Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Ontario Reign

October 23, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RADIO: None (92.5 FM inside Stockton Arena)

INTERNET: www.StocktonThunder.com (B2 Networks)

TICKETS: Click here

MILESTONE TRACKER

o Ryan Constant is 7 games away from 200 in his professional career

o Kelly Czuy is 26 points away from 100 in his professional career

o Oren Eizenman is 12 points away from 100 in his professional career

o Riley Emmerson is 3 games away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Craig Valette is 5 games away from 400 in his professional career

2009-10 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

Fri. Oct. 23 Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 24 Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Wed. Nov. 4 @ Ontario 7:00 p.m.

Fri. Nov. 20 @ Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 21 @ Ontario 7:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 17 Ontario 4:00 p.m.

Fri. Feb. 5 @ Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 6 @ Ontario 7:00 p.m.

Fri. Feb. 12 Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 13 @ Ontario 7:00 p.m.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder opens the home schedule this Friday and Saturday with back-to-back games against the Pacific Division rival Ontario Reign, the first of ten games this year between both clubs. Both games will feature the debut of the new gold-colored Thunder third jersey and the first rematch for both teams since Game 7 of the first round (Pacific Division Semifinals) of the 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs (won by the Thunder, 4-3 in the series). Through the first ten regular season games in the all-time series, the Thunder is 4-5-1 against Ontario. The home opener for Stockton is a celebration of its Fifth Anniversary season. The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons (2005-09).

LAST 3 GAMES

STK 2 - IDA 3 (10/18/09): John Swanson snapped a 2-2 tie with 10:03 remaining in the third period on a game-winning power-play goal, helping the Idaho Steelheads complete a three-game sweep of the Stockton Thunder (0-3-0, 0 points) in a 3-2 decision before 2,654 fans at Qwest Arena on Sunday. The Thunder fell to 1-8-1 in the last ten all-time games in Boise and dropped their second straight one-goal game. Judd Blackwater extended his goal-scoring streak to three consecutive games and Chris D'Alvise chipped in with the first goal of his pro career. Idaho's Mark Derlago and Tyler Spurgeon also scored, while rookie Richard Bachman won in his pro debut with 26 saves in net. Thunder goaltender Andrew Perugini made 36 saves in the losing cause.

STK 2 - IDA 3 (10/17/09): Goaltender Bryan Pitton's career-high 42 saves fueled a Stockton Thunder rally, which fell shy by a goal while Evan Barlow and Michael Neal each had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 Thunder loss to the Idaho Steelheads before 3,553 fans at Qwest Arena on Saturday. Pitton, who surpassed his previous career-high of 37 stops last season, was aided in the defeat by Thunder goals from James Bates and Judd Blackwater. Idaho's offensive support came from Barlow, Neal and veteran Ashton Rome.

STK 1 - IDA 3 (10/16/09): Mark Derlago snapped a tightly-played 1-1 game with a power-play goal at the 5:57 mark of the third period, helping the Idaho Steelheads send the Stockton Thunder to a season-opening 3-1 defeat before 4,367 fans at Qwest Arena on Friday night. Goaltender Andrew Perugini withstood a barrage loose puck scrambles and rebounds to post 41 saves in his season debut and counterpart Rejean Beauchemin stopped 20 shots for the Idaho win. Judd Blackwater scored the first goal of the Thunder season while Idaho countered with additional tallies from Mark McCutcheon and Evan Barlow.

THUNDER BEFORE REIGN IN THE FIRST ROUND - A RECAP

The Thunder defeated the Ontario Reign, 4-3 in a best-of-seven series last year which was the first playoff series victory in Thunder history ... Cory Urquhart led the Thunder in scoring for the series with 9 points (6g-3a) and Craig Valette tallied three game winning goals ... ... Stockton won Game 7, 5-4 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on the strength of four first period goals and Parker Van Buskirk's 27 saves ... Stockton won Game 4 in overtime, 5-4 on James Bates' goal at 2:28 of the first sudden-death OT period ... the game was the playoff debut of Van Buskirk, who made 29 saves for the Thunder ... the Thunder evened the series at 1-1 with a 6-5 win in Game 2 at Citizens Business Bank Arena, tying a club playoff record with six goals - Craig Valette scored twice in the game ... Ontario took Game 1 in a 4-3 victory despite a third period rally by the Thunder, who tied the game on a Cory Urquhart power-play goal which marked a two-goal rally in the final frame before Shawn Germain's game-winner ... the Thunder finished 4-5-1 against the Reign in the regular season.

