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Early Morning Game in Bakersfield

November 20, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder take on the Bakersfield Condors during their "Education Day" game set to begin at 10:35 a.m.

Arena: Rabobank Arena

Date: Thursday, November 20

Time: 10:35 a.m. PST

Broadcast: ECHL.TV and Spreaker beginning at 10:20 a.m. PST

This Year's Record: Stockton is 2-1-0-0 vs. Bakersfield

Follow the Thunder Facebook Page for occasional updates or follow @StocktonThunder on Twitter for the play-by-play tweeting!

Last Time Out

The final game in Anchorage until February got underway when the Aces scored with just over three minutes gone in the game. However another Thunder power-play goal, this time by Ryan Constant knotted the game up again with the teams heading into the dressing rooms after 20 minutes of play.

With James Henry's second period penalty set to expire, it looked like the Thunder had killed off another Alaska power play, which in fact they did, but as Henry stepped on the ice Olivier Archambault put a rebound past Owen for the "almost" power-play tally. The Aces would eventually tack on a real power-play goal with Henry once again in the box and hold on to sweep the Thunder with the 3-1 win.

This Morning

The Thunder are back in California and back against their California-99 rival, the Bakersfield Condors for the first time since the opening weekend of the season when the Thunder went 2-1-0 against their in-state rival.

The teams have been moving in opposite directions since the Thunder took down the Condors as the Thunder find themselves occupying the last spot in the Pacific Division while the Condors are currently second in the division.

Today's game occurs in the morning as the Condors are hosting the team's "Education Day" game, where they invite area schoolchildren to the rink.

Morning Games

The Thunder are playing the morning game against the Condors for the third time in their history, having previously played the Condors on November 14, 2013 and November 15, 2011.

The good news? The Thunder have won both previous meetings. Last season the Thunder dismantled a Bakersfield team that was just beginning to find their identity. Andrew Clark and James Henry each had 2 goals each while Joey Martin, Ryan Hayes, Ryan Constant, Landon Oslanski and J.P. Burkemper each had two points in a 6-2 Thunder win.

Going back to 2011 the Thunder won a closer 4-2 game that saw Garet Hunt notch the game eventual game winner, his first of the campaign. The Thunder are hoping for more of the same as the team looks to snap a four-game losing streak and seven-game road losing streak.

Who to Watch

For the Thunder the man to watch today is Peter Sivak. After being held without a point against his former team, the Cheb, Czech Republic star will look to get back to what he does best, scoring points.

In three games against the Condors this season, Sivak scored a goal and picked up three helpers.

Welcome to the Thunderdome

The Thunder have welcomed two new members of the team including goaltender Kent Simpson who was reassigned to the Thunder from the New York Islanders. Simpson was acquired by the Islanders from the Chicago Blackhawks in the same trade that sent Nick Leddy to Long Island. He has played a total of 79 pro games with the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Rockford IceHogs (AHL), Toledo Walleye (ECHL) and Colorado Eagles (ECHL).

The second new face is former Colorado Eagle and Ontario Reign defenseman John Ryder, who was acquired by the Thunder from the Allen Americans in exchange for forward Jessey Astles. Ryder is a defensive defenseman who should help solidify the Thunder on the blueline, providing some toughness, grit and intelligence we've seen the defenseman exhibit against the Thunder in seasons past.

While he split last season with the Colorado Eagles and Ontario Reign (being acquired as the defenseman coming over from the Eagles to the Reign in the Kyle Kraemer deal), the defenseman was involved during the Idaho Steelheads run to the 2013 Western Conference Finals in which they lost to the Stockton Thunder. Ryder also played in three of the four games during the Thunder's sweep of the Ontario Reign in last season's quarterfinals.

About Bakersfield

The Condors are being led by a handful of rookies making a giant impact, including the Jones twins (Connor and Kellen) and leading point scorer Josh Winquist. Winquist's 13 points are tied for the third in the league among rookies with Alaska's Greg Wolfe. Connor and Kellen Jones are tied ninth among rookies with 11 points.

Goaltender Ty Rimmer leads the league in saves with 312, but is just two saves ahead of the Thunder's Shane Owen. Rimmer is 6-4-1 with a 2.71 goals-against-average and .912 save-percentage. The Condors also got Frans Tuohimaa back from the Oklahoma City Barons and despite three contests with the Condors, has put up good numbers as well with a 1-1-1 record, a 2.60 goals-against-average and a .922 save-percentage.

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