Ivan Thompson is the hottest scorer in the NLL over the past five weeks. Since May 24 the Bolts’ captain has moved from 20th to eighth among league scorers. At press time he had 40 goals and 52 assists for 92 points. Ivan leads the Bolts in scoring by 25 points over brother Brian (27-40-67).
Tonight will be the first meeting between Long Island and Boston since the trade that sent Al Lewthwaite to the Tommies and brought Kevin Parsons to the Bolts. Parsons had a goal and two assists in his first game as a Bolt—a 20-12 trouncing of Maryland. In three games as a Tomahawk, Lewthwaite has two goals and four assists. He was ejected from Tuesday’s game at Philadelphia as the third man into a fight. Lewthwaite will be wearing number 6 tonight. Parsons is number 9.
Speaking of numbers, Long Island’s Jimmy Johnston, a superstitious sort, switched his number from 24 to 7 before Sunday’s game against Montreal. He had four goals and four assists in that game and, still wearing number 7, picked up a hat trick and four assists Tuesday. Guess what number he’ll wear tonight?
The Bolts have won two of the last three games with Long Island but are only 2 and 4 against the Tomahawks this season. The Bolts won 19-12 the last time the teams met in Long Island on June 18. Merv Marshall was in the Long Island goal for that game but the word out of New York is that rookie Tim Barrie has had a hot hand lately and may get the nod tonight.
Two Tomahawks players who will bear watching tonight are Doug Hayes, the league’s fourth highest scorer (46-65-111) and seventh ranked Dave Wilfong (22-54-39).
The Bolts will honor the Eastern Mass, and Mass. State schoolboy championship lacrosse teams tonight. Bolts general manager Jim Logan will make a presentation between the first and second period to coach Dave Stockwell of Longmeadow H.S., the state field lacrosse champs, and coach Ed Cavanaugh of Framingham North, the EMass, champs.
Sports Illustrated was in town Wednesday night with three photographers and a writer working on a story about the NLL and superstars Paul Sug- gate of Maryland and John Davis of Montreal. Needless to say the “Sports Illustrated Jinx” was operating — both Davis and Suggate were held to one goal apiece in the two games the magazine covered. The story is due for publication in two weeks.
Don’t forget the next game in the Bolts’ Summer Action Pack will be next Sunday, July 6 vs. the Quebec Caribous. Tickets at the reduced prices of $5, $4, $3, $2.
The Bolts will be in Long Island on Tuesday for the second game of the home and home series.