Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Las Vegas Wranglers

October 23, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 7:05 p.m. PT

RADIO: 1420-AM KSTN

INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

2007-08 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

10/21/07 Stockton 1at Las Vegas 4

10/23/07 Stockton at Las Vegas

12/07/07 Las Vegas at Stockton

12/08/08 Las Vegas at Stockton

01/01/08 Stockton at Las Vegas

01/19/08 Las Vegas at Stockton

01/20/08 Las Vegas at Stockton

02/13/08 Las Vegas at Stockton

03/04/08 Stockton at Las Vegas

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

Following a day off, the Thunder aims for its first win of the 2007-08 campaign in "Sin City" with a Tuesday night rematch against the Las Vegas Wranglers at Orleans Arena which continues a season-opening four-game road trip. On the line for Las Vegas is a 15-game regular season winning streak, dating back to March 10, 2007. In the all-time series, Las Vegas is unbeaten in six of seven games (6-0-1) against the Thunder at Orleans Arena. The Thunder and Wranglers meet nine times this season.

LAST GAME RECAP

Former NHL forward Peter Ferraro had a goal and two assists while twin brother and former NHL teammate Chris Ferraro added a goal, an assist and a +4 rating to lead the Las Vegas Wranglers in a 4-1 decision over the Thunder on Sunday at Orleans Arena. Brad Farynuk scored the only Thunder goal just 1:50 into the game, countered 16 seconds later by Shawn Limpright's game-tying goal that errantly bounced off the end-boards and the skate of Thunder goaltender Glenn Fisher. Despite the loss, Fisher made 29 saves in his professional debut.

ALL-STAR-STUDDED FRONTLINE

Facing a re-tooling process along the frontline, Head Coach Chris Cichocki added three forwards during the off-season with ECHL All-Star Game experience. Right wing Jesse Bennefield, a 2006 All-Star selection, won the fastest skater event at the skills competition at Fresno's Save Mart Center. Right wing Luke Fulghum had a hat trick and added an assist for the American Conference in the game and signed with the Thunder as a free agent late in the offseason. Brandon Schwartz was Long Beach's lone representative at the 2007 ECHL All-Star Game in Idaho.

OILING UP THE SHIP

Eight players assigned to the Thunder from the Edmonton Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, also dot the Thunder roster, including goaltender Glenn Fisher, a fifth round (148th overall) selection by the Oilers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and helped guide the University of Denver (NCAA) to two straight Frozen Four national championships in 2004 and 2005. Center Jacob Micflikier averaged nearly a point-per-game in his four-year (2003-07) college career with national-power University of New Hampshire (NCAA), scoring 150 points (58g-92a) in 154 career games with the Wildcats. Right wing David Rohlfs was a fifth round (154th overall) selection by the Oilers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and a University of Michigan (NCAA) product.

Defenseman Brad Farynuk, who signed an AHL contract with Springfield in the summer, helped guide the Dayton Bombers to the Kelly Cup Finals last season and tied for the ECHL scoring lead among defensemen with 16 points (4g-12a) in 22 Kelly Cup Playoff games. Left wing Adam Huxley parlayed a tryout with the Oilers into an AHL contract with Springfield and re-joins the Thunder roster after leading Stockton with a club single-season record 241 penalty minutes last season. Center Geoff Paukovich, selected in the second round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Oilers, participated in Oilers training camp this season. Center Jonas Almtorp, a fourth round NHL Entry Draft selection of the Oilers in 2002, was assigned to the Thunder on Wednesday and played in three NHL preseason games with the Oilers this year. Forward Pat Bateman was assigned to the Thunder from Springfield in September and is waiting immigration clearance.

ABOUT THE WRANGLERS

The Las Vegas Wranglers are in their fifth season in the ECHL and affiliated with the NHL's Calgary Flames and AHL's Quad City Flames. Last season, the Wranglers shattered an ECHL record and tied an all-time professional hockey mark with an 18-game winning streak, spanning the regular season and Kelly Cup Playoffs. Las Vegas returns two-time all-star center Tyler Mosienko, whose father Bill (Chicago Blackhawks) was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1965 and holds an NHL record for the fastest three goals scored (21 seconds).



ECHL Stories from October 23, 2007


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