Free Agent Defenseman Blanshan, Thunder Agree To Terms

Published on August 27, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, has agreed to terms with free-agent defenseman Cody Blanshan, Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Blanshan, 24, has appeared in 127 career games in three seasons (2005-08) of ECHL experience with the Greenville Grrrowl, Idaho Steelheads and Wheeling Nailers, scoring 47 points (16g-31a) while amassing 243 penalty minutes. An eighth round selection (238th overall) of the New York Islanders in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Blanshan tallied a career-high 27 points (12g-15a) and 12 goals in 59 games with Greenville as a 2005-06 rookie while playing under an AHL contract with the Norfolk Admirals.

"Cody is a defenseman who has a well-rounded game and plays an abrasive style," said Cichocki. "He's proven that he has some offensive capabilities and his physical presence will help make life miserable for opposing players who want to gain offensive positioning in front of our goaltenders."

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound blueliner skated in seven AHL games with Norfolk in 2005-06, registering 17 PIM's and appeared last season in 63 games for Mississippi River Kings of the Central Hockey League, scoring 20 points (2g-18a) and tallying 118 penalty minutes. Blanshan added six penalty minutes in three Presidents Cup playoff games last year.

Blanshan split three years (2002-03) between college and the major junior level with the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) and the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League, skating in 177 contests while amassing 43 points (10g-33a) and a combined 306 penalty minutes. In 2003-04, the native of Eagan, Minn. helped guide Medicine Hat to the league championship, scoring five points (2g-3a) in 20 postseason games.

"I've I heard a lot of good things about the program, the city of Stockton and I've talked to Coach Cichocki for a couple years so it has finally worked out this summer," said Blanshan. "I'd like to consider myself an all-around guy. I enjoy playing a tough, stay-at-home game but contributing to the team as an offensive defenseman is definitely a high priority on my list."

Blanshan is the seventh Thunder player and fourth defenseman to sign an ECHL contract for the 2008-09 season, joining fellow blueliners Mark Adamek, Neil Petruic and Nathan Saunders.

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