Blackwater Returns, Davey Agrees To Terms

Published on August 20, 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, has agreed to contract terms with left wing Judd Blackwater and defenseman Bobby Davey (DAY-vee), Thunder head coach Matt Thomas announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Blackwater and Davey increase the Thunder roster total to 12 players (seven forwards and five defensemen).

"Judd possesses one of the nicest set of hands I have ever seen in the game, let alone our league," said Thomas. "He really began to uncover his potential in the playoffs last year and as he continues to grow in confidence with his stickhandling and playmaking ability, the sky is the limit for him as to what he can do at this level and in the American Hockey League. He is certainly a welcomed, returning commodity for our offense."

Said Thomas of Davey, "The thing you have to love about Bobby is the way he sticks up for his teammates. He's a tough customer who holds opponents accountable for taking liberties on his teammates and will drop the gloves with anybody. He has a great, 'team-first' attitude and the potential to develop into a solid two-way defensemen with his hard shot and raw ability to distribute the puck."

Blackwater, 22, helped guide the Thunder to within one win of reaching the National Conference Finals last year as a rookie, collecting eight assists in 10 Kelly Cup Playoff games. After being signed by the club as a free agent on Dec. 30, 2008, he scored eight points (2g-6a) in 19 regular season games with 25 penalty minutes.

The Lethbridge, Alberta native began last season with the Fresno Falcons, amassing 14 points (5g-9a) and 23 penalty minutes in 30 games and added 21 AHL games with the Rockford IceHogs and Rochester Americans on professional tryout agreements (PTO), scoring five points (4g-1a) and posting 18 penalty minutes.

The 6-foot, 193-pound forward previously skated in 171 career junior games throughout three seasons (2005-08) with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, scoring 114 points (50g-64a) and posting 253 penalty minutes. In his final year during 2007-08, Blackwater achieved career-highs in goals (31) and points (60) in 71 games while guiding Spokane to their first Memorial Cup championship in 17 seasons with 18 points (10g-8a) in 21 postseason games.

"Stockton is a hockey city that has great fans and big crowds every night and it makes me excited to return to that for this year," said Blackwater. "Playing for Coach Thomas was also big influence in my decision to return because he's given me a lot of opportunity to succeed. He's played a big part in my experiences here and at the AHL level and I'm looking forward to another great year of playing under him. I just learned not too long ago that Bobby is also coming to Stockton and I'm thrilled about having him as a teammate again."

Davey, 22, makes Stockton his third ECHL stop after skating in 33 combined games in his rookie season last year with Fresno and the Reading Royals, totaling 119 penalty minutes and two assists.

Known as a willing combatant to drop the gloves throughout his four-year junior career (2004-08), the 6-foot-1, 200-pound defenseman skated in 240 career games for the Belleville Bulls, Sarnia Sting and Peterborough Petes, collecting 682 penalty minutes while scoring 23 points (4g-19a).

A native of West Hill, Ontario, Davey led the OHL with a career-high 227 penalty minutes as a member of Sarnia in 2006-07 and hit the 200-penalty minute mark plateau in his final two years.

"Every time I've come to Stockton in the past it seems like the barn is packed and the fans are wild," said Davey. "It will be nice to be a part of that and play for Coach Thomas again. He's passionate, direct and always willing to help which motivates me as a player. Judd and I really hit it off last year in Fresno so I'm really looking forward to playing with him again."

Blackwater, Davey and Thomas are all reunited for the first time since October-December 2008, when Thomas coached the two players as members of the Falcons.

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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