Game 1: Stockton Thunder at Utah Grizzlies

April 5, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS - WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL

GAME 1: #3 Stockton Thunder at #6 Utah Grizzlies DATE: Tuesday, April 5, 2011

TIME: 6:05 p.m.

SITE: Maverik Center

RADIO: 1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks

Utah Grizzlies: Calgary Flames

NEXT HOME GAME

2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs - Western Conference Quarterfinals

GAME 3: Saturday, April 9 vs. Utah Grizzlies - 7:30 p.m.

* If necessary

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Game 1: Stockton at Utah - Tuesday, April 5 - 6:05 p.m. (Maverik Center)

Game 2: Stockton at Utah - Wednesday, April 6 - 6:05 p.m. (Maverik Center)

Game 3: Utah at Stockton - Saturday, April 9 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)

Game 4: Utah at Stockton - Sunday, April 10 - 4:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena) *

Game 5: Utah at Stockton - Tuesday, April 12 - 7:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena) *

* If necessary

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The third-seeded Thunder will open the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the sixth-seeded Utah Grizzlies, a best-of-five series that follows a "2-3" format. The matchup, is the first time the Thunder and Grizzlies will meet in the playoffs. Last season, the Thunder advanced to the Conference Final and Utah advanced to the second round. It marks the Thunder's fifth straight playoff appearance and five in six seasons since joining the ECHL. The Grizzlies are making their fourth straight playoff appearance. The Thunder finished 7-3-1 against the Grizzlies this season and 5-1-1 at Maverik Center. The Thunder have eight players returning from last year's playoff roster.

THUNDER PLAYOFF NOTES

It is the first time the Thunder will meet the Utah Grizzlies in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Last season, the Thunder advanced to the Conference Final for the first time in team history, losing in a best-of-seven series, 4-2 to the Idaho Steelheads. The Thunder took that path by defeating the defending Conference champion (Alaska Aces), 3-1 in the first round and the Pacific Division champion (Bakersfield Condors), 4-1 in the second round.

NEARLY A BANNER YEAR

The Thunder consistently played to the top of the standings and finished in a first place tie with Bakersfield in the Pacific Division, edged by a tie-breaker on the final day of the regular season. The Thunder went 7-1-3 in the final 11 games, tied a season record for most points (86) and broke another for most road wins (19). Among the milestones achieved in the season were:

- Wins, 35 (second highest in Thunder history)

- Points, 86 (tied Thunder single-season record)

- Road wins, 19 (broke Thunder single-season record)

- 13 separate double-digit goal-scorers

- Ryan Constant, 11 goals and 34 points (T-8, ECHL and career-high)

SEASON SERIES RECAP

The Thunder finished 7-3-1 this season against Utah, going unbeaten in five of the seven games at Maverik Center, including a three-game sweep from Jan. 14-17 where the Thunder combined to score 14 goals. Before that series, both teams split two games at Stockton Arena in November and December. Both teams split a two-game series in Stockton Feb. 4-5. The Thunder then went 2-1-1 in a four-game series, spread through five days at Maverik Center from Mar. 9-13. In Stockton's two wins in the series, they combined to score 11 goals. Fraser Clair led the Thunder with 13 points (5g-8a) in 11 games in the series.

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas leads the playoff experience resume with a pro championship under his belt - he helped guide the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies to a Kelly Cup championship title in 2003 as assistant coach. Additionally right wing Kelly Czuy (Las Vegas, 2007-08) helped guide the Las Vegas Wranglers to a berth in the Kelly Cup Finals. Eight other players return from last year's Thunder team that advanced to the Conference Final.

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

The Thunder ranked second in ECHL in attendance with 6,382 fans per game. A whopping crowd of 9,482 piled into Stockton Arena on Jan. 22 for the "Teddy Bear Toss" game, the largest crowd at Stockton Arena this season and the fourth crowd over 9,000 in the event's history. Stockton has 16 sellouts in the team's franchise history and in 2008-09, the Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for four straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons - 2000-05). This season, 12 crowds of 7,000 or more at Stockton Arena were present and the Thunder had its highest attendance since 2007-08, a six percent increase from 2009-10.

THUNDER ANSWERS ROAD RULES CHALLENGE

Setting a club record with its 18th win on the road on Apr. 1, the Thunder owned a 6-0-2 streak on the road to begin the season, finishing as the last remaining team in the ECHL yet to lose a game in regulation on the road. Additionally, the streak to start the season broke the mark of five straight games without a loss in regulation (5-0-0), set back in 2006-07 (Mar. 17-31).



ECHL Stories from April 5, 2011


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