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Matt Thomas Named All-Star Coach for National Conference

January 6, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Stockton Thunder head coach Matt Thomas has been selected as a coach for the National Conference team at the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Guardian Wear in Reading, PA., Thunder president Dan Chapman announced today in conjunction with the ECHL.

Currently in his first season as Thunder head coach and fifth in the ECHL head coaching ranks, Thomas will join Victoria Salmon Kings head coach Mark Morrison behind the National Conference bench for the contest. Thomas is making his second ECHL All-Star Game appearance as a coach and previously served behind the All-Star Game bench in Reading while serving as Head Coach for the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2004-05.

"Matt's coaching resume continues to get better and better, and this is a well deserved honor for one of the ECHL's best coaches," said Chapman. "He did a great job in Fresno for 3 ½ years and despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding their organization, he always kept them near the top of the National Conference."

The Reading Royals, the City of Reading and the Sovereign Center will host the 17th Annual ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 21, 2009 and the 12th Annual All-Star Skills Competition on Jan. 20, 2009.

The record for All-Star appearances is three by Chris Cichocki, Glen Gulutzan, Davis Payne and Jeff Pyle.

Thomas, who has guided the Thunder to a 2-0-1 record since being named Thunder head coach on Dec. 29, previously spent the last three seasons plus as head coach for the Fresno Falcons, who ceased operations on Dec. 22, 2008 after beginning the year with a record of 18-10-2 in 30 games for 38 points, leading the Pacific Division. Thomas has compiled a record of 181-98-42 and a winning percentage of .636 in 321 career games at the helm for Stockton, Fresno and Atlantic City.

The 33-year old has never missed the playoffs in his five years as a head coach and two years as an assistant. Thomas was an assistant for Head Coach Mike Haviland (currently an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL) and helped recruit many of the players who helped guide Atlantic City to a Kelly Cup Championship in 2002-03.

Thomas was named as a coach for the 2005 ECHL All-Star Game in his first year as head coach for Atlantic City and was the youngest active head coach in the ECHL at age of 29 when hired by Fresno in 2005-06. That season, Thomas guided the Falcons to a berth in the National Conference Finals and led the club to its first division title in Falcons history with a record of 43-15-14 and 100 points.

Under Thomas' guidance in 2005-06, the Falcons became the first team in ECHL history to finish the regular season without a regulation loss inside of their own division.

A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Thomas spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the national-power University of Maine (NCAA) and helped guide the Black Bears to the NCAA Championship Game in 2001-02. Thomas began his coaching career as an assistant coach for his alma mater, the Rochester Institute of Technology, which advanced to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four during his one year behind the bench in 1999-00.

Following a junior career in the Metro (Toronto) Junior A Hockey League, he arrived at RIT, where he served as captain. He helped RIT achieve a #1 ranking and an NCAA Tournament bid during his senior season on his way to earning ECAC Division III West All-Star honors for himself.

Thomas joins Thunder forward Ryan Huddy (first career All-Star appearance) and defenseman Kenny MacAulay (second straight All-Star appearance), who were named to the National Conference roster on Dec. 30.

The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season tickets, group tickets, individual 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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