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First Round Prospect O'Marra Back For Playoffs

April 8, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL) - Stockton Thunder News Release

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, announced ECHL all-star selection and rookie center Ryan O'Marra (oh-MARE-ah) has been reassigned to the Thunder from Springfield and rookie right wing David Rohlfs has been placed on the three-day injured reserve list.

O'Marra will join the Thunder in the lineup for the Kelly Cup Playoffs beginning Friday for game one of the National Conference Quarterfinals against the Las Vegas Wranglers, starting at 7:05 p.m. from Orleans Arena.

O'Marra, 20, was named to the National Conference roster for the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game after leading the Thunder with 11 goals and ranking third on the club with 20 points (11g-9a) in 24 games. Selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders, O'Marra has appeared in 39 career games at the AHL level with Springfield and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 14 points (6g-8a) with 35 penalty minutes. O'Marra appeared in three Calder Cup Playoff games with Bridgeport in 2005-06, tallying an assist.

The 6-foot-1, 193-pound center spent time with the Oilers in 2007-08 training camp and appeared in two preseason games, with Edmonton tallying a 2-0-0 record with O'Marra in the lineup. O'Marra was obtained by the Oilers from the Islanders, along with right wing Robert Nilsson and a first round NHL draft pick, in exchange for veteran right wing Ryan Smyth on February 27, 2007.

O'Marra helped guide Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2004 Junior World Cup (Under-18), serving as an assistant captain. The Tokyo, Japan native made hockey history as the first Japanese-born Canadian player selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft and is the second player previously selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft to dot the Thunder roster in as many years, joined by goaltender Devan Dubnyk in 2006-07 (Oilers first round selection, 14th overall, 2004).

The Thunder opens the Kelly Cup Playoffs in game 1 of the National Conference Quarterfinals against the Las Vegas Wranglers, beginning on Friday, April 11 at 7:05 p.m. from Orleans Arena.

STOCKTON VS. LAS VEGAS - NATIONAL CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS Game 1: Stockton at Las Vegas - Friday, April 11 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena) Game 2: Stockton at Las Vegas - Saturday, April 12 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena) Game 3: Las Vegas at Stockton - Sunday, April 13 - 6:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena) Game 4: Las Vegas at Stockton - Friday, April 18 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena) Game 5: Las Vegas at Stockton - Sunday, April 20 - 4:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena) * Game 6: Stockton at Las Vegas - Tuesday, April 22 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena) * Game 7: Stockton at Las Vegas - Wednesday, April 23 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena) *

* If necessary

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