Eight Thunder Players Tendered Qualifying Offers

Published on July 2, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hocke y League's Edmonton Oilers, announced eight players have been issued qualifying offers for the 2010-11 season.

Teams were not required to protect players who signed a Standard Players Contract prior to July 1. Players that were not signed by July 1 or extended a qualifying offer by July 1 became unrestricted free agents. Each team was entitled to reserve rights to a maximum of eight players from the season ending roster list of 20.

Season-ending rosters could not include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2009-10 (i.e. players who were under contract to teams in either the National Hockey League or the American Hockey League).

Players issued a qualifying offer by the Thunder are:

(D) Anthony Aiello (LW) Aaron Clarke(D) Ryan Constant(C) Chris D'Alvise(C) Oren Eizenman(LW) Igor Gongalsky(LW) Jason Pitton(LW) Matt Robinson

Aiello, 24, was the recipient of the Thunder "Defenseman of the Year" award after leading all defensemen with 27 points (7g-20a) in 54 games. The 6-foot-1, 196-pound blueliner was selected in the fifth round (129th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild and added 9 points (1g-8a) in 15 Kelly Cup Playoff games last year with the Thunder as a rookie. He was acquired from the Florida Everblades for future considerations on Dec. 1 and played in three games for Florida. Previously, Aiello led Boston College to a national championship in 2007-08 and scored 35 points (5g-30a) in 132 career games for the Eagles.

Clarke, 27, comes off a 2009-10 season where he shattered career highs in goals (25), points (57) and assists (32), additionally ranking third on the Nailers in scoring and goals. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound forward earned a selection to the American Conference All-Star team in 2009, his first ECHL All-Star berth and scored a goal in the game at Reading. He served the Nailers as captain in 2008-09 and was acquired by the Thunder, from Wheeling on June 15 to complete the future considerations transaction that had right wing Colin Power acquired by Wheeling on Dec. 4, 2009.

Constant, 25, recently completed his second season in a Thunder uniform with 25 points (6g-19a) and 97 penalty minutes in 62 games, also notching 10 points (4g-6a) in 15 postseason games which included a game-winning goal in triple overtime, the longest game in Thunder history (100:36), to help Stockton defeat Idaho in Game 3 of the National Conference Final on May 5, 2010. In 254 games as a pro in the ECHL with Stockton and Charlotte and in the AHL with Hartford and Springfield, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound blueliner has racked up 81 points (17g-64a) and 337 penalty minutes.

D'Alvise, 24, was recipient of the Thunder "Rookie of the Year" award last season. His 68 points (34g-22a) was fourth among ECHL rookies and his 34 goals led the Thunder, one shy of the club record, while ranking second among ECHL rookies. He suited up in 13 Kelly Cup Playoff games, scoring six goals and adding three assists while earning a spot on the ECHL National Conference All-Star team.

Eizenman, 25, ranked third in team scoring with 59 points (21g-38a) in 61 games while breaking the Thunder playoff record with 19 points (3g-16a) in 15 contests last season. An ECHL All-Star selection to the National Conference team and the third place runner-up in rookie of the year voting in 2007-08, the 6-foot, 190-pound pivot has notch ed 148 points (53g-95a) in 174 games a pro in the ECHL with Stockton and Fresno and in the AHL with Milwaukee, Worcester, Manitoba and San Antonio. He was signed to an AHL contract with the Syracuse Crunch on June 1.

Gongalsky, 23, suited up in 55 games for the Thunder last season, scoring 31 points (14g-17) while adding nine points (2g-7a) in 14 playoff games. The 6-foot, 225-pound left winger spent the NHL preseason training camp period with the Phoenix Coyotes last season and has scored 104 points (42g-62a) in 176 career games in the ECHL with Stockton and Fresno and in the AHL with San Antonio. Gongalsky earned two assists for the National Conference All-Star team in 2008 at the ECHL All-Star Game in Stockton.

Pitton, 24, scored 24 points (11g-13a) in 38 games with the Thunder this past season and added a goal and an assist in 25 games in the AHL with Springfield, while returning for the playoffs with Stockton and scoring 14 points (7g-7a) in 15 postseason contests. The 6-foot-2, 215 pound left winger has scored 67 points (29g-38a) and amassed 227 penalty minutes in 222 career games as a pro with Stockton and Utah in the ECHL and with Bridgeport and Springfield in the AHL. He was selected by the New York Islanders in the eighth round (244th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Robinson, 24, achieved career-highs in goals (31) and points (64) in 63 games with the Thunder and Johnstown this past season, also racking up 14 points (6g-8a) in 14 Kelly Cup Playoff games for Stockton. Originally signed by the Thunder as a free agent on Dec. 2, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound left winger has buried 74 goals and 144 points (74g-70a) in 194 career ECHL games with Stockton, Johnstown and Alaska, spanning four seasons (2006-10).

INFORMATION ON QUALIFYING OFFERS, FREE AGENCY

Of these eight (8) Qualified Players, no more than four (4) of the Qualified Players shall be Veterans (2 60 regular season professional hockey games played as of the start of the upcoming 2010-11 season). Players will have until August 1 to accept a qualifying offer. Players on open Qualifying Offers can not be traded.

Teams are not allowed to sign more than 24 players to contracts during the summer.

A Member extending a valid Qualifying Offer to a Veteran retains the Rights to that Veteran until August 1. After August 1, if the Veteran is not signed to a Standard Player Contract by the Member, the Veteran shall be deemed a Restricted Free Agent and shall be entitled to seek and secure offers of employment from other Members. Restricted Free Agents may not be traded.

When a Restricted Free Agent receives an offer to sign a Standard Player Contract from an Offering Member other than the Member with Rights and the Restricted Free Agent desires to accept the Offer, the Restricted Free Agent and the Offering Member must, within 24 hours, deliver a completed Offer Sheet to the Member with Rights, the League Office and the PHPA. The Member with Rights shall then have seven (7) days after the date it receives the Offer Sheet to exercise its Right to Match. The Right to Match shall expire seven (7) days from the date the Offer Sheet was received but not counting the day of receipt.

If a Restricted Free Agent is not signed to either an Offer Sheet or a Standard Player Contract by a Member by August 31, he shall be deemed an Unrestricted Free Agent.

OPENING NIGHT AND TICKET INFORMATION

Opening Night is Friday, Oct. 15, when the Thunder opens the 2010-11 regular season at home against the Ontario Reign, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

The Thunder are freezing Season Ticket Prices for the 2010-11 season, which are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (209) 373-1500 or by visiting www.stocktonthunder.com. Thunder Season Ticket Holders enjoy the highest-demanded seating locations in Stockton Arena, preferred parking options, benefits including admission to Season Ticket Holder-only events, discount opportunities on Thunder merchandise, a free e-newsletter, an exclusive gift, admission to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and more. Information on individual and group tickets will be announced soon.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," 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 and mini-plans 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/.

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