Bendfeld, Pitton Selected to NHL Young Stars Tourney

August 12, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks, announced defenseman Jordan Bendfeld and goaltender Bryan Pitton have been selected to participate for the Oilers in the Vancouver Canucks Young Stars Tournament, taking place Sept. 12-16 in Penticton, British Columbia. A total of 63 prospects from the Oilers and Sharks organizations will suit up in the eight-game tournament at the South Okanagan Events Center which includes five games involving Edmonton and/or San Jose. Both teams join the Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames and Vancouver as participants in the tournament.

Bendfeld, 22, was selected in the seventh round (193rd overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by Edmonton and has skated in 69 career games for the Thunder over the last two seasons (2008-10), scoring 13 points (1g-12a) while posting 116 penalty minutes. He recorded five points (1g-4a) and a +10 rating in 15 Kelly Cup Playoff games last season.

Pitton, 22, was selected by the Oilers in the fifth round (133rd overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and is 18-28-6 with a 3.18 goals-against-average and .901 save percentage in 56 lifetime games with Stockton. Last season, he earned two separate recalls directly to Edmonton and left the ECHL on Feb. 1 on a recall to Springfield of the AHL by ranking second in the league with a .921 save percentage.

The 6-foot-2, 176-pound goaltender broke a Thunder playoff record last year with 49 saves in Game 3 of the National Conference Final, a 1-0 win in triple overtime against the Idaho Steelheads for his first career playoff shutout.

The Oilers will also head to Penticton with first round draft choices Taylor Hall (1st overall in 2010), Magnus Paajarvi (10th overall in 2009) and Jordan Eberle (22nd overall in 2008). The Sharks will be feature prospects Taylor Doherty (2nd round, 57th overall in 2009), Nick Petrecki (28th overall in 2007), Benn Ferriero (24 games with San Jose in 2009-10) and more.

Other notables participating in the tournament include Mikael Backlund (CGY), Emerson Etem (ANA), Cam Fowler (ANA), Cody Hodgson (VAN), Kyle Palmieri (ANA), Jordan Schroeder (VAN) and Mitch Wahl (CGY).

A total of 16 NHL first round draft picks, seven players that appeared in the Final of the 2010 World Junior Championships, and the 2009 and 2010 CHL Players-of-the-Year are all scheduled to play for their respective teams. Complete rosters for the tournament can be found at www.EdmontonOilers.com and www.SJSharks.com.

TICKET INFORMATION:

Single game tickets will be available for $12, plus applicable fees, or day passes (access to all games on the given day) will be available for $20, plus applicable fees, beginning Monday, August 16.

A special '2-for-1 nooner' will take place on September 16 with all tickets for the game between the Flames and Canucks being sold for just $12 per pair. Limited tournament packages, which include a ticket to each of the eight games, will be available for purchase, starting at $66 plus applicable fees, until Monday, August 16 at 10:00am.

Tournament ticket packages and single game tickets are available for purchase online at www.valleyfirstTIX.com, by phone at 1-877-763-2849 or in person at the South Okanagan Events Centre box office. Game dates, times and opponents are subject to change.

Vancouver Canucks Young Stars Tournament*

GAME

TEAMS

DATE

TIME

Game 1

Vancouver vs Edmonton

Sept. 12

4:00 PM

Game 2

San Jose vs. Anaheim

Sept. 12

7:30 PM

Game 3

Anaheim vs. Calgary

Sept. 13

4:00 PM

Game 4

San Jose vs. Vancouver

Sept. 13

7:30 PM

Game 5

Calgary vs. Edmonton

Sept. 14

7:30 PM

Game 6

Anaheim vs. Vancouver

Sept. 15

4:00 PM

Game 7

Edmonton vs. San Jose

Sept. 15

7:30 PM

Game 8

Calgary vs. Vancouver

Sept. 16

12:00 PM

*Game dates, times and opponents subject to change.

OPENING NIGHT AND TICKET INFORMATION

Opening Night is Friday, Oct. 15, when the Thunder opens the 2010-11 regular season at home against the Ontario Reign, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

The Thunder are freezing Season Ticket Prices for the 2010-11 season, which are on sale now can be purchased by calling (209) 373-1500 or by visiting www.stocktonthunder.com. Thunder Season Ticket Holders enjoy the highest-demanded seating locations in Stockton Arena, preferred parking options, benefits including admission to Season Ticket Holder-only events, discount opportunities on Thunder merchandise, a free e-newsletter, an exclusive gift, admission to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and more. Information on individual an d group tickets will be announced soon.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the fifth consecutive season in 2009-10. Season Tickets and mini-plans for 2010-11 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 12, 2010


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