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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Ontario Reign

February 15, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Friday, February 15, 2013

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

RADIO: 1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Ontario Reign: Los Angeles Kings

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight's Promotion: MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT (presented by Golden Bear Insurance Company, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Coors Light, Blackwell Heating & Air, The Record, KAT Country 103, and FOX 40 News)

National Anthem: 59th Army Band

Public Address Announcer: DJ Walker

In-Arena Emcees: "Hot Rod" and Alan Sanchez

NEXT HOME GAME

Saturday, Feb. 16 vs. San Francisco Bulls (7:30 p.m.)

MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT (presented by Golden Bear Insurance Company, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Coors Light, Blackwell Heating & Air, The Record, KAT Country 103, and FOX 40 News)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder opens "Military Appreciation Weekend," a special promotional event to salute members of the armed forces, against the Ontario Reign on Friday at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 1-1-1 in the season series and last faced the Reign on Nov. 30 in a 5-4 overtime loss at Citizens Business Bank Arena. The Thunder leads the all time series over Ontario with a record of 24-14-6. The Thunder will unveil special military themed jerseys for the event, which will be worn by the team during the two games on Friday and Saturday.

ABOUT MILITARY APPRECIATION WEEKEND

Proceeds from this weekend's event will benefit the Welcome Home Heroes Foundation, an organization designed to support United States veterans and their local families for housing and financial needs. The Thunder will wear special design military jerseys with a camouflage accent for both games, with the jerseys scheduled for a live auction to all fans in attendance after Saturday's game.

Before the games, veteran and active military members will participate in the pre-game ceremonial faceoff after a special United States flag unveiling across the ice of Stockton Arena for the National Anthem. Local members of the military who lost their lives during active service in Iraq and Afghanistan will also be honored with a special video tribute on the video board of Stockton Arena during the games. Several giveaways for fans this weekend, including posters, flags and caps, are part of the commemorative event.

2012-2013 Schedule: (1-1-1)

Fri. Oct. 12 Ontario 2 at Stockton 1

Sat. Oct. 13 Stockton 4 at Ontario 0

Fri. Nov. 30 Stockton 4 at Ontario 5 (OT)

Fri. Feb. 15 Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Wed. Feb. 20 at Ontario 7:00 p.m.

Fri. Feb. 22 at Ontario 7:00 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 24 Ontario 4:00 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 2 at Ontario 6:00 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 3 Ontario 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 10 Ontario 4:00 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 15 at Ontario 7:00 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 16 Ontario 7:30 p.m.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder is 12-3-3 when leading after one period this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

AK 3 - STK 1 (2/10/13): Alexandre Imbeault collected a natural hat trick and the Alaska Aces completed a three game weekend sweep, sending the Stockton Thunder (24-20-9, 57 points) to a 3-1 defeat before 3,379 fans at Sullivan Arena on Sunday. Mark Guggenberger made 21 saves for the win. Tyler Bunz took the loss with a career high 41 stops. Thunder defenseman Ryan Constant opened the scoring with a goal in the second period.

AK 3 - STK 2 (SO) (2/9/13): Gerald Coleman made 16 saves, adding four of five stops in the shootout, to help the Alaska Aces escape the Stockton Thunder (24-19-9, 57 points), 3-2 before 4,689 at Sullivan Arena on Saturday. Tyler Bunz made 30 stops, earning the game's second star including three saves in the first three rounds of the shootout. The Thunder battled back from a one goal deficit on Teigan Zahn's third period power play goal and got the game's first goal on another Maxime Boisclair marker.

AK 3 - STK 1 (2/8/13): B.J. Crum broke a 1-1 tie with a power play goal in the third period which stood as the game winner, helping the Alaska Aces send the Stockton Thunder (24-19-8, 56 points) to a 3-1 defeat before 4,010 fans at Sullivan Arena on Friday. The Thunder fell to 2-5-1 in the season series against Alaska and earned its only goal from Maxime Boisclair in the second period.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Maxime Boisclair is 4 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

- Garet Hunt is 3 games away from 300 as a member of the Thunder

HOME SWEET HOME

The Thunder has made Stockton Arena ideal for home ice advantage this season with a record of 15-7-3. They recently completed string of eight of the nine games, including seven straight, at home. Below is a look at key figures for the Thunder at home this season:

At home this season, the Thunder has:

- A record of 15-7-3

- Totaled ten games of scoring four goals or more

- Outshot the opposition thirteen times this season

- Posted 18 games of 30 shots on goal or more

- Collected at least one power play goal in thirteen of the last fifteen games

FEEL THE POWER

The Thunder has gone on a power trip, having scored a power play goal in 12 of the last 14 games while only going two games in the entire month of January without one. The Thunder has seen center Harrison Reed benefit most from the recent surge, scoring six power play goals (half of the Thunder total) during the stretch. The Thunder went 1-of-5 in last Saturday's game at Alaska.

TO THE MAX

Thunder forward Maxime Boisclair has picked up nine points in ten games since joining the Thunder as a signed free agent. Boisclair has scored four goals in the last six games and has five goals in 2012-13. Boisclair was named an ECHL All-Star as a member of the Eastern Conference team in 2006-07.

NO LITTLE ACCOMPLISHMENT

Thunder defenseman Mike Little played in his 100th career ECHL game on Dec. 27 at Bakersfield and helped out offensively with an assist in a 4-2 Thunder win. Little was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team last season and was the first selection in Thunder history. Little also played in his 100th career Thunder game Jan. 9 at Colorado.

JUSTIN TIME

Center Justin Maylan is tied for fourth in the ECHL in rookie scoring with 40 points this season in 49 games. He collected 12 points in 16 games during the month of December. Maylan has also posted nine multi point games this season.

PLAYING THE REICHARD

Thunder goaltender Cody Reichard became the 11th goaltender in Thunder history to earn the ECHL Goaltender of the Week award when he took the honor on Dec. 11. He followed up with two near misses on monthly awards as well - runner up honors for ECHL Rookie of the Month and ECHL Goaltender of the Month (December) with a 4-1-3 record, 2.19 goals against average and .935 save percentage from Dec. 1-31.

OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN

Garet Hunt was named the sixth captain in Thunder history on Oct. 12, taking the "C" for the first time in his career for full-time duty. Hunt served as an alternate captain for the Thunder last season and has helped guide the team to the playoffs for four straight seasons since his 2008-09 rookie campaign. Hunt played in the 300th game of his professional career against Utah on Jan. 27 and is the Thunder all-time leader with 297 games played.

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