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Final Road Trip To Canada Awaits Stockton

February 12, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: (all times PT)

at VICTORIA SALMON KINGS (Wednesday * 2/14, Friday * 2/16, Saturday * 2/17: 7:05 p.m.) The Thunder returns to the road with its final trip to Canada for the 2006-07 regular season with a three-game series against the Victoria Salmon Kings. The Thunder is 1-0-1 this season against Victoria and is 3-3-1 all-time against Victoria. Stockton took the last meeting between both teams with a 6-3 win at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on November 17. All-star rookie Troy Bodie leads the Thunder in scoring for the series with three points (1g-2a), while Milan Gajic leads Victoria with five points (1g-4a).

Thunder games can be heard live on the Internet (free-of-charge) and are available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Thunder broadcaster Mike Benton will provide play-by-play commentary with the "Thunder Forecast" pre-game show beginning at 6:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

In addition, Valley Brew Family Restaurant continues its first season as official host of the Thunder Watch Party (via B2 Networks' "Bar and Pub Network") for all road games, with prizes, broadcast-interactive contests, and more scheduled for all road games this week.

Located at 157 W. Adams Street in Stockton, Valley Brew Family Restaurant is placed in the heart of Stockton's "Miracle Mile" district and features an array of acclaimed burgers, beverages, appetizers, specialties and more, offering customers free wi-fi internet access inside the restaurant.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

WEDNESDAY, 2/21

o NEVER A WASTED TICKET NIGHT

- Season ticket holders can redeem old tickets for a ticket of the same or lesser value (subject to availability)

FRIDAY, 3/2

o FAITH NIGHT

- Discount admission for all church and religious organizations

o THUNDER TRADING CARD NIGHT #4 (presented by TNT Quik Connect, KHOP 95.1 and In-Shape Health Clubs)

- The first 2,000 fans in attendance receive a set of five Thunder trading cards

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o Mike Lalonde is 5 points shy of 100 in his ECHL career

o Jim Dahl is 6 games shy of 100 and 9 points shy of 100 in his professional career

TEAM NOTES:

o ATTENDANCE UPDATE: Stockton leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,978 fans and league *high total of 153,521 fans through 22 dates

o The Thunder has never been shutout in the team's two-year history, a string of 116 consecutive games dating back to 2005-06

o Stockton is third in the ECHL with 35.0 shots per game

o Right wing Troy Bodie ranks fifth among ECHL rookies with 33 points (17g-16a)

o Defenseman Beau Geisler ranks 11th among ECHL defensemen in scoring with 29 points (4g-25a)

o Goaltender Cam Ellsworth ranks 7th in the ECHL with a 2.51 GAA

o Goaltender Devan Dubnyk ranks 8th in the ECHL with a 2.55 GAA

o Stockton's penalty kill on the road ranks third in the ECHL at 86.7 percent

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

Tuesday, February 6

STOCKTON 2 - Phoenix 1 (OT)

Leading scorer Mike Lalonde scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, while goaltender Cam Ellsworth snapped a personal nine-game winless skid with 29 saves as the Thunder took a 2-1 overtime victory against the Phoenix RoadRunners at U.S. Airways Center on Tuesday. Ellsworth backstopped the Thunder to the extra session after a 19-save effort in the third period, including two point-blank stops on Dave Pszenyczny and Chanse Fitzpatrick in the final 30 seconds of regulation.

Friday, February 9

BAKERSFIELD 2 - Stockton 1 (OT)

Assistant captain Nathan Martz forced overtime with less than four minutes left in regulation while goaltender Cam Ellsworth made 37 saves as the Thunder settled for a 2-1 overtime loss to the Bakersfield Condors on Friday at Rabobank Arena. Martz's game-tying goal with 3:34 left in the third period broke a 20-game goal-scoring drought, while Ellsworth made 13 stops on the Condors in the period. Tyler Scott scored the game-winner 51 seconds into overtime, while Bakersfield netminder Jamie Hodson made 37 saves for the win in net.

Sunday, February 11

LAS VEGAS 2 - Stockton 1

Las Vegas Wranglers goaltender Kevin Nastiuk made 27 saves while Las Vegas scored two power-play goals to send the Thunder to a 2-1 loss before 7,922 fans at Stockton Arena. Thunder left-winger Mike Lalonde scored his 21st goal of the season in a late third period rally, while the defense was supported by Devan Dubnyk's 22 saves in his return between the Thunder pipes after being reassigned from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

(courtesy of The Record)

"I thought it was very important to keep Nathan and Mike on the same line because I knew about their chemistry. That's the goal of any coach, to find guys that can read each other without having to communicate."

- Head Coach Chris Cichocki on the chemistry between Nathan Martz and Mike Lalonde

"We play together on the line, on the penalty kill and on 4-on-4 situations, so you just learn where to put the puck and where he'll be. He's a talented guy with a good shot, and you just have to get him the puck."

- Nathan Martz on the chemistry between himself and Mike Lalonde while playing on the same line



ECHL Stories from February 12, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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