Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Alaska Aces

Published on December 13, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder, currently on a three-game winning streak, returns to play tonight at Alaska in the midst of a seven-game road trip that lasts from Dec. 11-26. It is the final game of three games in three nights. The Thunder all-time time record is 15-13-7 against the Aces while going unbeaten in regulation for the last 11 games (8-0-3) against Alaska. After failing to win a game at "The Sully" for the first two seasons (stretch of six games), the Thunder has gone 7-2-1 in the last ten lifetime games at Sullivan Arena and is unbeaten in the last five games (4-0-1) at Sullivan Arena.

LAST 3 THUNDER GAMES

STK 5 - AK 4 (12/12/09): Left winger Matt Robinson collected his second straight two-goal game against his former team and buried a game-winning goal with 5:25 left in regulation to help guide the Thunder to a 5-4 victory over the Alaska Aces before a crowd of 5,671 at Sullivan Arena on Saturday. Robinson, who scored his third and fourth goals while playing on Sullivan Arena ice for the first time since 2007-08, was spelled by Thunder goals from Judd Blackwater, Jamie Bates and J.F. Caudron. John Lammers picked up a hat trick for Alaska in the losing cause, as the Thunder improved to 3-0-1 in their last four lifetime games in Anchorage.

STK 6 - AK 4 (12/11/09): Former Alaska Aces forwards Brett Hemingway and Matt Robinson combined for five points (3g-2a) in their first return to Anchorage as opposing players to help lift the Thunder to their third straight win in a 6-4 victory over Alaska before 5,780 at Sullivan Arena on Friday. Hemingway, who was released by the Aces in November, led the Thunder offense with a goal and two assists and buried a go-ahead goal in the third period. Robinson, who returned to Anchorage for the first time since the 2008-09 season, scored two goals in the first period. Kelly Czuy scored the game-winning goal and Justin Dacosta scored his first ECHL goal.

STK 3 - BAK 2 (OT) (12/5/09): Right winger J.F. Caudron scored his second straight overtime goal in as many games to lift the Thunder to a two-game sweep over the Bakersfield Condors in a 3-2 overtime victory, before 5,438 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. The Thunder, who never trailed in the game and improved to 2-1-0 in the head-to-head series over the first place Condors, were supported by goaltender Bryan Pitton's 26 saves. Pitton's brother, Jason, scored a first period goal and Matt Robinson scored his second goal in as many games for the Thunder. Andrew Ianiero and Adam Naglich scored for the Condors.

ONE IN A MILLION

The Thunder named Kim Cuevas of Stockton the winner of its "One Millionth Fan" award on Dec. 4 against Bakersfield. The contest began on Oct. 23 in the official countdown to search for one millionth fan to cross the turnstiles of Stockton Arena in the Thunder's five year history. Cuevas was selected as fans entered Stockton Arena before last night's game and was awarded an array of prizes, including a vacation stay at Yosemite Lodge (Yosemite National Park), 2010-11 season tickets and an Amtrak train trip to Salt Lake City to see the Thunder face the Utah Grizzlies.

REUNION TOUR

Four players on the Thunder roster return to Anchorage this weekend with playing connections to the state of Alaska, all with offensive production in Friday night's win. Forwards Brett Hemingway (2007-09) and Matt Robinson (2006-08) skated for the Alaska Aces for two full seasons and combined for five points (3g-2a). Friday's game is their first at Sullivan Arena since the two suited up for Alaska. Two additional players return as alum to the University of Alaska-Fairbanks: forward Kelly Czuy (2002-06), who had the game-winning goal and rookie defenseman Steve Vanoosten (2005-09), an assist on a Hemingway third period goal.

WELCOME MATT

Thunder left winger Matt Robinson has a five-game goal-scoring streak (7 goals in that span) to lead the ECHL in current streaks - a goal on Sunday would tie the league high of six straight games (set by Matt Pierce of Cincinnati and Stefano Giliati of Reading). Since Robinson signed with the Thunder as a free agent on Dec. 2, he has six goals in four games with Stockton.

SMASHING DEBUTS

The Thunder roster experienced a change comprising of eight transactions in a three-day span, producing offensively-fueled debuts on Dec. 4 for former Alaska Aces forwards Brett Hemingway (1 goal) and Matt Robinson (1 goal), who were signed as free agents and defensemen Anthony Aiello and Justin Dacosta (2 assists), who were acquired in trades with Florida and Utah, respectively, on Dec. 2. Additionally, Hemingway was on the ice for J.F. Caudron's game-winning goal at 52 seconds of sudden-death overtime.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLLING IN

The Thunder leads ECHL attendance with an average of 5,874 fans per game and is vying to tie a league record by leading the league in attendance for five straight seasons. The Thunder led the ECHL in attendance last year with an average of 6,218 fans through 36 home games. Stockton has 14 sellouts in the team's franchise history and drew a standing room only crowd of 9,392 on Nov. 8 vs. Alaska. Last year, 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).

POWER TRIP

The Thunder power-play leads the ECHL at 23.7 percent (28-for-118) and is the best unit on the road this season, converting at 28.8 percent (15-for-52). On Friday, the Thunder went 1-for-7 on the man-advantage against Alaska. Judd Blackwater has six power-play goals, leading the Thunder and currently tied for the ECHL lead.

LETTER JACKET

Center Craig Valette was named the fourth captain in Thunder history on Oct. 15 (Dean Stork, Brad Farynuk and Matt O'Dette). He served as acting captain during nine games of the Kelly Cup Playoffs last year after an injury to O'Dette, the captain for 08-09. With alternate captains Bryan Young and Kenny MacAulay currently playing in the AHL, Thunder forward Igor Gongalsky and defenseman Daryl Marcoux are serving as alternate captains in their place. With a recent injury to Valette, the "C" is being worn by acting captain, J.F. Caudron.

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