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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Bakersfield Condors

December 27, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Thursday, December 27, 2012

TIME: 7:00 p.m.

SITE: Rabobank Arena

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

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Bakersfield Condors: 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 Stockton Thunder meets the Bakersfield Condors tonight Rabobank Arena, continuing a season long six game road trip. It will be the seventh and eighth of 11 meetings between both teams this season and the Thunder has dominated the series so far with a 4-1-1 record. They carry a record of 33-28-13 against Bakersfield and dropped their first loss of the season against Bakersfield, 4-1 at Rabobank Arena on Dec. 9. The game matches Thunder head coach Matt Thomas against Bakersfield counterpart Matt O'Dette - previously a Thunder defenseman, captain and assistant coach from 2008-11. Thomas has the upper hand in the matchup with a lifetime 12-6-1 record.

2012-2013 Head to Head Schedule: (4-1-1)

Sat. Oct. 27 Stockton 4 at Bakersfield 3

Sun. Oct. 28 Bakersfield 2 at Stockton 3 (OT)

Fri. Nov. 2 Bakersfield 1 at Stockton 6

Fri. Nov. 23 Bakersfield 3 at Stockton 6

Sat. Dec. 1 Bakersfield 5 at Stockton 4 (SO)

Sun. Dec. 9 Stockton 1 at Bakersfield 4

Thur. Dec. 27 at Bakersfield 7:00 p.m.

Fri. Dec. 28 at Bakersfield 7:00 p.m.

Tue. Feb. 5 at Bakersfield 7:00 p.m.

Thur. Feb. 21 at Bakersfield 7:00 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 17 Bakersfield 4:00 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 1 (12/22/12): Nick Mazzolini collected three assists to boost the Alaska Aces offense, en route to a 4-1 win over the Stockton Thunder (15-9-6, 36 points) before 5,819 fans at Sullivan Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, swept in a three game series in Anchorage, were led offensively by Mike Little's goal in the third period. Yannick Riendeau had an assist on Little's power play goal, giving him 18 points in the last 14 games.

AK 5 - STK 1 (12/21/12): The Alaska Aces used multi point games from Scott Gomez, Kane Lafranchise and Alexandre Imbeault to send the Stockton Thunder (15-8-6, 36 points) to a 5-1 defeat before 4,889 fans at Sullivan Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who nearly rallied out of a 3-0 deficit in the third period, collected a power play goal by Eric Hunter. Alaska followed up with consecutive goals by Gomez and Imbeault to put the game away. Gerald Coleman made 26 saves in net to earn the win.

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.

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 is tied for the ECHL rookie lead in scoring with 27 points this season in 28 games. He has collected seven points in the last nine games. Maylan has also posted seven multi point games.

ROLLING IN THE (RIEN)DEAU

Forward Yannick Riendeau has 18 points in the last 14 games and has posted eight multi point games this season. He earned an assist last Saturday 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 when he took the honor on Dec. 11. Reichard 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 3.5 goals per game this season, ranking sixth 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 273 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 1 game away from 100 in his ECHL career

- Yannick Riendeau is 12 assists away from 100 in his professional career

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ECHL Stories from December 27, 2012


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