Game Preview: Stockton Thunder at Idaho Steelheads

November 12, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder continues a three-game road trip tonight against the Idaho Steelheads, returning to Qwest Arena for the first series since the two teams faced each other in last year's National Conference Final. The Thunder is 2-0-1 on the road this year and dating back to last year, is 3-1-0 in the last four regular season games in Boise. The last time both teams met, the Thunder defeated Idaho, 2-1 in a shootout at Qwest Arena on Wednesday. All-time, the Thunder is 18-25-3 against Idaho. Over 20 players combined on both rosters are back from last year.

LAST THREE GAMES:

STK 2 - IDH 1 (SO) (11/10/10): Goaltender Bryan Pitton made 32 saves and stopped all three shots faced in a shootout, helping the Thunder overcome a late third period deficit and rally in a 2-1 shootout victory over the Idaho Steelheads at Qwest Arena on Wednesday night. The Thunder, who served payback after a series defeat to Idaho, 4-2 in a best-of-seven series in the Conference Final last year, improved to 6-0-2 in the last eight games and forced overtime with a goal from rookie Jesse Gimblett with 3:42 left in regulation. Aaron Clarke, Jason Pitton and Chris D'Alvise scored for Stockton in the shootout.

STK 4 - BAK 0 (11/7/10): Goaltenders Tyson Sexsmith and Bryan Pitton combined to stop all 19 shots faced, to help the Thunder sweep the Bakersfield Condors in a three-game series during "Thunder Goes Pink V," in a 4-0 victory before 5,021 fans at Stockton Arena. Sexsmith, who left the game with 4:36 left in the third period after a fight with counterpart Josh Tordjman in a fight between both goaltenders, improved to 3-1-2 in the season with 16 saves. The Thunder improved to 5-0-2 in the last seven games and drew over 20,000 fans during the three game benefit series at Stockton Arena, to raise funds for breast cancer awareness. The Thunder went 3-for-8 on the power-play and Steve Vanoosten, Ryan Constant, Aaron Clarke and Anthony Aiello all scored for the Thunder.

STK 4 - BAK 2 (11/7/10): Chris D'Alvise notched his third career hat trick and the Thunder never trailed in a game that featured a three-goal rally in the final six minutes of regulation, taking over sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division in a 4-2 victory over the Bakersfield Condors before 9,015 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who improved to 4-0-2 in the last six games, continued a breast cancer benefit event, "Thunder Goes Pink V" and were also aided on a game-winning goal by Bretton Cameron in the third period, his first pro goal.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 1-0-0)

Wed. Nov. 10 Stockton 2 at Idaho 1 (SO)

Fri. Nov. 12 at Idaho 6:10 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 13 at Idaho 6:10 p.m.

Thur. Nov. 18 Idaho 7:00 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 20 Idaho 7:30 p.m.

Fri. Jan. 28 Idaho 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 29 Idaho 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 30 Idaho 4:00 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 18 Idaho 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 19 Idaho 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 20 Idaho 4:00 p.m.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

Chris Lawrence is 10 games away from 200 in his professional career

Ryan Constant is 12 points away from 200 in his professional career

SO WE MEET AGAIN ...

The Thunder and Idaho Steelheads renew acquaintances after last year's Conference Final. The Thunder was defeated by Idaho, 4-2 in the best-of-seven series. Idaho advanced onto the Kelly Cup Final with the series victory. Stockton achieved its deepest playoff run in team history with a berth in the Conference Final. Ryan Constant, Jason Pitton, Steve Vanoosten and Anthony Aiello all scored four points in the series to lead the returning players in scoring.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

The Thunder currently is third in ECHL attendance with an average of 6,201 fans per game. An exclusive club, the Thunder averaged over 6,000 fans per game, led the league in box office draw for four straight years (2005-09) and drew over 200,000 fans at the gate for the fifth straight year in 2009-10. The Thunder has drawn 14 sellouts in the team's franchise history, welcoming its one millionth fan last season along with a draw of five crowds of 8,000 fans or more. A season high of 9,015 fans were in attendance in last Saturday's home game vs. Bakersfield.

TOP FIVE HOME CROWDS IN 2009-10

OPPONENT DATE ATTENDANCE

1. Alaska 11/7/09 9,392*

2. Victoria 1/30/10 9,158

3. Utah 3/20/10 8,518

4. Las Vegas 3/27/10 8,053

5. Victoria 3/6/10 8,042

* Denotes sellout

HAIL TO THE CHIEF

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas ranks third in wins in the last decade in the ECHL (among active coaches), entering the year with a lifetime .606 win percentage (234-143-54 record) in six seasons as a head coach for Stockton, Fresno and Atlantic City. Thomas also has never missed the playoffs, won a Kelly Cup championship in 2002-03 as an assistant coach with Atlantic City, has been named coach for the ECHL All-Star Game twice (2005, 2009) and has been behind the bench in a coaching role for teams that advanced to the Conference Finals three times.

ALL-TIME WINS, REGULAR SEASON (2000-2010)

COACH WINS

1. Jeff Pyle (Gwinnett, Mobile) * 352

2. Malcolm Cameron (four teams) * 301

3. Davis Payne (Alaska, Pee-Dee) 289

4. Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) 254

5. Matt Thomas (Stockton, Fre, A.C.) * 239

* Currently ECHL active

WELCOME BACK

On Tuesday, the Thunder received left wing Garet Hunt back from loan to the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League after earning a spot on the Sharks opening night roster on a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Hunt, 23, was the Thunder leader in penalty minutes last season (215) and has won the Thunder "Fan Favorite" award each of the last two seasons. He now boosts the Thunder roster to 11 players returning from last year's National Conference Finals team.

FEASTING ON THE WEEK

Bryan Pitton became the seventh awarded recipient in Thunder all-time history to win the Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week award on Tuesday. Pitton, who is joined by Jake Moreland (2005-06), Andrew Perugini (2008-10) and Tyson Sexsmith (2010-11) as four individual recipients, won the third award of his career with a 2-0-0 record last week against Pacific Division rival Bakersfield. In the wins, he tallied a goals against average of 0.96 and a save percentage of .956 in three appearances while shutting out Bakersfield, 7-0 with 19 saves in his ECHL season debut last Friday.

ROSTER SERVES A TALL ORDER

Eleven players on the Thunder active roster measure at 6-foot-1 or taller: Anthony Aiello (6-1), Jordan Bendfeld (6-3), Cameron Brodie (6-1), Jesse Gimblett (6-3), Chris Lawrence (6-4), Jim McKenzie (6-2), Jason Pitton (6-2), Chase Ryan (6-2), Steve Vanoosten (6-1), Craig Valette (6-1) and Bryan Pitton (6-2).



ECHL Stories from November 12, 2010


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