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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Bakersfield Condors

January 8, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder faces the Bakersfield Condors in the seventh meeting of the season between both teams at Rabobank Arena on Friday. Tonight's game will mark the end of a four-game road trip and Sunday's game starting an 11-game homestand and a stretch of 12 of the next 14 games at the home confines of Stockton Arena. Both teams face each other 12 times for the 2009-10 season and in the last meeting, the Thunder defeated the Condors 5-1 at Stockton Arena on Dec. 29. Stockton carries at lifetime record of 15-14-8 against Bakersfield and leads the season series, 4-1-0. With the exception of 12 games against the Idaho Steelheads, the Thunder owns an 12-6-2 record this year against the rest of its ECHL schedule.

LAST 3 THUNDER GAMES

STK 5 - IDH 1 (1/2/10): Goaltender Andrew Perugini made 29 saves in his first return in net since December 19 and Oren Eizenman scored a pair of goals to lead the Stockton Thunder (14-15-3, 31 points) to their ninth win in 12 games in a 5-1 rout of the Idaho Steelheads before a crowd of 3,665 at Qwest Arena on Saturday. The win, giving the Thunder the three-game series victory in a 2-1-0 record at Boise, lifted the team into a second place tie in the Pacific Division with the Ontario Reign (tied for fifth, National Conference). Goals by Igor Gongalsky, Riley Emmerson and Chris D'Alvise spelled Eizenman's effort, while Matt Sorteberg netted the only Idaho goal.

IDH 5 - STK 1 (1/1/10): Newcomer Sergei Korostin broke open a one-goal game late in the third period with a pair of goals to complete a three point (2g-1a) effort, helping the Idaho Steelheads slide by the Thunder, 5-1 before a crowd of 3,318 at Qwest Arena on Friday night. The Thunder, who were missing leading scorer Judd Blackwater due to flu-like symptoms, were aided in a 38-save effort by goaltender Aaron Sorochan in his Thunder debut. Idaho also netted goals from Matt McKnight, Brandon Kushniruk and Marty Flichel. Brett Hemingway buried the only Thunder goal in the third period.

STK 5 - IDH 1 (12/31/09): Rookie center Chris D'Alvise scored a pair of goals and Bryan Pitton made 40 saves for his third consecutive win in net, boosting the Thunder to their third straight victory in a 5-1 rout of the Idaho Steelheads, before a crowd of 3,383 at Qwest Arena on Thursday night. The Thunder, who earned their first victory over the National Conference-leading Steelheads in ten tries, received additional goal-scoring support from Judd Blackwater, Jason Pitton and J.F. Caudron. Michael Neal scored the only Idaho goal as the Steelheads suffered only their fifth loss at home this year.

STAR-STUDDED BLACKWATER

On Wednesday, Judd Blackwater was named to the National Conference roster for the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game, representing the Thunder in Ontario for the two-day event on Jan. 19-20 at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Blackwater, 22, is in his second season and makes his first All-Star appearance while scoring a Thunder-leading 13 goals and team-high tying 27 points (13g-14a). His seven power-play goals are tied for the ECHL lead.

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

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.

PITTON IT IN GEAR

Thunder goaltender Bryan Pitton, recalled twice previously to the NHL this season, became the third goaltender in Thunder history to be named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week (Jan. 21-27) last Tuesday and followed up on Wednesday by finishing runner-up for the weekly award. Pitton is 6-1-0 with two overtime wins in his last five. Last Saturday, Pitton suited up for Edmonton, who were in San Jose.

THUNDER ALL-TIME ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS

Date Awarded

1. Jake Moreland January 31, 2006

2. Andrew Perugini March 3, 2009

3. Bryan Pitton December 29, 2009

THUNDER CROWDS ROLLING IN

The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,006 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 ranks second the ECHL at 21.7 percent (33-for-152) and is tied for the ECHL lead on the road this season, converting at 24.7 percent (20-for-81). Last Saturday, the Thunder went 1-for-4 on the power-play against Idaho. Judd Blackwater has seven power-play goals, leading the Thunder and currently tied for second in the ECHL.

MILESTONE MARKS FOR BLACKWATER, HEMINGWAY

Brett Hemingway, picked up by the Thunder as a free agent on Dec. 1 and scoring nine points (3g-6a) in nine games since that date, has hit two milestones recently in a Thunder uniform. His three point (1g-2a) effort against the Alaska Aces on Dec. 11 at Sullivan Arena helped him eclipse the 100 point mark in his pro career and an assist on Dec. 16 at Victoria helped him surpass 100 points in his entire pro career.

Judd Blackwater, leading the Thunder with 14 goals and 28 points (14g-14a), played in his 100th pro game last Thursday at Idaho.

OILING UP THE SHIP

For the fourth consecutive season, Stockton will serve as the AA minor-league affiliate for Oilers prospects. Since the Thunder and Oilers began their partnership in 2006-07, the Thunder has advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs three consecutive years and seven former Thunder players - goaltender Devan Dubnyk, right wing Colin McDonald, center Ryan O'Marra, right wing Troy Bodie, center Tim Sestito, left wing Liam Reddox and defenseman Bryan Young - have advanced to the NHL.

Players with the Thunder that have been assigned this year through the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons:

Andrew Perugini (G)

Bryan Pitton (G)

Jordan Bendfeld (D)

James Bates (RW)

Kelly Czuy (RW)

Riley Emmerson (RW)

Bryan Young (D)

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. Thunder forward Igor Gongalsky and defenseman Daryl Marcoux are serving as alternate captains. With a recent injury to Valette, the "C" is being worn by acting captain, J.F. Caudron.



ECHL Stories from January 8, 2010


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.

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