Aiello Named Co-Winner, ECHL Plus Performer Of Month

Published on February 3, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, a proud affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League and Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, announced in conjunction with the ECHL that defenseman Anthony Aiello (EYE-el-oh) has been named co-recipient of the AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performer of the Month award, finishing January by tying the ECHL lead in the month with a plus-minus rating of +12.

He becomes the second Thunder player to win the award in team history and also in back-to-back months, following Ryan Constant in December when he was +9. Aiello shares the award with Elmira rookie defenseman Mat Robinson, who was also +12 during the month.

THUNDER ALL-TIME ECHL PLUS PERFORMER OF THE MONTH SELECTIONS

Month/Rating

1. Ryan Constant December, 2009 (+9)

2. Anthony Aiello January, 2010 (+12)

Aiello, 23, was even or better in 13 of 14 games in January including a career-high +3 at Idaho on Jan. 2 and against Utah on Jan. 16. He was +2 against Bakersfield on Jan. 10 and on Jan. 27 against Victoria.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound defenseman had seven points (2g-5a) and eight penalty minutes to help the Thunder improve to 20-17-7 (47 points) and move into second place in the Pacific Division. Aiello leads the Thunder in plus-minus rating with +12.

He was acquired by Stockton on Dec. 1, 2009 from the Florida Everblades in exchange for future considerations after playing three games with Florida. Since joining the Thunder, Aiello has 13 points (4g-9a) and 16 penalty minutes in 25 games.

Selected in the fifth round (129th overall) by the Minnesota Wild in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, the Braintree, Mass. native played four seasons at Boston College and had 35 points (5g-30a) and 142 penalty minutes in 132 games from 2005-09.

Aiello's award comes one day after goaltender Bryan Pitton was named ECHL Goaltender of the Week (Jan. 25-31) for the second time this season, and fellow teammate and forward J.F. Caudron finished runner-up for ECHL Player of the Week.

Top Plus Performer(s) for Each Club: Alaska - Evan Kotsopoulos, Alexandre Imbeault and Colin Hemingway (+2); Bakersfield - Eric Regan (+6); Charlotte - Kevin Schaeffer (+9); Cincinnati - Brian O'Hanley (+11); Florida - Scott Hotham (+4); Gwinnett - Sam Roberts (+2); Idaho - Mark Derlago (+9); Johnstown - David Schulz (+3); Kalamazoo - Ryan McGinnis (+6); Las Vegas - Mick Lawrence (+6); Ontario - Mike Egener and Andrew Martens (+5); Reading - Eric Werner (+7); South Carolina - Trent Campbell (+7); Toledo - Adam Hobson (+7); Trenton - Dave Leaderer (+8); Utah - Dustin Friesen (+8); Victoria - Chad Painchaud (+9) and Wheeling - Kyle Bushee and Andrew Lord (+7).

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," 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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