Falcons fall to Thunder in Pre-Season Opener
October 9, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
STOCKTON, CALIF. - The Fresno Falcons played the first of two pre-season games on Thursday, falling to the Stockton Thunder 5-1 at Stockton Arena.
After a scoreless first period, Stockton took control of the game with four goals in an eight-minute span in the middle stanza. The Thunder's Cory Urquhart scored his second goal of the game 8:37 into the third period to extend Stockton's lead to 5-0.
Falcons' rookie Dustin Sproat scored the lone goal of the night for Fresno at 14:47 of the third period off assists from Judd Blackwater and Brian O'Hanley.
The two clubs will return to Fresno for a 7:00 p.m. face-off on Saturday at Gateway Ice Center in the pre-season finale for both teams. Falcons' season-ticket holders receive free admission to this game, while all other fans can purchase tickets at the door for $5 based on availability.
The Falcons open the 2008-09 season on the road, taking on the Stockton Thunder on Saturday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Opening Night 2008 at Selland Arena is set for Friday, October 24, when the Falcons host their arch-rivals, the Bakersfield Condors, at 7:35 p.m. Season Ticket packages start at just $432, and are now available by calling the Falcons at (559) 485-7825.
Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier 'AA' Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that will have 23 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 828 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Eighteen of the 23 teams have played at least five years in their current city.
The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.
ECHL Stories from October 9, 2008
- Falcons fall to Thunder in Pre-Season Opener - Fresno Falcons
- Jackals Open Pre-Season - Elmira Jackals
- Royals Beat Jackals 2-1 In Pre-Season Match-Up - Reading Royals
- Bakersfield suspends D Kevin Truelson - Bakersfield Condors
- Danny Taylor Assigned To Reading - Reading Royals
- Wranglers Re-Sign High Scoring Ferraro Twins - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Chiefs Announce Roster Moves - Johnstown Chiefs
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Players Coming And Going During Steelheads Training Camp - Idaho Steelheads
- Falcons to hold Meet the Team Party at Logan's on Wednesday - Fresno Falcons
- 71 ECHL Players On NHL Opening-Day Rosters - ECHL
- Reign Standout Netminders Ready To Take A Shot - Ontario Reign
- Blades to broadcast pre-season games on internet - Florida Everblades
- Checkers Receive Skokan And Urquhart From Hartford - Charlotte Checkers
- Monday Night Hockey is Back - South Carolina Stingrays
- Enforcer Emmerson assigned to Blades - Florida Everblades
- Checkers Stick It To Lupus - Charlotte Checkers
- 16 Former Grizzlies On NHL Rosters - Utah Grizzlies
- Aces Win Preseason Opener - Alaska Aces
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