Read Article
The United States Premier Hockey League held its National Collegiate Development Conference Futures Draft for players born in 2005 and 2006 on Sunday.
The Twin City Thunder selected three 2005-born players who will be eligible to play junior hockey next season: forwards Ryan Leonard, Spencer Hirsch and goaltender Hayden Rising. The Thunder’s other pick, 2006-born Aiden Pisano, can begin his junior hockey career in the 2022-23 season.
“You always try to get the best player that will fit in your organization,” Twin City Thunder co-owner and head coach Dan Hodge said. “You are obviously projecting a few years down the road. You never know. I want to get players from good programs, No. 1, and are doing well in their programs. Their advisers had reached out and sent us video.”
Read Article
The Twin City Thunder celebrate the victory over the Connecticut Junior Rangers Friday at the Advent Health Center Ice Rink in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
Josh Boyd/USPHL
Ever since the Twin City Thunder arrived in Wesley Chapel, Florida, NCDC head coach Dan Hodge has wanted more goal-scoring and being able to hold a lead. On Friday, he got both as the Thunder scored four times in the third period for a 5-4 victory over the Connecticut Junior Rangers at the Advent Health Center Ice Rink.
The players heard Hodge’s message during the second intermission after the team recently gave up leads to the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs and the Junior Bruins.
Read Article
The Twin City Thunder took a break from their regular-season schedule down in Wesley Chapel, Florida to take part in the United States Premier League-Professional Women’s Hockey Player’s Association All-Star Series.
The Thunder National Collegiate Development Conference team defeated the PWHPA All-Stars 3-2 in overtime Friday.
“They played a hard, skilled game,” Thunder coach Dan Hodge said. “They are up 2-1 with (three) seconds left in the game and we tied it up.”
The PWHPA is made up of a group of women’s players who came together after the Canadian Women’s Hockey League ceased operations in the spring of 2019. The goal of the organization is to promote a single, viable women’s hockey league. Some players on the roster include USA Olympic team standouts Gigi Marvin, Brianna Decker and Amanda Kessel.
Read Article
After being shut out by the P.A.L. Islanders 2-0 on Friday and Sunday, the Twin City Thunder’s NCDC team’s line combinations needed a shakeup.
Head coach Dan Hodge was looking for a spark, and he got one as the Twin City Thunder defeated the South Shore Kings 6-2 on Tuesday at the Advent Health Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, Florida, as part of the United States Premier Hockey League’s Hub City event.
Hodge moved captain Nick Rashkovsky off the top line down to the third line, and Valeri Rykov moved to the top line. Rykov had been on the second line with Alex Rivet and Dominic Chasse. Hunter Schmitz slid up to the second line from the third line to fill Rykov’s spot
Read Article
Two newly acquired players set the pace as Rockets Hockey Club skated past the Twin City Thunder on Thursday.
Sam Lipkin, who recently turned 18, and 17-year-old Jake Bongo each scored twice for Rockets HC in a 4-3 USPHL NCDC victory at the Advent Health Center in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
Lipkin, who is committed to play at Quinnipiac University, started the season with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, appearing in six games. Thursday was his was the second game with Rockets HC. Bongo, a Sacred Heart recruit who was initially planning to play prep hockey this season, was appearing in his sixth game with Rockets.