Thunder Weekly (Kelly Cup Finals): Thunder sinks Idaho for Western Conference title

Published on May 14, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


2012-13 PLAYOFF NOTES:

Stockton is 8-2 at home and leads the ECHL in home win percentage (.800) Stockton leads the ECHL with four wins when trailing after periods Stockton is 5-1 in overtime and has tied the ECHL playoff record for most overtime wins in a season Stockton is the first team in California to play in the Kelly Cup Finals Goaltender Olivier Roy leads the ECHL with 12 playoff wins in 2013 Roy leads the ECHL with 513 saves Rookie forward Andrew Clark is second in Kelly Cup Playoff scoring with 18 points Thunder defenseman Mike Little played in the first seven games of his pro career with Reading (2010-11) Head Coach Matt Thomas is third in ECHL history with 48 postseason wins

SERIES PREVIEW:

The fourth seeded Thunder has advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals for the first time in team history and will face the first seeded Reading Royals to decide the ECHL champion. Stockton clinched a spot in the Finals with a 2-1 victory on Saturday, defeating the Idaho Steelheads in five games and earning the first Western Conference title in team history. The Thunder is the first team from the state of California to play in the Kelly Cup Finals. It is also the first trip to the Finals for the Royals, who won the Eastern Conference title by taking out the Cincinnati Cyclones in five games as well. The Thunder and Royals have played each other only three times, back in the Thunder's inaugural 2005-06 season from Dec. 27-30. The Thunder went 0-2-1 in the three-game series.

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL RECAP: (Stockton defeats Idaho, 4-1)

GAME 1 - STK 3 - IDH 1 (5/3/13): Goaltender Olivier Roy made 35 saves and Ryan Hayes collected a goal and an assist to lift the Stockton Thunder to a 3-1 victory over the Idaho Steelheads in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final before 3,556 fans at Century Link Arena on Friday night. Stockton never trailed in the Conference Final opener - a rematch of the 2010 series that Idaho took in six games - and broke a 1-1 tie in the third period when Hayes and Maxime Boisclair combined for two goals in the final six minutes of regulation.

GAME 2 - STK 4 - IDH 3 (OT) (5/5/13): Andrew Clark buried a wrist shot during a goal mouth scramble with 8:21 left in sudden death overtime to lift the Stockton Thunder to a 4-3 overtime victory over the Idaho Steelheads in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final before 2,769 fans at Century Link Arena on Sunday. Clark's goal thwarted a two goal comeback by Idaho in the third period and put the Thunder to within two wins of reaching the Kelly Cup Finals for their first time in club history. Maxime Boisclair and Matt Bergland chipped in for Stockton's goals. Idaho was paced by Adrian Foster's two goals in the third period while goaltender Olivier Roy improved to 7-0 lifetime in playoff overtime with 36 saves.

GAME 3 - IDH 2 - STK 1 (OT) (5/8/13): Austin Fyten's overtime goal with 1:41 left helped the Idaho Steelheads send the Stockton Thunder to a 2-1 OT defeat in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals in front of 3,198 fans at Stockton Arena on Wednesday. Fyten's goal broke Stockton's 11-game overtime winning streak in the playoffs and dealt the Thunder its first overtime loss of these playoffs after starting 5-0 . Josh Robinson earned the win for Idaho with 41 stops, while Stockton's Olivier Roy made 40 saves in net for the Thunder. Forward Eric Hunter scored the Thunder's lone goal.

GAME 4 - STK 3 - IDH 2 (5/10/13 ): The Stockton Thunder earned a late third period goal by Maxime Boisclair and used a key save by Olivier Roy on a penalty shot with 1.4 seconds left in regulation to hold on for a 3-2 win over the Idaho Steelheads to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals in front of 4,417 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday. Boisclair scored the game winner, while team captain Garet Hunt and forward Harrison Reed also found the back of the net for the Thunder. Roy, who earned the first star with 27 saves and a penalty shot stop, took the win. Idaho's Josh Robinson was dealt a loss in a 32 save effort.

GAME 5 - STK 2 - IDH 1 (5/11/13): Olivier Roy put on the best performance of his postseason career and the Stockton Thunder won Game 5 over the Idaho Steelheads 2-1 to become the 2013 Western Conference champions in front of 4,530 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who clinched the series over the Steelheads 4-1, will now advance to the Kelly Cup Finals for the first time in team history. Stockton will face the Reading Royals, who eliminated the Cincinnati Cyclones in five games. Forward Andrew Clark put the Thunder on top for good, while forward Ryan Hayes got the scoring started for Stockton. Roy made 44 saves in net, coming up big whenever his team needed him. Idaho's Josh Robinson stopped 26 shots.

KELLY CUP PLAYOFF TICKET INFORMATION

Ticket strip packages for the 2013 Thunder playoffs are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Stockton Thunder at 209-373-1500. Priority seating is offered along with free 2013 playoff tickets by purchasing a brand new 2013-14 Thunder Season Ticket Package. Mini Plan ticket holders can buy discounted playoff strip packages for all three Kelly Cup Finals home playoff games with plans starting as low as $14 per seat. Current Thunder Season Ticket Holders will need to reserve their seats by contacting the Thunder Front Office at 209-373-1500, since Kelly Cup Finals tickets are not included with their ticket package. Individual tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com and the Stockton Arena Ticket Office.

ROAD GAME WATCH PARTY INFORMATION

The King's Room of Stockton Arena will serve again as the Thunder's official road game Watch Party host of the 2013 Kelly Cup Finals. Admission is free to all fans and doors will open 30 minutes before opening face-off. The event offers opportunities for fans to take advantage of food selections and a full bar. During each game, prizes will be raffled to lucky fans in attendance, including hockey gifts from the Thunder.

Food selections include:

- Nachos

- Hot Dogs

- Specialty grill cart sausages

- Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches

- Popcorn Bags

- Chips

- Select candies

A two time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," the Thunder led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the seventh consecutive season in 2011-12. Season Tickets, Group Tickets and Mini-Plans are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at 209-373-1500 or visit www.StocktonThunder.com.

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ECHL Stories from May 14, 2013


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