Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Alaska Aces

Published on February 8, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Friday, February 8, 2013

TIME: 8:15 p.m.

SITE: Sullivan Arena

RADIO: 1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Alaska Aces: Independent

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, Feb. 15 vs. Ontario Reign (7:30 p.m.)

MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT (presented by Golden Bear Insurance Company, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Coors Light, Blackwell Heating & Air, The Record, KAT Country 103, and FOX 40 News)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder returns to Sullivan Arena for the first time since December, concluding the season series with three games in three days. The Thunder is 28-29-15 against Alaska in the lifetime series. Alaska defeated the Thunder in the last meeting 3-1 on Jan. 4 at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 2-4-1 against Alaska this season. The Aces will return to play after taking a 3-2 loss in overtime at Las Vegas on Feb. 2.

2012-13 Head to Head Schedule: (2-4-1)

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 Stockton 1 at Alaska 5

Sat. Dec. 22 Stockton 1 at Alaska 4

Fri. Jan. 4 Alaska 3 at Stockton 1

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 12-3-3 when leading after one period this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

BAK 4 - STK 3 (2/5/13): A rally from a three goal deficit fell short for the Stockton Thunder (24-18-8, 56 points), victimized by Scott Freeman's go-ahead goal with 3:22 left in regulation for a 4-3 Bakersfield Condors win at Rabobank Arena on Tuesday. Scott Greenham earned the win with 34 saves. Tyler Bunz took the loss with 23 stops.

STK 3 - IDH 2 (2/2/13): The Stockton Thunder (24-17-8, 56 points) ripped off three unanswered goals in the second period, enough to hold off the Idaho Steelheads in a 3-2 victory before a sellout crowd of 8,919 at Stockton Arena on Saturday. The Thunder closed out a season long seven game homestand with the win during a special "Star Wars Night" promotion with two goals by center Harrison Reed, who capped off a wild five-goal second period by both teams. Forward Justin Maylan also found the back of the net for the Thunder.

IDH 3 - STK 2 (2/1/13 ): David Toews capped off a two goal rally with 42 seconds left, and the Idaho Steelheads (28-11-1-4, 61 points) came back to defeat the Stockton Thunder 3-2 (23-17-8, 54 points) in front of 5,120 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday. Center Harrison Reed and forward Maxime Boisclair each tallied a goal and an assist. Defenseman Ryan Constant recorded the 100 th assist of his ECHL career on Reed's goal.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Garet Hunt is 6 games away from 300 as a member of the Thunder

THE ALL-STARS ARE ALIGNED

Thunder center Justin Maylan took part in the ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 23 at Colorado. Maylan represented Stockton well, chipping in with an assist in the second period to help the ECHL All-Stars cruise to a 7-3 win over the Colorado Eagles. The rookie center earned his first trip as a replacement for Toni Rajala on the squad. Originally, the Thunder had Rajala and defenseman Nathan Deck (replaced with Ontario's Chris Huxley) selected to the ECHL All-Star Team in early January. Both are continuing to skate in the American Hockey League with Oklahoma City. Deck was named a starter for the game (currently skating in the AHL with Oklahoma City) with 17 points in 19 games. Rajala's 18 goals were among the ECHL's top five at the time of his selection.

THUNDER IN ECHL ALL-STAR GAME

Year Venue Representative

2005-06 Fresno Moreland, Lalonde

2006-07 Idaho Geisler, Dubnyk, Martz, Bodie

2007-08 Stockton Farynuk, Contois, MacMurchy

2008-09 Reading Huddy, Urquhart

2009-10 Ontario Blackwater, D'Alvise

2010-11 Bakersfield Arcobello*

2011-12 N/A N/A**

2012-13 Colorado Maylan

* Named MVP of the All-Star Game

** No All-Star Game hosted

FEEL THE POWER

The Thunder has gone on a power trip, having scored a power play goal in ten of the last eleven games while only going two games in the entire month of January without one. The Thunder has seen center Harrison Reed benefit most from the recent surge, scoring six power play goals (half of the Thunder total) during the stretch.

SAINT GABRIEL

Center Gabriel Levesque continued his hot streak by scoring the opening goal just 30 seconds into the game against San Francisco on Jan. 30. Having scored three goals and tallied eight points in the last eleven games for the Thunder, Levesque has collected 15 assists and 21 points in 44 games in his second year as a pro (all with Stockton).

NO LITTLE ACCOMPLISHMENT

Thunder defenseman Mike Little played in his 100th career ECHL game on Dec. 27 at Bakersfield and helped out offensively with an assist in a 4-2 Thunder win. Little was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team last season and was the first selection in Thunder history. Little also played in his 100th career Thunder game Jan. 9 at Colorado.

JUSTIN TIME

Center Justin Maylan is tied for second in the ECHL in rookie scoring with 40 points this season in 48 games. He collected 12 points in 16 games during the month of December. Maylan has also posted nine multi point games this season.

PLAYING THE REICHARD

Thunder goaltender Cody Reichard became the 11th goaltender in Thunder history to earn the ECHL Goaltender of the Week award when he took the honor on Dec. 11. He followed up with two near misses on monthly awards as well - runner up honors for ECHL Rookie of the Month and ECHL Goaltender of the Month (December) with a 4-1-3 record, 2.19 goals against average and .935 save percentage from Dec. 1-31.

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 played in the 300th game of his professional career against Utah on Sunday and is the Thunder all-time leader with 294 games played.

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