Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Phoenix

Published on January 8, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 6:05 p.m. PT
SITE: U.S. Airways Center
RADIO: None
INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

2008-09 HEAD TO HEAD SERIES
1/6/09 Stockton 5 at Phoenix 4
1/8/09 @ Phoenix6:05 p.m.
1/23/09 Phoenix 7:30 p.m.
1/25/09 Phoenix 4:00 p.m.
2/1/09 Phoenix 4:00 p.m.
2/28/09 Phoenix 7:30 p.m.
3/3/09 @ Phoenix6:05 p.m.
3/4/09 @ Phoenix6:05 p.m.

MILESTONE TRACKER

o Kenny MacAulay is 5 games away from 100 in his professional career
o Ryan MacMurchy is 1 game away from 100 in his professional career
o Daryl Marcoux is 2 games away from 100 in his ECHL career
o Matt O'Dette is 14 points away from 100 and 16 PIM's away from 900 in his ECHL career
o Damian Surma is 8 assists away from 100 in his pro career
o Cory Urquhart is 10 goals away from 100 in his ECHL career

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder faces the Phoenix RoadRunners for the second time this season beginning Tuesday at U.S. Airways Center, the second of eight games this year in the head-to-head series. The Thunder is 15-4-1 lifetime against Phoenix and finished with a 5-2-0 mark last year in the head-to-head series. The teams last met on Jan. 6 at U.S. Airways Center and the Thunder defeated Phoenix 5-4. Tonight's game marks the end of a five-game, 11-day road trip for Stockton, the longest continuous trip in travel days this season.

LAST THREE THUNDER GAMES

1/6/09 - STK 5 at PHX 4: Veteran Cory Urquhart fired a backhanded shot through goaltender Craig Kowalski's five-hole with 3.8 seconds remaining in regulation to cap a dramatic come-from-behind victory for the Stockton Thunder (13-17-5, 31 points), who edged the Phoenix RoadRunners 5-4 in regulation before a crowd of 1,923 at U.S. Airways Center on Tuesday night. Urquhart scored twice, including the game-tying goal with 1:21 left in regulation to highlight a three-point (2g-1a) effort. Rookie forward James Bates notched a career-high four points (1g-3a) and fight for the first "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" of his career. All-Star selection Ryan Huddy pitched in with three points (2g-1a) while Thunder goaltender Glenn Fisher stopped 21 shots for the victory. The Thunder won its third straight game and went to 3-0-1 in the last four games.

1/3/09 - STK 2 at AK 1 (OT): National Conference All-Star selection Ryan Huddy scored two goals, including the game-winner at 1:19 of sudden death overtime to stave off a last-minute rally by the Alaska Aces and lift the Thunder to a 2-1 OT win before 4,490 at Sullivan Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who took five of a possible six points in the three-game series in Anchorage, improved to 2-0-1 since Matt Thomas took over as new Head Coach and were aided in net by goaltender Bryan Pitton's 17 saves. Tomas Kana's extra attacker goal forced overtime with 13 seconds left in regulation.

1/2/09 - STK 4 at AK 1: Head Coach Matt Thomas earned his first win behind the Stockton Thunder bench while Cory Urquhart and James Bates each picked up a goal and an assist, helping lift the Thunder (11-17-5, 27 points) to a 4-1 victory over the Alaska Aces before 4,941 at Sullivan Arena on Friday night. In the process of snapping a six-game winless streak, it was the Thunder's first lifetime win in regulation at Sullivan Arena and was aided by a goal from Igor Gongalsky and Justin Chwedoruk. Goaltender Glenn Fisher made 19 saves to earn his first win of the season in a Thunder uniform. Alaska netminder Marek Schwarz stopped 30 shots for the loss.

EXTREME MAKEOVER: THUNDER EDITION

The Thunder underwent a colossal shake-up of its roster and coaching staff last Monday, naming Matt Thomas the second head coach in Thunder history, succeeding Chris Cichocki who was relieved of his duties. Thomas, who previously coached the Fresno Falcons to a record of 18-10-2 in 30 games for 38 points this season before the club ceased operations on Dec. 22, made his debut behind the Thunder bench against Alaska last Wednesday. Thomas carries a record of 182-98-42 and a winning percentage of .636 in 318 career games at the helm for Fresno and Atlantic City in the last four-plus years.

Joining Thomas as new additions to Stockton are veteran Matt O'Dette, Judd Blackwater, Igor Gongalsky, Kenny MacAulay and Daryl Marcoux. Blackwater, Gongalsky, MacAulay and Marcoux all registered their first points in a Thunder uniform against the Alaska Aces (12/31 and 1/2). O'Dette remains on the 30-day injured reserve list.

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,888 through 10 games, has 13 sellouts in the team's franchise history and finished last year as the ECHL's attendance leader for the third consecutive season. It was the second straight year the Thunder surpassed the mark of 230,000 fans for one season. The Thunder's yearly attendance total finished at 239,337, an average of 6,648 fans per game. The Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for three straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons). Stockton's crowd of 9,737 on Nov. 8 against Victoria was the team's first sellout of the year.

SUNSHINE STATE SHOWDOWN

Four players will participate in this week's series against the Phoenix RoadRunners with connections to the Florida Everblades teams that advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2003-04 and 2004-05. Joining the Thunder are assistant coach Tim O'Connell (former Florida defenseman) and forward Damian Surma (former Florida forward and previously under contract to the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL). They will be opposed by former teammates Brad Church (Phoenix head coach) and center John McNabb (former Florida center).

STEP UP TO THE MIKE

Returning to the lineup this season is left wing Mike Lalonde, who is the Thunder all-time leading goal scorer with 60 goals and ascended to the top perch as the Thunder all-time leading scorer with 124 points, scoring the milestone point on a goal on Dec. 21 at Ontario. Selected as the first player in Thunder history to the ECHL All-Star Game (2006), Lalonde led the ECHL with 308 shots and paced the Thunder with 29 goals as a rookie in 2005-06. Lalonde spent last season with Tilburg of the Netherlands League, guiding his team to the Dutch Cup and scoring 92 points (43g-49a) in just 34 games.

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