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All-Star Brett Hemingway, Thunder Agree to Terms

December 1, 2009 - 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, has agreed to contract terms with free agent right wing Brett Hemingway (HEHM-eeng-waigh), Thunder head coach Matt Thomas announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hemingway, 26, will wear jersey 19 and is expected to make his Thunder debut this Friday at Stockton Arena against the Bakersfield Condors at 7:30 p.m. (StocktonThunder.com).

"Brett gives us a right shot forward that complements our needs on the power-play and with our top units," said Thomas. "He has the natural ability to put the puck in the net from prime scoring areas and off the rush, which is an area of our game we've been addressing to improve. He understands the offensive expectations we've asked him to fill and he's a welcomed addition."

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound forward was originally selected in the seventh round (225th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche and has skated in 131 career ECHL games through two-plus (2007-10) seasons with the Alaska Aces, Reading Royals and Fresno Falcons, scoring 93 points (31g-62a) and totaling 122 penalty minutes.

This year, Hemingway had one assist in six games with Alaska and added an assist in three Central Hockey League games with the Arizona Sundogs.

Last season, the Surrey, British Columbia native was a member of the Aces squad that reached the Kelly Cup Finals and chipped in with two assists in seven postseason games. That year, he scored 42 points (10g-32a) and notched a career-high 32 assists in 58 games.

He enjoyed a career-high 21 goals and 50 points (21g-29a) in 67 games with Alaska, Reading and Fresno in his 2007-08 rookie season, earning a spot on the American Conference team in the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game at Stockton Arena. Hemingway, a member of the Royals at the time, scored a goal and posted two assists in the game.

"I'm really excited for the opportunity in Stockton and a return to the ECHL," said Hemingway. "They've got so many great fans that get fired up for every shot and save - it was thrilling to play in front of them in the All-Star Game and it wasn't an easy place to play when I was with Alaska and Fresno. I know what to expect in playing for coach Thomas and in his system."

Hemingway parlayed a four-year (2003-07) college career at the University of New Hampshire (NCAA), scoring 134 points (61g-73a) and registering 91 penalty minutes in 150 career games. He guided the Wildcats to back-to-back appearances in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and as a 2004-05 sophomore, buried a career-high 22 goals and 42 points (22g-20a) in 42 games.

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, Group, Mini Plan and Individual 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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