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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder at Idaho Steelheads

November 13, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder concludes a three-game road trip tonight against the Idaho Steelheads, also playing in its final regular season game at Qwest Arena. The Thunder is 2-0-2 on the road this year and dating back to last year, is 3-1-1 in the last five regular season games in Boise. The last time both teams met, the Idaho defeated the Thunder, 4-3 in a shootout at Qwest Arena last night. All-time, the Thunder is 18-25-4 against Idaho. Over 20 players combined on both rosters are back from last year.

LAST THREE GAMES:

IDH 4 - STK 3 (SO) (11/12/10): Steve Oleksy scored a shootout winning goal in the seventh round and Mark Derlago had two assists to help the Idaho Steelheads escape with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Thunder before a crowd of 3,998 at Qwest Arena on Friday night. The Thunder, who remained unbeaten in regulation at 6-0-3 in the last nine games, were helped out with goals from Chris D'Alvise (new Thunder record for fastest goal), Chris Lawrence and Jim McKenzie. Goaltender Bryan Pitton made 26 saves, moving his record to 3-0-1. His counterpart, Mike Zacharias, collected his first win as a Steelhead with 34 stops.

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.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 1-0-1)

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

Fri. Nov. 12 Stockton 3 at Idaho 4 (SO)

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 9 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) * 353

2. Malcolm Cameron (four teams) * 302

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

4. Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) 254

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

* Currently ECHL active

FAST STARTER

Chris D'Alvise entered the Thunder record books on Friday, Nov. 12, and it didn't take long from the opening faceoff. He scored a goal nine seconds into the game at Idaho, breaking the Thunder all-time record for fastest goal to begin a game. The record was previously held by Tyler Spurgeon, who scored 13 seconds into a game at Victoria on Nov. 17, 2006.

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).

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