Fresno and Alaska Visit Stockton Arena After All-Star Break

Published on January 16, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: (all times PT)

vs. FRESNO FALCONS (Friday, Jan. 19 * 7:30 p.m.)
The Thunder returns from the all-star break looking for payback in mind, hosting the
local rival Fresno Falcons to begin a three-game in three-day stretch. The Thunder
is searching for its first win vs. Fresno this season after going 0-4-0 against the
Falcons in December. Rookie Tyler Spurgeon's goal and three assists leads the
Thunder in scoring against the Falcons, while veteran Luke Curtin has amassed eight
points (1g-7a) to lead Fresno in the series. The focus will also be on getting pucks
past Fresno's Ryan MacDonald, who is 4-0-0 vs. the Thunder this season with a 1.75
GAA and .947 save percentage.

vs. ALASKA ACES (Saturday, Jan. 20 * 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 21 * 4:00 p.m.)
The Thunder begins a wild five-game series with the Alaska Aces on Saturday with two
games at Stockton Arena, followed by three at the vaunted Sullivan Arena in
Anchorage. The teams met earlier this season, with Alaska posting a 3-2
come-from-behind victory in a shootout against the Thunder on November 24. The
Thunder is aiming for its first all-time win against the Aces in seven tries with a
0-6-1 record. Alaska, last season's Kelly Cup Champions, have caught fire at the
midway point of the season and are unbeaten in eight of their last 10 games with a
7-2-1 record.

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 7:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 3:45 p.m. on Sunday.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:
o Tim O'Connell is 2 points shy of 200 in his professional career and 5 points shy of 100 in his ECHL career
o Tim Verbeek is 1 assist shy of 100 in his professional career
o Nathan Martz is 3 assists shy of 100 in his professional career

TEAM NOTES:
o ATTENDANCE UPDATE: The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance with 6,771 fans per game (115,104 through 17 dates) and drew its first sellout of the season on Jan. 13 vs. Bakersfield with 8,911 fans.
o The Thunder has never been shutout in the team's two-year history, a string of 104 consecutive games dating back to 2005-06
o Stockton is 3-1-1 in its last five games
o Left wing Tim Verbeek has scored five goals in the last four games
o Right wing Troy Bodie leads Stockton and is third among ECHL rookies with 14 goals
o Left wing Mike Lalonde has scored seven points (3g-4a) in his last four games
o Goaltender Devan Dubnyk is 4-0-2 in his last six decisions and ranks 7th in the ECHL with a 2.48 GAA

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
FRIDAY, 1/19
o ALL FAITH'S NIGHT (presented by the Thunder and KYCC 90.1)
- Discount groups for all religious organizations, with a personal testimonial by defenseman Jason Beckett after the game
o DELTA BLOOD BANK REDEMPTION NIGHT
- Blood donors during December who received vouchers can redeem them for free tickets to this game

SATURDAY, 1/20
o YOUTH CAP NIGHT (presented by The Record, Bank of Agriculture and Commerce and 97.7/ 98.3 KWIN)
- The first 2,000 children (ages 12 and under) in attendance receive a complimentary Thunder cap
o DELTA BLOOD BANK REDEMPTION NIGHT
- Blood donors during December who received vouchers can redeem them for free tickets to this game

SUNDAY, 1/21
o NEVER A WASTED TICKET DAY (presented by The Record and Comcast)
- Season ticket holders can redeem old tickets for a ticket of the same or lesser value for this game - subject to availability
o DELTA BLOOD BANK REDEMPTION NIGHT
- Blood donors during December who received vouchers can redeem them for free tickets to this game
o FAMILY DAY (presented by Alpine Meats, Clearwire, and 99.3 KJOY)
- 4 tickets, 2 hot dogs and 2 pucks available for only $34

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, January 12
BAKERSFIELD 5 - Stockton 4 (SO)
Bakersfield outlasted the Thunder in a 5-4 shootout decision before 6,810 at Stockton Arena after Steve Rodberg scored the game-winner in the sixth round of a shootout. Stockton was led offensively by Brendon Hodge's two goals in the third period, while Bakersfield forced overtime on Rane Carnegie's breakaway goal with 3:12 left in the third period. Mike Lalonde scored a highlight-reel goal in the first period and added an assist for the Thunder, while Jeff Lang added a goal and assist and Beau Geisler and Stephane Goulet added two assists each.

