Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Ontario Reign

Published on February 13, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder returns to the road for an eight-game road trip, visiting the Ontario Reign in the tenth and final meeting of the season between both teams. The Thunder enters tonight second place in the Pacific Division (fourth, National Conference), six points behind the first place Bakersfield Condors after a 5-1-1 streak in the last seven games. The Thunder is 6-3-0 this season against the Reign and in the last meeting, the Thunder defeated Ontario, 5-0 at Stockton Arena last night. Through the first 20 regular season games in the all-time series, the Thunder is 11-8-1 against Ontario.

LAST 3 THUNDER GAMES

STK 5 - ONT 0 (2/12/10): Goaltender Andrew Perugini made 33 saves for his fourth career shutout, and Oren Eizenman (2g-1a) and Colin Hemingway (1g-2a) each enjoyed three-point efforts to help the Stockton Thunder cruise past the Ontario Reign, 5-0, before 7,745 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The Thunder, who closed the gap to six points behind the Bakersfield Condors for first place in the Pacific Division, boosted their run at home to 7-1-4 in the last 12 games and were also supported in goal-scoring by Matt Robinson and Garet Hunt. Stockton converted at a 2-for-5 rate on the power-play and boosted its run to 5-1-1 in the last seven games.

ONT 5 - STK 3 (2/6/10): Tony Voce scored a pair of goals and Jon Francisco scored an eventual game-winner in the second period to help the Ontario Reign send the Thunder to just their second defeat in regulation in the last 13 games, 5-3 before an announced crowd of 8,497 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who had their 4-0-1 streak snapped despite goals each from Chris D'Alvise, J.F. Caudron and Anthony Aiello, were hampered by nine penalty kill situations, one away from the season high that was surrendered to Bakersfield on Dec. 4. Michael Pelech, Sean O'Connor and Jon Francisco each scored a goal for Ontario and Curtis Darling made 28 saves for the win in net.

STK 4 - ONT 1 (2/5/10): All-star center Chris D'Alvise scored a natural hat trick, the first in team history, and James Bates had three assists to help the Thunder cruise to a 4-1 victory over the host Ontario Reign, before a crowd of 5,169 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Friday night. The Thunder, who improved to 7-1-4 in the last 12 games, moved to within just six points of first place in the Pacific Division after Bakersfield lost, 3-2 at Alaska. D'Alvise's natural hat trick was the first in Thunder history and eighth all-time hat trick, scoring three goals in succession in a third period rally. Colin Hemingway added his 17th goal of the season for the Thunder, while goaltender Andrew Perugini made 38 saves to earn his 12th win this season.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLLING IN

The Thunder ranks third in the ECHL in attendance with an average of 5,934 fans per game and is vying to tie a league record by leading the league in attendance for five straight seasons. On Jan. 30, the Thunder drew 9,158 fans to Stockton Arena against Victoria, the second largest home crowd this year. The Thunder led the ECHL in attendance last year with an average of 6,218 fans through 36 home games. Stockton has 14 sellouts in the team's franchise history and drew a standing room only crowd of 9,392 on Nov. 8 vs. Alaska. Last year, the Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for four straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons - 2000-05).

ALL-STAR IS SHINING

Rookie center Chris D'Alvise, who had an assist representing the Thunder at the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game in Ontario on Jan. 20, recently had a career-high eight-game scoring streak with eight points (4g-4a) in that span. After being shut out Sunday, D'Alvise responded with two goals vs. Victoria on Jan. 278 and added an assist two nights later. D'Alvise leads the Thunder with 21 goals and leads Thunder rookies with 36 points in 44 games this season. D'Alvise added a natural hat trick in last Friday's win at Ontario.

SERIES IN A NUTSHELL

The Thunder leads the head-to-head series vs. Ontario, 6-3-0 this season... the Thunder responded following a 7-1 defeat at home on Oct. 23 with a 3-0 shutout victory the following night - goaltender Andrew Perugini recorded his third career shutout... Stockton defeated Ontario, 3-2 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Nov. 4 with Craig Valette's go-ahead goal with 52.3 seconds left in regulation... the night after Ontario's 8-2 win over the Thunder on Nov. 20, Stockton responded with a 4-3 victory in overtime at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Jason Pitton's goal with 3:25 left... the Thunder defeated Ontario, 4-2 at Stockton Arena on Jan. 20 on Justin DaCosta's go-ahead goal with 12:12 left in the third period, snapping a 2-2 tie... Stockton moved to within six points of first place in the Pacific Division with a 4-1 victory at Ontario on Feb. 5 behind Chris D'Alvise's natural hat trick... Tony Voce's two goals spurred Ontario to a 5-2 victory over the Thunder the next night... Perugini posted 33 saves and his fourth career shutout in a 5-0 victory over Ontario on Feb. 12, while Oren Eizenman and Colin Hemingway each scored three points.

'GINI IN A BOTTLE

Goaltender Andrew Perugini, who is tied for the ECHL lead in save percentage (.921) and ranks second in the ECHL in goals-against-average (2.55), became the Thunder career shutout leader (4) on Feb. 12 and posted his most recent blanking that night against the Ontario Reign in a 5-0 win at Stockton Arena. Perugini is 6-1-1 in his last eight starts.

ALL-TIME THUNDER SHUTOUT LEADERBOARD

GOALTENDER SHUTOUTS

1. Andrew Perugini (2008-present) 4

2. Tim Boron (2007-08) 3

3. Devan Dubnyk (2006-07) 2

Glenn Fisher (2007-08) 2

Jake Moreland (2005-06) 2

COLIN' ALL CARS

Since his acquisition from the Alaska Aces on Jan. 21 in exchange for Judd Blackwater, Thunder right winger Colin Hemingway has poured in 13 points (5g-8a) in nine games. He has three multi-point games and most recently, parlayed a one-goal, two-assist effort for the Thunder on Feb. 12 in a 5-0 win at Ontario. Colin's brother, Brett, is a fellow forward on the Thunder roster and the two are the second pair of siblings to join the Thunder roster this season (goaltender Bryan and forward Jason Pitton, who are currently on recall to the Springfield Falcons of the AHL).

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