A Pair of Pittons Come to Stockton

Published on October 1, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League and Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, announced goaltender Bryan Pitton has been assigned to the Thunder from Springfield and the team has agreed to contract terms with free agent left wing Jason Pitton. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Jason and Bryan, both natives of Brampton, Ontario, are the first pair of brothers to join the Thunder roster since 2006-07 (Cam and Chris Abbott).

Bryan Pitton is the first goaltender to join the Thunder preseason roster and he increases it to 26 players (15 forwards, 10 defensemen and one goaltender). The Thunder open 2009-10 Training Camp on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Stockton Arena. Bryan is the ninth returning player from last year's team that advanced to the seventh game of the second round (Pacific Division Final) of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Bryan, 21, was selected by the Oilers in the fifth round (133rd overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and suited up in 34 games for the Thunder last season, compiling a 9-19-3 record, 3.39 goals-against-average and .866 save percentage.

The 6-foot-2, 176-pound goaltender has spent the last two seasons in Oilers training camp after a three-year junior career with the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League. He was 64-46-6 in 124 career games with Brampton, posting four career shutouts, a 3.22 goals-against-average and a .894 save percentage.

In 2007-08, Pitton appeared in one AHL game with Springfield on a tryout basis.

Jason, 23, was selected by the New York Islanders in the eighth round (244th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and has suited up in 136 career games throughout three seasons (2006-09) in the AHL with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 28 points (12g-16a) and amassing 128 penalty minutes.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound forward added 23 games with the Utah Grizzlies in 2007-08, scoring 13 points (5g-8a) and collecting 29 penalty minutes. Last year, he suited up in 39 games for Bridgeport and scored four points (2g-2a) while posting 47 penalty minutes.

Jason scored a career-high nine goals and totaled 19 points as a rookie in 2006-07 with Bridgeport.

The Thunder returns to the ice for preseason play on Thursday, Oct. 8 against the Bakersfield Condors, starting at 7:00 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The 2009-10 season, the Fifth Year Anniversary for the team, launches on Friday, Oct. 16 at Qwest Arena against the Idaho Steelheads at 6:10 p.m. and the Thunder home opener is Friday, Oct. 23 against the Ontario Reign at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

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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