Saturday, January 13
STOCKTON 6 - Bakersfield 1
Veteran Tim Verbeek notched his third career hat trick as a sellout crowd of 8,911 witnessed a 6-1 Thunder rout of the Bakersfield Condors at Stockton Arena on "Teddy Bear Toss" night. Left wing Mike Lalonde scored a second period shorthanded goal which ignited a launching of thousands of teddy bears thrown onto the ice by fans, followed up by additional second period goals from Tim O'Connell, Verbeek's first goal of the game, and Troy Bodie's marker later in the period that broke a team record for most goals in a period. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk backstopped the Thunder with 24 saves.

Saturday, January 14
UTAH 5 - Stockton 3
Forward Ryan Kinasewich scored his second hat trick of the season for the Utah Grizzlies as the Thunder dropped the final game before the all-star break by a 5-3 score. Stockton rallied from a two-goal deficit to knot the game at 3-3 on goals from Tim Verbeek and Stephen Slonina, but were stymied by Kinasewich's hat trick goal and eventual game-winner only 1:15 later. All-star rookie Troy Bodie scored a first period power-play goal and led the Thunder offense with a goal and assist.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
(courtesy of The Record)

" What can I say? I like watching fans throw things, whether it be bears or hats. It was a lot of fun."
- Veteran left wing Tim Verbeek after scoring a hat trick on "Teddy Bear Toss" night, a 6-1 Thunder win vs. Bakersfield

"I like to get in there and mix it up. I want to get in the corners, hit people and win those battles. That's the type of hockey that I love to play."
- Left wing Tim Sestito describing his grinding, hard-working style of play

"We don't always use that style, but we put a big emphasis on playing a physical game, and Tim just relishes playing it. It takes a tough guy to get in there and fight in the corners. Tim has the speed to get to the puck, and he finishes his checks."
- Head Coach Chris Cichocki on Tim Sestito's style of play when the Thunder employs a "dump and chase" attack


ALL-STAR GAME INFORMATION

What: 2007 Rbk Hockey ECHL All-Star Game
Where: Qwest Arena - Boise, Idaho
Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Time: 6:00 p.m. PT

NOTES: The Thunder will be sending an ECHL-high four players to the All-Star Game. Defenseman Beau Geisler was named assistant captain to the National Conference team and selected to the starting lineup, along with center Nathan Martz. Blue chip rookies Devan Dubnyk and Troy Bodie also garnered selections to the National Conference team, while Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki was named to the National Conference's coaching staff. Thunder head athletic trainer Kevin Anderson will also be serving on the training staff for the National Conference. The National Conference has won the last two All-Star Game meetings since the league moved to a National-American Conference format.


BROADCAST INFORMATION:
TV: NHL Center Ice, NHL Network (check local listings), Comcast SportsNet West (tape delayed - Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. PT)
Radio: AM 970 ESPN Radio, XM Satellite Radio (HOME ICE XM 208), Canadian Satellite Radio
Online: www.am970.net (audio), www.echl.com (B2 Networks video and audio)

Thunder broadcaster Mike Benton will provide on-air radio coverage of the 2007 Rbk Hockey ECHL All-Star Game, joined by Mike O'Brien of the Trenton Titans and Kevin Reiter of the Florida Everblades. The telecast will be called by Joe O'Donnell of the Idaho Steelheads, former New York Rangers president and general manager Neil Smith, and Mike Kelly of the South Carolina Stingrays.

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