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San Jose Sharks, Stockton Thunder Enter Partnership

January 6, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, a two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," and the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League have entered into a working agreement for the duration of 2009-10 season, Thunder head coach Matt Thomas announced today in conjunction with the Sharks.

This agreement will serve as a supplement to the Thunder's continued working affiliation with the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL and the Springfield Falcons of the AHL.

"We're excited to enter a partnership with the San Jose Sharks and extend our association through the National Hockey League to a team right in our own backyard," said Thomas. "The Sharks are a well-rounded, respected organization on and off the ice that is a model for success in the California market. We're looking forward to a beneficial relationship."

"The Sharks are excited to be associated with the Stockton Thunder and are pleased to once again have Head Coach Matt Thomas working with our players," said Sharks Vice President and Assistant General Manager Wayne Thomas. "The Thunder is a well run, top-notch organization and geographically, the relationship makes a lot of sense. After working with both Fresno and Phoenix over the past decade, we are happy to re-establish a West Coast presence within the ECHL."

The Sharks, a member of the NHL's Western Conference and Pacific Division, have been a member of the National Hockey League since the 1991-92 season. The Sharks are reigning back-to-back Pacific Division champions and have won four division titles (2001-02, 2003-04, 2007-08 and 2008-09) in franchise history.

Last season, San Jose captured their first President's Trophy with the NHL's best regular season record (53-18-11, 117 points).

Like the Northern California-neighboring Thunder, the Sharks have enjoyed box office success each season on their own home ice and in the last three seasons plus (including 2009-10, entering Jan. 6), the Sharks have drawn a total of 2,513,852 fans in the last 144 regular season games to HP Pavilion at San Jose.

For the fourth consecutive season, Stockton is currently serving as the primary 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 seven former Thunder players - right wing Troy Bodie, goaltender Devan Dubnyk, right wing Colin McDonald, center Ryan O'Marra, center Tim Sestito, left wing Liam Reddox and defenseman Bryan Young - have gone on to play in the NHL.

The Thunder makes San Jose their third team as an NHL partner, joining present and past affiliates in the Edmonton Oilers (2006-present) and the Phoenix Coyotes (2005-06).

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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