Sports stats

Five-goal rally boosts Thunder into top perch in National Conference

December 17, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


LONG BEACH, Calif. * Rookie Tyler Spurgeon's game-winning goal highlighted a three-goal third period rally as the Stockton Thunder (15-2-5, 35 points) took over first place in the ECHL's National Conference and Pacific Division in a 5-2 victory over the Long Beach Ice Dogs, in front of 1,972 at Long Beach Arena on Saturday night.

Stockton, edging Las Vegas by a win in the standings, is now unbeaten in 13 of its last 14 games with a 9-1-4 run since November 12. The Thunder has beaten Long Beach in all five meetings this season and is 6-0-4 all-time against the Ice Dogs.

Both teams skated to a scoreless first period draw as Thunder goaltender Cam Ellsworth's seven saves was matched by counterpart Mike Brown's 10 stops, including a point-blank stop on defenseman Beau Geisler's bid from the left circle that Brown kicked aside with his right pad.

Red-hot Brad Bonello's fifth goal of the year helped Long Beach break through with the game's first goal at the second period's 4:13 mark, followed by rookie Donald Johnson's first pro goal only 43 seconds later, roofing a backhander from the slot for a 2-0 Long Beach advantage.

The Thunder began its five-goal unanswered rally when left wing Tim Sestito scored his second goal in as many games and sixth on the year to snap Brown's shutout only 42 seconds later, burying a rebound from in tight after Brown fumbled with Adam Huxley's bid on the doorstep. Rookie defenseman Mark Adamek knotted the game at 2-2 at the 10:39 mark after taking a feed by Huxley and netting a 50-foot blast from the right point that deflected off traffic in front of the net.

Spurgeon scored the eventual game-winner with 15:40 remaining in the third with the Thunder building offensive momentum up-ice on a delayed penalty against Long Beach and Ellsworth pulled for an extra attacker. Spurgeon stickhandled past the Long Beach defense and wired a shot from the left wing over Brown's glove for a 3-2 Thunder advantage.

Stockton's Mike Lalonde increased the Thunder lead to 4-2 on a 5-on-3 goal at the 10:32 mark after deflecting a one-timer by Geisler past Brown while planted in front of the net. With both teams skating 4-on-4 a few minutes later, Stephen Slonina netted his seventh goal of the year to hike the Stockton lead to 5-2 with six minutes to go, taking Jeff Lang's shot from the left point and banking in the rebound off Brown's right pad while behind the net.

The Thunder kept a defensive clamp on Long Beach with a 33-19 shots-on-goal advantage and Ellsworth's 17 saves. Huxley (two assists), Lalonde (1g-1a) and Lang (two assists) led the Thunder in scoring with two points each.

The four-game road trip continues for the Thunder on Friday, December 22 with a 7:35 p.m. game against the geographic rival Fresno Falcons at Save Mart Center, the first of eight meetings between both teams this season. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is viewable for a $6 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com (courtesy of B2 Networks).

Thunder season tickets, mini-plans and individual tickets for the 2006-07 season are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com.



ECHL Stories from December 17, 2006


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.

Other Recent Stockton Thunder Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central