …We can’t turn pucks over.”

The Thunder battled back when Eddie Paulissian scored a power-play goal with 2:19 remaining in the second stanza. Defensemen Blake Tierney and Nick Pomerleau recorded the assists.

Dominic Chasse scored nearly five minutes into the third period, putting the Thunder within a goal. Trace Norwell and Tristan Rand provided the helpers.

The Thunder couldn’t get another goal past Torgner.

“There was good energy, a lot of positive stuff (to take away) but their goalie played real well,” Hodge said. “You run into a hot goalie and have 50 shots, but I guess we needed 51.”

The Thunder are back in action Tuesday afternoon when they face the Boston Advantage.

THUNDER ADD TO ROSTER

The Twin City Thunder made several transactions in the past week, including adding Lewiston native Dominic Chasse, who suffered a concussion in training camp.

Chasse recorded 14 goals and 20 assists in 43 games last season with the Thunder.

Hodge said Chasse almost didn’t return to the team after the concussion.

“I think he did a lot of soul searching, and he missed the game,” Hodge said. “He came to a couple of games before Thanksgiving and got the blood stirring again. He’s back, he looks good and he scored a goal tonight. I think once he gets back to regular shifts, practices and schedule, I think he will be good for us.”

Also rejoining the Thunder is forward Tristan Rand, who started the season with the Oklahoma Warriors of the North American Hockey League. He didn’t record a points in six games with the Warriors. Last year with the Thunder, he tallied 19 goals and 14 assists in 48 contests.

“He decided to come back where there was some good comfort level,” Hodge said. “He’s skating well. It might take him a little bit to find the back of the net. Obviously, he won’t score 19 (goals), but 10 or 12, whatever it is, it will help. We need help scoring.”

The Thunder also added Nick Vinson of Blue Hill, who has been playing with the Philadelphia Hockey Club 18U team and had 13 goals and 20 assists in 31 games. He played 39 games with the Maine Nordiques Academy 16U team in 2020-21, recording 12 points in 39 games.

Hodge said the organization tendered him to a contract this past summer but wanted him to gain a little more seasoning at the 18U level before adding him to the NCDC roster.

“He will be good once he gets used to what we are doing, the systems we are playing in,” Hodge said. “I think he will be an asset for us.”

The team also added forwards James Tatro, Jacob Smith, Pierce Blaeser and William Serverian, along with defenseman Wesly Brunello.

Copy the Story Link