POWER SWITCH

The Thunder power-play has converted in three consecutive games and ranks seventh in the ECHL with a 21.4 percent conversion rate. In their last game on Sunday at Idaho, the Thunder went 1-for-4 on the power-play. Judd Blackwater leads the team with two power-play goals.

STILL CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

For the fourth straight season, the Thunder led the ECHL in attendance last year with an average of 6,218 fans through 36 home games. Stockton has 13 sellouts in the team's franchise history and finished last year as the ECHL's attendance leader for the third consecutive season. The Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for four straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons - 2000-05).

ONE IN A MILLION

The Thunder has launched a special landmark "One Millionth Fan" contest which begins tonight. The contest begins the official countdown to search for one millionth fan to cross the turnstiles of Stockton Arena in the Thunder's five year history. As the reigning four-time ECHL attendance leader, the Thunder needs just 64,360 fans to reach the one million mark. The lucky fan will be selected as fans enter Stockton Arena, on the day the Thunder is scheduled to reach the one millionth fan mark. Upon selection, the lucky fan to cross the turnstiles will be awarded an array of prizes, including a vacation stay at Yosemite Lodge (Yosemite National Park), 2009-10 season tickets and an Amtrak train trip to Salt Lake City to see the Thunder face the Utah Grizzlies.

AS GOOD AS GOLD

Tonight is the debut of the Thunder gold-colored third jersey, the first of its kind added to the team's uniform scheme. Based in the Thunder's gold color, the jersey's appearance features white bolts with a black trim adorning the front and back of the shoulders and extending to the arms along with a dominant black colored trim on the shoulders and arms. The jersey additionally pays tribute to a classic hockey look by featuring tie-down laces at the base of the collar.

THUNDER THIRD JERSEY SCHEDULE

Fri. Oct. 23 vs. Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 24 vs. Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Nov. 15 vs. Idaho 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 10 vs. Bakersfield 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 17 vs. Ontario 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 24 vs. Bakersfield 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 31 vs. Alaska 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 21 vs. Utah 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 28 vs. Las Vegas 4:00 p.m.

THE THOMAS TURNAROUND

Last year, the Thunder finished 32-33-7 (71 points), fourth place in the Pacific Division but ended the year at a 22-16-3 run that coincided with the arrival of head coach Matt Thomas, who was named to the Thunder position on Dec. 29. Under his guidance, the Thunder won its first playoff series in club history in seven games over Ontario in the Pacific Division Semifinal and reached Game 7 of the second round (Pacific Division Final) against the Las Vegas Wranglers. Thomas signed a two-year contract extension with the Thunder on June 11.

BACK FOR MORE

An astounding total of 13 players have returned to this year's Thunder roster from the 2008-09 club, when they advanced to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs: James Bates, Judd Blackwater, Ryan Constant, Oren Eizenman, Igor Gongalsky, Garet Hunt, Kenny MacAulay, Daryl Marcoux, Matt O'Dette, Andrew Perugini, Bryan Pitton and Craig Valette.

OILING UP THE SHIP

For the fourth consecutive season, Stockton will serve as the AA minor-league affiliate for Oilers prospects. Since the Thunder and Oilers began their partnership in 2006-07, the Thunder has advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs three consecutive years and four former Thunder players - right wing Troy Bodie, center Tim Sestito, left wing Liam Reddox and defenseman Bryan Young - have gone on to play in the NHL.

Players with the Thunder that have been assigned through the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons:

Andrew Perugini (G)

Bryan Pitton (G)

Jordan Bendfeld (D)

James Bates (RW)

Kelly Czuy (RW)

Riley Emmerson (RW)

Bryan Young (D)

LETTER JACKET

Center Craig Valette was named the fourth captain in Thunder history on Oct. 15 (Dean Stork, Brad Farynuk and Matt O'Dette). He served as acting captain during nine games of the Kelly Cup Playoffs last year after an injury to O'Dette, the captain for 08-09. Kenny MacAulay and Bryan Young will serve as alternate captains.



ECHL Stories from October 23, 2009


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