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Thunder edged on Opening

October 13, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - J.F. Berube made 18 saves, enough for the Ontario Reign to send the Stockton Thunder (0-1-0, 0 points) to a 2-1 defeat before 5,635 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday.

Philippe Cornet, one of four players assigned to the Thunder via the Edmonton Oilers farm system, chipped in with the only Thunder goal in the second period during Stockton's season opener. Colton Yellow Horn registered the eventual game winner.

"I liked us at times, for sure," Thunder head coach Matt Thomas said. "You can tell we didn't have a lot of chemistry. Other than [Gabriel] Levesque, [Philippe] Cornet, and [Toni] Rajala really making some plays, the other lines didn't seem to gel much and connect. As a result, it didn't create the offensive result we were hoping for."

Stockton found itself down early in the first period. On a power play, Ontario's Vincent LoVerde's one-timer off a pass from Kyle Kraemer sailed past Thunder goaltender Tyler Bunz, giving the Reign a 1-0 lead just 2:19 into the opening period.

The Thunder evened the deficit early in the second period. Harrison Reed's shot deflected off Berube. The deflection went right to Cornet, who put his shot into the goal.

Cornet's first goal as a member of the Stockton Thunder came at 2:49 in the second. However, the Reign would regain the lead minutes later, as former Thunder player Colton Yellow Horn fired a shot past Bunz to put Ontario on top 2-1, 4:24 into the second frame.

Neither offense could get anything going in the final period, as both defenses asserted themselves. The Thunder had an opportunity to tie the game, as they went on the power play at 17:11 in the third period. However, they were unable to capitalize, and the Reign held on for the win.

After outshooting the Reign in the first period, the Thunder were outshot 18-11 in the final two frames.

"I'm not worried about [the offense]," Thomas said. "It's something that is going to come. We need to be patient with it."

Bunz made 23 saves in his pro debut and took the loss.

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