Sports stats



Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Alaska Aces

December 21, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Friday, December 21, 2012

TIME: 8:15 p.m.

SITE: Sullivan Arena

RADIO: StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Alaska Aces: Independent

NEXT HOME GAME

Saturday, Dec. 29 vs. Las Vegas Wranglers (7:30 p.m.)

MINI-THOR BOBBLEHEAD GIVEAWAY (presented by Pepsi and 97.7/98.3 KWIN)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder continues a six game road trip with a rematch tonight against the Alaska Aces at Sullivan Arena. The Thunder is 28-26-15 against Alaska in the lifetime series. Alaska carries four players with NHL playing experience on their roster: forwards Scott Gomez, Brandon Dubinsky (21-day injured reserve list), Joey Crabb and Nate Thompson. The Thunder is 2-1-1 against Alaska this season and last faced the Aces on Wednesday in a 4-3 shootout defeat at Sullivan Arena.

2012-2013 Head to Head Schedule: (2-1-1)

Sat. Nov. 3 Alaska 4 at Stockton 7

Sun. Nov. 4 Alaska 1 at Stockton 5

Wed. Nov. 28 Alaska 6 at Stockton 2

Wed. Dec. 19 Stockton 3 at Alaska 4 (SO)

Fri. Dec. 21 at Alaska 8:15 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 22 at Alaska 8:15 p.m.

Fri. Jan. 4 Alaska 7:30 p.m.

Fri. Feb. 8 at Alaska 8:15 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 9 at Alaska 8:15 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 10 at Alaska 4:05 p.m.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder is 8-0-2 when leading after one period this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

AK 4 - STK 3 (SO) (12/19/12): Corey Syvret scored on a snap shot from the inside of the right circle in the bottom of the sixth round to help the Alaska Aces send the Stockton Thunder (15-7-6, 36 points) to a 4-3 shootout defeat before 3,581 fans at Sullivan Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who moved to 1-0-1 on a six game road trip, fought back from a 3-2 deficit in the third period and collected goals by Yannick Riendeau, Mike Little and Justin Maylan.

STK 6 - SF 4 (12/17/12): The Stockton Thunder (15-7-5, 35 points) squared off against the San Francisco Bulls at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, home of the NHL's San Jose Sharks. The spotlight brought out the best of the Thunder, as they defeated the Bulls for the first time this season in a wild 6-4 contest in front of 12,881 fans in San Jose. The Thunder received a stellar effort from forward Toni Rajala, who recorded the team's first hat trick of the season and first in over a calendar year. Goaltender Cody Reichard (7-1-2) earned the win, stopping 25 shots.

COL 2 - STK 1 (12/15/12): Goaltender Adam Brown made 40 saves on 41 shots, holding off a furious rally from the Stockton Thunder (14-7-5, 33 points) to secure a 2-1 win for the Colorado Eagles in front of 5,291 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who missed their two leading scorers (Harrison Reed and Toni Rajala) due to injuries, avoided a home shutout for the first time since falling to Ontario 4-0 on Dec. 2, 2011. Center Eric Hunter notched the lone Thunder goal late in the third period. Goaltender Tyler Bunz (8-6-3) recorded 31 stops for the Thunder.

COVERED WITH OIL

The Edmonton Oilers return as the NHL affiliate of the Thunder for the seventh straight season, helping advance eight players from the Thunder onto playing in the National Hockey League. The Thunder has also never missed the playoffs since first connecting with the Oilers in 2006-07. Edmonton has won five Stanley Cup championships and sent seven players onto induction in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Among the players assigned to Stockton, beginning this season, was LW Philippe Cornet, who made his NHL debut with Edmonton and led the AHL affiliate Oklahoma City Barons with 24 goals last season.

JUSTIN TIME

Center Justin Maylan leads the ECHL in scoring among rookies with 27 points this season in 26 games. He has collected seven points in the last seven games. Maylan has also posted seven multi point games and earned a goal in Wednesday's game at Alaska.

ROLLING IN THE (RIEN)DEAU

Forward Yannick Riendeau has points in ten of the last 12 games and has posted eight multi point games this season. He earned a goal and an assist on Wednesday at Alaska and is on a seven game assist streak at home.

PLAYING THE REICHARD

Thunder goaltender Cody Reichard became the 11th goaltender in Thunder history to earn the ECHL Goaltender of the Week award last week. Reichard was awarded the honor on Dec. 11 after he posted a record of 2-0-1, a 2.30 goals-against average and a .966 save percentage for the week of Dec. 3-9.

AN OFFENSE DRESSED TO THE NINES

The Thunder tied a club record for most goals in a game (9) on Nov. 12 in a 9-6 victory at Utah, matching the record previously set on Dec. 10, 2011 against Bakersfield. The Thunder also notched a season high for most goals (5) in a period, accomplishing the feat in the second period at Maverik Center on Nov. 12. The Thunder is averaging 3.6 goals per game this season, ranking fourth in the ECHL.

OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN

Garet Hunt was named the sixth captain in Thunder history on Oct. 12, taking the "C" for the first time in his career for full-time duty. Hunt served as an alternate captain for the Thunder last season and has helped guide the team to the playoffs for four straight seasons since his 2008-09 rookie campaign. Hunt is the Thunder all time leader with 271 games played.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

The Thunder has drawn over 200,000 fans for seven straight seasons to Stockton Arena, totaling over 1.5 million through the turnstiles since opening in 2005-06. There have been 17 sellouts at Stockton Arena in Thunder history and last season, there were seven crowds of 7,000 or more at Thunder home games. The Thunder drew a club record 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Last season, the Thunder ranked third in ECHL attendance.

TOP FIVE THUNDER HOME CROWDS IN 2011-12

OPPONENT DATE ATTENDANCE

1. Alaska 3/3/12 9,398

2. Bakersfield 3/24/12 9,323

3. Utah 11/5/11 9,012

4. Alaska 1/28/12 7,613

5. Utah 3/17/12 7,537

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Ryan Constant is 4 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Mike Little is 3 games away from 100 in his ECHL career

- Yannick Riendeau is 18 assists away from 100 in his professional career

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from December 21, 2012


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.

OurSports Central