THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: (all times PT)vs. Idaho Steelheads (Wednesday - 7:00 p.m., Friday, Saturday - 7:30 p.m.) - B2 Networks
The Thunder hosts the Idaho Steelheads beginning Wednesday for three games in four days to kick-off a five-game homestand at Stockton Arena. Through 39 games in the lifetime series, the Thunder is 16-20-3 against Idaho and is looking to snap a six-game winless streak in the season series (0-5-1 vs. Idaho). The last time both teams met, Idaho defeated the Thunder, 4-2 on Nov. 15 at Stockton Arena. Both teams will face each other 12 times in the first 32 games and Idaho will not return to Stockton for the remainder of the regular season after Saturday's game.
1420 KSTN is the Thunder's flagship radio station and all Thunder games can be heard live on the Internet (free-of-charge) and are available for viewing at a $7 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Radio broadcaster Mike Benton provides play-by-play commentary with the "Thunder Forecast" pre-game show starting 15 minutes before each broadcast.
PROMOTIONAL NEWS
Wednesday, Nov. 25 vs. Idaho Steelheads, 7:00 p.m.
FAMILY DAY (presented by 99.3 KJOY and Metro PCS)
- $29 upper premium / end zone admission (four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks, coupon for $4 dollars off in the Fan Attic) with coupon available by visiting participating MetroPCS locations. An $84 value.
THUNDER'S THANKSGIVING FEAST
- "All You Can Eat" Italian Buffet dinner in Comcast Club of Stockton Arena and game ticket all for $25!
Friday, Nov. 27 vs. Idaho Steelheads, 7:30 p.m.
LICENSE PLATE FRAME GIVEAWAY
- The first 1,000 fans (ages 18 and over) will receive a commemorative Thunder License Plate Frame!
Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. Idaho Steeleheads, 7:30 p.m.
GARET HUNT CARICATURE T-SHIRT GIVEAWAY (presented by Comcast, The Record, AM 970 ESPN Radio and B&B Heating and Air)
- The first 1,000 fans (ages 17 and under) will receive a Garet Hunt Caricature-style T-Shirt!
COMMUNITY UPDATE
Thunder Give Back
Monday, November 23 (11:30 am - 1:00 pm)
Embracing the spirit of the holidays, the entire Stockton Thunder team and coaching staff, joined by several members of the front office, volunteered their time by helping to bus and clean tables at St. Mary's Interfaith Dining Hall in Stockton on Monday morning. The hall routinely feeds more than 5,000 of Stockton's hungry and needy, providing a much needed respite for those it serves.
Thanksgiving Walk & Run For Hunger
Thursday, November 26 (7:00 am)
Thunder mascot Thor will be out at Banner Island Ballpark on Thanksgiving morning to cheer on the 5,000 + runners in the annual Thanksgiving Day event, quickly becoming a Stockton tradition. Each runner will be given a voucher good for a ticket to either the Friday or Saturday Thunder game vs. Idaho. Proceeds raised through the event will benefit the Emergency Food Bank of Greater Stockton.
PREGAME, POSTGAME PARTIES FEATURING LIVE MUSIC
Back by popular demand, the Stockton Thunder is hosting pregame and postgame parties inside the new "Kings Room" of Stockton Arena, open before each home game and after each Friday and Saturday home game. Discount on drink specials are available, in addition to special live music that will entertain Thunder fans before and after the upcoming games (subject to change):
Friday, Nov. 27: To be announced
Saturday, Nov. 28: Solidify
"BLACK FRIDAY" HITS STOCKTON ARENA FAN ATTIC FROM NOON-5:00
The Stockton Arena "Fan Attic," the official team store of the Thunder, will slash prices on select shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys and more for a special "Black Friday" event for hockey fans of all ages, from Noon-5:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27. Beginning this Wednesday, the Fan Attic will be open from Noon-5:00 p.m. for special holiday hours and stay open each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from Noon-5:00 p.m. until Dec. 23.
2009-10 TEAM LEADERS:
Points - Judd Blackwater, Oren Eizenman (13)
Goals - Judd Blackwater (8)
Assists - Oren Eizenman, Kenny MacAulay (10)
Plus/Minus -Steve Vanoosten (+3)
Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (71)
UPCOMING MILESTONES:
o Mike Bayrack is 32 points away from 400 in his ECHL career
o Judd Blackwater is 15 games away from 100 in his professional career
o Kelly Czuy is 25 points away from 100 in his professional career
o Igor Gongalsky is 27 points away from 100 in his professional career
TEAM NOTES
- Judd Blackwater leads the ECHL with six power-play goals
- Andrew Perugini ranks third in the ECHL with 306 saves
- Veteran center Craig Valette has four points (1g-3a) in his last two games
- Stockton needs 19,802 fans to reach 1,000,000 in club history attendance through four seasons-plus
- Stockton ranks second in ECHL attendance with an average of 6,365 fans (7 home games)
- Stockton leads the ECHL in road power-play at 33.3 percent (13-for-39)
The team's upcoming schedule for the coming week is as follows:
(subject to change, all times PT)
TUE, NOV. 24:
10:00 a.m. - Practice at Stockton Arena
WED, NOV. 25:
10:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Stockton Arena
5:30 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends
7:00 p.m. - GAME VS. IDAHO
StocktonThunder.com
THURS, NOV. 26:
9:30 a.m. - Practice at Stockton Arena
FRI, NOV. 27:
10:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Stockton Arena
6:00 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends
7:30 p.m. - GAME VS. IDAHO
StocktonThunder.com
SAT, NOV. 28:
10:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Stockton Arena
6:00 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends
7:30 p.m. - GAME VS. IDAHO
StocktonThunder.com
SUN. NOV. 29:
Day off
MON. NOV. 30:
10:00 a.m. - Practice at Stockton Arena
WEEK IN REVIEW
STK 4 - ONT 2 (OT) (11/21/09): Veteran forward Jason Pitton's wrist shot from the right circle at 1:35 of sudden death overtime helped the Thunder thwart a rally by the Ontario Reign and take a 4-3 overtime victory before an announced crowd of 7,705 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday night. The win snapped the Thunder's seven-game winless streak (0-4-3) and Craig Valette led the Stockton offense with a three-point game (1g-2a), supporting three-power play goals in regulation by Valette, Judd Blackwater and Ryan Constant. Goaltender Andrew Perugini secured the victory with 39 saves. Tim Kraus, Michael Egener and Greg Hogeboom scored for Ontario.
STK 2 - ONT 8 (11/20/09): Rookie forward Peter Lenes scored two goals to help lead a six-unanswered goal rally by the Ontario Reign in the first 35 minutes of play, sending the Thunder to an 8-2 defeat before 5,269 fans at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Friday. The loss, which spoiled the return of Igor Gongalsky to the lineup, extended the Thunder winless streak to seven games (0-4-3) and Ontario goaltender Mike Zacharias picked up the win with 21 saves.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
(courtesy of The Record)
"Now we get to come back home," Pitton said. "We've been struggling a little bit at home, but now that we've broken out of this winless streak, the guys are feeling that the weight has been lifted off our shoulders a little bit. We've just got to keep working hard."
- Left winger Jason Pitton after his overtime goal defeated the Ontario Reign, 4-3 last Saturday, The Record, 11/22/09
"Our power play has been the reason we've won games," Thunder coach Matt Thomas said. "It's often been very good, and it's been a real asset for us."
- Thomas on the Thunder power-play, The Record, 11/12/09
THUNDER 2009-10 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS
The proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League and Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.
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