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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Colorado Eagles

January 11, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Friday, January 11, 2013

TIME: 6:05 p.m.

SITE: Budweiser Events Center

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

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Colorado Eagles: Winnipeg Jets

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, Jan. 18 vs. San Francisco Bulls (7:30 p.m.)

INSULATED TUMBLER GIVEAWAY (presented by EZ Network Systems and 104.1 The Hawk)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder continues a four game series with the Colorado Eagles at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. The Thunder is 2-2-0 against the Eagles this season and last faced them on Wednesday in an 8-3 loss at Colorado. At the end of the series on Saturday, the two teams will have completed the entire season series schedule. This week's series is the only time this season the Thunder will visit Colorado.

2012-2013 Head to Head Schedule: (2-2-0)

Fri. Dec. 14 Colorado 1 at Stockton 4

Sat. Dec. 15 Colorado 2 at Stockton 1

Sat. Jan. 5 Colroado 3 at Stockton 5

Wed. Jan. 9 Stockton 3 at Colorado 8

Fri. Jan. 11 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 12 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder is 10-0-2 when leading after one period this season.

MORE INFORMATION

The Thunder 2012-13 media guide is available online and can be accessed by clicking here (PDF).

LAST THREE GAMES:

COL 8 - STK 3 (1/9/13): Michael Forney collected a hat trick while Devin DiDiomete posted a goal and two assists to lead the Colorado Eagles past the Stockton Thunder (19-12-7, 45 points), 8-3 at Budweiser Events Center on Wednesday. The Thunder, who fell to 2-2-0 in the season series against the Eagles, surrendered a trio of power play goals in the defeat and was aided offensively by goals from Ryan Green (first career ECHL goal), Justin Maylan and Matt Reber. Special teams factored in the game with the Eagles, holding the top producing power play in the ECHL, converting at 3-of-5 in the game.

STK 5 - COL 3 (1/5/13): Center Eric Hunter put forth a dominant performance - two goals and one assist - as the Stockton Thunder (19-11-7, 45 points) never trailed in a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Eagles (17-16-3, 37 points) in front of 5,322 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday. Forward Garet Hunt notched the game-winner with a shorthanded goal in the third period. Yannick Riendeau chipped in with two assists, while Thunder goaltender Tyler Bunz (11-8-3) and Colorado's Kyle Jones each stopped 35 shots.

AK 3 - STK 1 (1/4/13): Returning to Stockton Arena for the first time in 2013, the Stockton Thunder (18-11-7, 43 points) had a late rally stopped by the Alaska Aces (27-8-0, 54 points), who grabbed a 3-1 win in front of 4,207 fans on Friday. Center Ryan Martindale collected his first goal of the season for the Thunder after being reassigned from the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons last month. Goaltender Cody Reichard made 19 saves for the Thunder, while Alaska's Gerald Coleman stopped 37 shots.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Ryan Constant is 3 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Yannick Riendeau is 6 assists away from 100 in his professional career

THE ALL-STARS ARE ALIGNED

Two members of the Thunder have been named to play in the ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 23 at Colorado, on a team of All-Stars against the host Colorado Eagles. Defenseman Nathan Deck was named a starter for the game (currently skating in the AHL with Oklahoma City) with 17 points in 19 games. Toni Rajala was selected to the roster as well with 36 points in 27 games. His 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 Deck, Rajala

* Named MVP of the All-Star Game

** No All-Star Game hosted

ENDURANCE TEST

At the end of last Saturday, the Thunder completed a stretch of playing 14 games in 24 days. The trek began on Dec. 13 at San Francisco which included nine games on the road and separate journeys of over 3,000 miles to Anchorage and 700 miles to Utah.

During the 14 game and 24 day stretch, the Thunder posted:

- A record of 6-5-3

- Seven games of scoring three goals or more

- 11 games of 30 shots on goal or more

- 11 games of scoring at least one power play goal

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 on Wednesday at Colorado.

JUSTIN TIME

Center Justin Maylan leads the ECHL in rookie scoring with 33 points this season in 36 games. He collected 12 points in 16 games during the month of December. Maylan has also posted nine multi point games and buried a goal on Wednesday vs. Colorado.

ROLLING IN THE (RIEN)DEAU

Forward Yannick Riendeau had 19 points in 16 games during December and has posted 11 multi point games this season. He earned an assist on Wednesday vs. Colorado had an eight game assist streak at home end on Jan. 4.

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 is the Thunder all time leader with 282 games played.

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