Czuy returns in season debut with two goals, assist

Published on February 10, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Returning in his ECHL season debut after starting the year in Europe, Kelly Czuy led the offense with two goals and added an assist to lift the Stockton Thunder (24-14-7, 55 points) to a 4-2 victory over the Ontario Reign, before an announced crowd of 6,764 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Wednesday night.

The Thunder, who improved to 6-1-1 this season over their division rival, sunk a 1-0 deficit with three goals in the second period, sparked by Czuy's first goal at 1:21. Craig Valette added his fourth goal of the season and Jarrett Konkle buried the eventual game-winner.

‚¬Å“We carried out a well executed road game, ‚¬Â said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. ‚¬Å“It took us 20 minutes to get it going but our second period, once again, was excellent. Czuy, Valette and Jesse Gimblett all had great games and set the tone offensively. ‚¬Â

Gimblett chipped in with two assist, on both Czuy goals. Goaltender Bryan Pitton earned his 16th win of the season with 35 saves.

Michael Pelech sprung Alex Bourret on a breakaway pass, who converted the chance with a wrist shot from between the circles on Pitton's blocker side at 13:48 of the first period, giving Ontario a 1-0 lead.

The Thunder countered with three unanswered goals in the middle frame, beginning with Czuy's first of the season with 1:21 elapsed in the second period, converting Gimblett's feed with a turn-around shot from the mid slot, which banked into the net off the post and the goaltender's back.

Valette then gave the Thunder its first lead at 4:31, converting Steve Vanoosten's feed from behind the net with a one-timer at the top of the crease, after Vanoosten nearly missed from off the rush with a rolling puck over his stick at the right post.

Konkle followed by blistering a one-timer past Mike Zacharias from the right circle, completing P.A. Bureau's cross-ice pass for his ninth goal of the season and a 3-1 lead with 8:15 left in the second period.

The Thunder kept the two goal lead upheld until Pelech cut the deficit to 3-2 with 3:06 left in regulation, crashing the net with for a rebound that he flipped over Pitton's glove from the top of the crease.

Just 12 seconds later, the Thunder silenced the Ontario building and Czuy restored the two-goal cushion with his second goal of the game, burying a rebound over a fallen Zacharias after his one-timer was initially stopped from the top of the crease, originating from a Gimblett pass in the right corner.

Zacharias took the loss with 31 saves.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Cameron Brodie (healthy), Ryan Constant (injured reserve), Jordan Foreman (injured reserve) and Bretton Cameron (healthy) ‚¬Â¦ the Thunder improved to 11-2-1 in the last 14 all-time games in Ontario ‚¬Â¦ Stockton kept Ontario blanked, 0-for-3 on the power-play and have killed off the last 14 penalties in three games.

The Thunder returns to play on Friday, continuing the five-game road trip at Sullivan Arena against the Alaska Aces at 8:15 p.m. The game can be heard on radio at 1280 AM KWSX and viewed live on the internet (pay-per-view video charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL ‚¬Å“Award of Excellence, ‚¬Â 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, mini-plans and individual tickets 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/.

THREE STARS:

1. STK - 12 Kelly Czuy

2. STK - 44 Jody Pederson

3. ONT - 11 Michael Pelech

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ECHL Stories from February 10, 2011


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