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Ben Laing Named New Head Equipment Manager

August 27, 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 named Ben Laing new Head Equipment Manager, Thunder head coach Matt Thomas announced today.

Laing, 26, succeeds Mark Burgess and is the second equipment manager in Thunder history, joining the club after serving the Fresno Falcons as Equipment Manager in 2008-09 in his first season of professional hockey.

"Ben was highly-recommended in the hockey world before he got his start last year in Fresno and he did a terrific job for the time he was there," said Thomas. "He has a bright future ahead of him and we're looking forward to him joining our hockey operations staff in Stockton."

The Rochester, N.Y. native will handle management of all day-to-day equipment-related duties of the Thunder dressing room, including maintenance and inventory preservation of team supplies while assisting the hockey operations department with administrative duties and supervision of Thunder game day equipment staff.

Laing, who serves as Head Instructor of Sport International Hockey Academy in Rochester during the offseason, has previously served in the hockey retail industry with Locker Room Sports for eight years and spent the 2003-04 season as Assistant Coach for his alma mater, Monroe (N.Y.) Community College.

Laing, who spent a two-year playing career (2001-03) as a defensemen for Monroe and suited up in one game for the Thunder in 2008-09 on an amateur tryout agreement, received his Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts from Monroe in August 2006.

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 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 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/.



ECHL Stories from August 27, 2009


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