
Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Utah Grizzlies
November 28, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release
FACEOFF: 6:05 p.m. PT
RADIO: 1420-AM KSTN
INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)
2007-08 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES
11/24/07 Utah 8 at Stockton 3
11/28/07 Stockton at Utah
11/30/07 Stockton at Utah
12/01/07 Stockton at Utah
02/06/08 Utah at Stockton
02/29/08 Utah at Stockton
04/03/08 Stockton at Utah
04/04/08 Stockton at Utah
04/05/08 Stockton at Utah
UPCOMING MILESTONES
¡ñ Chris Cichocki is 10 wins shy of 200 in his ECHL coaching career
¡ñ Mark Adamek is 9 games shy of 100 in his professional career
¡ñ Phil Cole is 10 games shy of 300 in his professional career
¡ñ Andy Contois is 6 games shy of 100 in his professional career
¡ñ Brian Lee is 10 games shy of 100 in his professional career
TONIGHT¡¯S MATCHUP
After an 8-3 loss that sent the Thunder into a 1-5-1 funk through its last seven games, a three-game road trip to frigid Salt Lake City awaits, where the Thunder went 3-0-0 last season at The E-Center. The Thunder has a 7-6-0 all-time record against Utah and went 6-1-0 against the Grizzlies last year. Utah is 4-2-0 at home this season, led by the recent hot streak of rookie forward Keith Johnson, who is on a five-game point-scoring streak, tallying 11 points (7g-4a) in that span.
LAST GAME RECAP
Forward Keith Johnson scored a hat-trick and tallied two assists, and left winger Trevor Smith and center Tyler Haskins each recorded a goal and three assists to lead the Utah Grizzlies to an 8-3 win over the Thunder before a crowd of 7,459 fans at Stockton Arena last Saturday. Utah raced out to a 3-0 lead after one period. The Thunder received goals from Jonas Almtorp, Jesse Bennefield and Ryan Geris.
CAPTAIN CLOCKING IN
Defenseman Brad Farynuk is scheduled to make his first appearance in a Thunder uniform tonight since his re-assignment from Springfield of the AHL. Farynuk was named the second captain in Thunder history on November 21, 2007. Serving as assistant captains are Schwartz and defenseman Beau Geisler. Dean Stork was the team¡¯s first captain in 2005-06 and the Thunder did not name a captain in 2006-07.
O¡¯FFENSE
A first round selection of the New York Islanders and acquired in last February¡¯s blockbuster trade by the Edmonton Oilers, rookie center Ryan O¡¯Marra has climed into a tie for the Thunder lead in goal scoring with seven markers this year, sitting at the top with Jesse Bennefield. O¡¯Marra is also tied for the Thunder lead with four power-play goals with Bennefield.
FEATURE FLIK
Rookie forward Jacob Micflikier has emerged with 12 points (6g-6a) in his last 8 games, jumping into a tie for third in ECHL scoring with 20 points (6g-14a) ¨C pacing three points back of Cincinnati¡¯s David Desharnais. Micflikier, out of the University of New Hampshire (NCAA), has posted six multi-point games this season.
RE-UNITED, CAUSE IT FEELS SO GOOD ¡-
There are a handful of players on both the Thunder and Grizzlies this week facing each other after playing together at a different stage of their careers. Among the featured reunions are Stockton¡¯s Ryan O¡¯Marra and Utah¡¯s Tyler Haskins, who were teammates in Saginaw (OHL) last season. Utah¡¯s Trevor Smith was a teammate of the Thunder¡¯s Jacob Micflikier at U. New Hampshire (NCAA). Stockton¡¯s Ryan MacMurchy and Utah¡¯s Justin Bourne helped guide the Alaska Aces to the National Conference round in last year¡¯s Kelly Cup Playoffs as rookies.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES
The Utah Grizzlies are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL¡¯s New York Islanders and the AHL¡¯s Bridgeport Sound Tigers and are in their third season of ECHL play. Jason Christie is in his third season as head coach for the Grizzlies and has been with the team since their inception into ECHL. Prior to joining the Grizzlies, Christie played ten years professionally and coached Peoria Rivermen to the Kelly Cup Championship in the 1999-2000 campaign. Christie is the all time franchise leader for wins with Peoria. Utah did not qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs last season, tallying a 22-42-8 record (52 points).
ECHL Stories from November 28, 2007
- Grizzlies Fall In Shootout To Stockton - Utah Grizzlies
- Thunder rallies from 3-1 deficit in third period - Stockton Thunder
- O'Brien's Two Goals Get Stingrays Back on Winning Track - South Carolina Stingrays
- Stingrays Snap Sea Wolves' Win Streak - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- 'Blades strike first in three-game set with Aces; Win 4-1 - Florida Everblades
- Win Streaks Ends As Cyclones Blow Away Jackals 7-1 - Elmira Jackals
- Cyclones Blow Away Elmira, 7-1, Wednesday - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Local Figure Skating Phenom To Perform At Wildcatters Game Friday - Texas Wildcatters
- Salmon Kings Games Vs. Phoenix Not On B2 Video - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Royals Acquire Forwards Marc Cavosie and Brett Hemingway - Reading Royals
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Inferno Acquire Pair of Defensemen - Columbia Inferno
- Falcons Complete Trade with Inferno - Fresno Falcons
- Chiefs And Monsters Swap Players - Johnstown Chiefs
- Steelheads Watch Party At Hooters This Friday - Idaho Steelheads
- Lehman reassigned to Gladiators - Atlanta Gladiators
- Wranglers And Nevada Power Host Light Bulb Night - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Henrich Loaned to Norfolk - Wheeling Nailers
- Augusta's Slattengren Has Record Night - ECHL
- Goulet Returns, Assigned From Springfield - Stockton Thunder
- Jackals trim roster, McLean dealt to Florida - Elmira Jackals
- 'Blades add two more to roster - Florida Everblades
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Utah Grizzlies - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Do Teddy Bears Fly at an Inferno Game? - Columbia Inferno
- Checkers Receive Graham And Busto - Charlotte Checkers
- Wranglers Win Ninth Straight, Clip Condors 4-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Jackals Ground Bombers In Shootout For Seventh Straight Win - Elmira Jackals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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