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Defenseman Geris Returns to Thunder Blueline

August 23, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, has agreed to terms with rookie defenseman Ryan Geris, Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"Ryan ended last year as an extremely reliable guy for the back-end," said Cichocki. "One of the biggest compliments to him is that I had confidence in him right away. In the first few games I could tell he could play and we're thrilled to have his versatility back this year."

Geris, 25, was signed by the Thunder as a free agent on March 30, 2007 and appeared in all six Kelly Cup Playoff games with the Thunder last season, scoring three points (1g-2a). Geris scored a critical game-tying, third period goal in his professional playoff debut and the Thunder's game one road victory against the Idaho Steelheads. The Alexandria, Minnesota native appeared in the final six regular season games, tallying a +4 rating.

Geris previously spent four seasons (2002-05, 2006-07) of his college hockey career at University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA), scoring 27 points (6g-21a) in 89 career games with 84 penalty minutes. Geris helped guide Minnesota-Duluth to a NCAA Frozen Four semifinal berth as a 2003-04 sophomore, teaming with Thunder defenseman Beau Geisler. As a 2002-03 freshman, Geris achieved career-highs with 40 games played and 11 points (4g-7a).

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound blueliner spent three seasons of his junior career with the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), scoring 50 points (18g-32a) in 120 career games with 264 penalty minutes. Geris scored a career-high 12 goals, 17 assists and 29 points in 2001-02, leading the Musketeers to the league's Clark Cup championship. Geris scored 10 points (4g-6a) to pace all USHL defensemen in scoring for the playoffs.

"Factoring in Stockton's fan base, players in the room, coaching staff and organization as a whole, I couldn't have picked a better place to come back to," said Geris. "When you get the chance to play for a first-class organization like Stockton, the energy trickles down all the way to the guys in the dressing room which makes this next season really something to look forward to."

Geris also commented on the opportunity to re-unite with a prized Thunder free-agent signee from this summer.

"I played junior hockey with Brandon Schwartz (2006-07 All-Star, formerly with the Long Beach Ice Dogs) so getting a chance to play with him again is really something to relish."

Geris joins Beau Geisler, Brian Lee and Mark Adamek as returning defensemen from last year's Kelly Cup playoff squad that tied for fourth in the ECHL with 197 goals allowed (2.7 per game).

ABOUT THE ECHL

Opening Day for the 20th Anniversary Season will be Oct. 18 when the Johnstown Chiefs host the Wheeling Nailers at Cambria County War Memorial in a rematch of Game 7 from the first-ever ECHL Finals.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the Premier 'AA' Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that will have 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08. The 25 teams includes the Mississippi (Biloxi) Sea Wolves, who return after missing two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the expansion Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals. The ECHL will play 900 games beginning Oct. 18 and concluding Apr. 5.

Details on Thunder 2007 training camp information will be announced soon. The Thunder begins the 2007-08 ECHL season Friday, October 19 on the road against the Bakersfield Condors at 7:00 p.m. PT, and faces the Alaska Aces on Saturday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. PT in the home opener at Stockton Arena.

Host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game, the Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets for 2007-08 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com.

Ryan Geris

Defense

Born Aug 26 1981 -- Alexandria, MN

Height 6.01 -- Weight 190 -- Shoots R

--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----

Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1999-00 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 13 0 0 0 14 5 0 0 0 2

2000-01 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 52 6 15 21 109 3 0 0 0 2

2001-02 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 55 12 17 29 144 12 4 6 10 34

2002-03 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCAA 40 4 7 11 32

2003-04 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCAA 7 0 2 2 6

2004-05 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCAA 6 1 3 4 10

2006-07 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCAA 36 1 9 10 36

2006-07 Stockton Thunder ECHL 6 0 0 0 4 6 1 2 3 0



ECHL Stories from August 23, 2007


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