Defenseman Ryan Constant, Thunder Agree to Terms 2012-13

Published on September 10, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Another key piece of the Stockton Thunder's defense corps is back in the fold.

The Thunder (@StocktonThunder), a proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, announced today that defenseman Ryan Constant has signed with the team for the 2013-14 ECHL season. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Constant, 28, was an important part of a defensive unit that helped carry the Thunder to the Kelly Cup final last season, and he filled a leadership role on the team by serving as an alternate captain. He has appeared in 223 career regular-season games with the Thunder and amassed 98 points (31 goals, 67 assists) and 323 penalty minutes in those games. He has skated in an additional 42 career playoff games with Stockton, collecting another 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) and 45 penalty minutes in those games. Constant's ECHL career also includes 119 regular-season and eight playoff games with the Charlotte Checkers, and he has 26 games of American Hockey League experience and spent the 2011-12 season in Italy.

"I'm sure we'll rely on Ryan's leadership to steer some of our younger guys in the right direction," Thunder Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Rich Kromm said. "He was a big part of the leadership group they had here last season. He's a quiet leader who leads on the ice, and we know we're going to get his best effort every night. He's a big part of the team. He can provide some offense, help our power play and be a pretty steady physical presence for us."

The 5-foot-11, 196-pound Constant is the eighth player from last season's roster to agree to return to the Thunder, joining fellow defensemen Nathan Deck, Shawn Boutin, Kevin Noble and Landon Oslanski and forwards Garet Hunt, Ryan Hayes and Matt Bergland. Newcomers to the team so far are goaltender Brian Foster, defenseman Mathieu Gagnon and forwards Austin Mayer, James Henry, Shawn O'Donnell and Brayden Irwin.

"Coach Kromm has done a good job of bringing back some key players from last season and recruiting some new guys," Constant said. "I'm pretty excited, and I can't wait to get back on the ice. Those of us coming back have a bitter taste in our mouths after losing in the final, but that's a good thing. It makes us determined to get back there again."

Constant also said he is eager to get back to Stockton, where he has spent most of professional career.

"The biggest thing for me about playing in Stockton is the fans," Constant said. "They're unbelievable. They make it exciting to play every night. Everybody there makes me feel really comfortable, and I like to call Stockton my second home."

The Thunder will open the 2013-14 season on Oct. 19, when the team will unveil the ECHL Western Conference championship banner before a 7:30 p.m. faceoff against the Colorado Eagles at Stockton Arena. The Thunder also will play a pre-season game at home on Oct. 11, when the Bakersfield Condors will visit the arena for another 7:30 p.m. faceoff. Tickets for the pre-season game, to be priced at $5 for full-season ticket holders and $10 for the general public, are scheduled to go on sale at 10 a.m. on Sept. 16.

Season tickets and mini-plans, all of which include Opening Night, are on sale now for the upcoming season. For information, call the Thunder office at 209-373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com.

Stockton is a two-time winner of the ECHL's "Award of Excellence," and the Thunder led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons after joining the league in 2005. Including playoffs, the club has drawn more than 200,000 fans in each of its eight seasons in the league and has ranked in the league's top-5 in attendance in each of those seasons.

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