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


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