Defensive Star Hopoi Returns From AFL Stint

Published on May 7, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning have been assigned defensive lineman Manase Hopoi (Mah-NAS-ee, Ho-POY), Head Coach Doug Murray announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

gWe were excited for Manasefs opporitunity to play in the Arena Football League and wefre saddened his time came to an end, but wefre thrilled he chose Stockton as his number one priority as a place to return in the af2,h said Murray. gWefre looking for him to dominate up front for the rest of the season and hefll help with fortifying our defense while being a leader.h

Hopoi is expected to make his season debut with the Lightning this Saturday, facing the Central Valley Coyotes on the road beginning at 7:00 p.m. from Selland Arena.

The Sacramento, Calif. native started the year on the practice squad of the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League and amassed 23 tackles for the Lightning last year in his first professional season. Hopoi ranked fourth on the Lightning with 3.0 sacks and was tied for third on the team with 5.0 tackles-for-loss.

Hopoi, 24, ranked among the top categories in a handful of defensive records at University of Washington (NCAA) during his five-year (2001-05) college career. The Sacramento native ranks third in Huskies all-time history with 49 tackles and fourth in program history with 25 sacks (since 1982). A second-team All-Pac-10 selection as a 2004 junior, Hopoi had 54 tackles and led the Pac-10 with 22 tackles-for-loss, one shy of Washington's single-season record.

At Valley High (Calif.) in Sacramento, Hopoi tallied 470 tackles, 37 sacks and 47 tackles-for-loss in his career, including an incredible 16 tackles and four sacks in a win over Woodland in 1999. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound defensive lineman earned first-team honors in the Long Beach Press Telegram's "Best of the West" poll, was a PrepStar All-American and first-team all-CIF selection. He was awarded Sacramento Bee All-City first team honors in 2000 and also was a two-time Delta League Defensive MVP.

Hopoi tied for the team lead with five sacks and ranked second with 9.5 tackles for loss as a 2005 senior and spent the 2006 National Football League training camp period with the Minnesota Vikings.

In addition, the Lightning announced the following roster moves: œ DB Daniel Jones placed on gteam suspensionh list œ DB Raymond Little placed on injured reserve list œ DB Ruschard Dodd-Masters activated from grefused to reporth list

The Lightning return to play on Saturday for a Week 7 road matchup against the Central Valley Coyotes, starting at 7:00 p.m. from Selland Arena. The game be heard on radio at 1420-AM KSTN and viewed online, free-of-charge, through www.stocktonlightning.com (courtesy of NifTy Online TV).

Season tickets and individual tickets for the 2008 Lightning regular season are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, merchandise, or other information, please call the Lightning at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonlightning.com.

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