MANCHESTER – The Manchester Monarchs certainly could have used Charles Williams on Friday night.
In their first game after Williams was loaned to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, the Monarchs were trounced by the Adirondack Thunder, 5-1.
Only Matt Schmalz’s early second period goal marred what was a perfect night for Adirondack netminder Drew Fielding, the night’s second star with 37 saved Monarch shots, more than doubling Evan Cowley’s 17 saves for Manchester.
The game’s top star was Adirondack’s Terrence Wallin, who added a goal to his trio of assists scattered throughout all three periods of play.
Troy Bourke also contributed two goals and two assists for the Thunder. Shane Coacher also got on the scoresheet multiple times for Adirondack, adding a goal and two assists.
Adirondack’s other goals came from Tim Harrison and James Henry.
The win brings Adirondack to 70 points, just one point below Manchester’s division leading tally.
Williams’ first game in Hartford also did not go well as the Wolf Pack fell to Springfield, 5-4 in overtime.
Williams and fellow Hartford netminder Chris Nell saw only 18 total shots on the night. Nell left the contest after just 16 minutes and 40 seconds of work after giving up three goals on seven shots.