Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Utah Grizzlies

December 1, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 6:05 p.m. PT

RADIO: None

INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

RECORDS:

Stockton Thunder (8-9-2, 18 points) - 2nd, Pacific

Utah Grizzlies (9-9-1, 19 points) - 3rd, West

2007-08 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

11/24/07 Utah 8 at Stockton 3

11/28/07 Stockton 4 at Utah 3 (SO)

11/30/07 Stockton 2 at Utah 3 (SO)

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 9 wins shy of 200 in his ECHL coaching career

¡ñ Mark Adamek is 7 games shy of 100 in his professional career

¡ñ Phil Cole is 8 games shy of 300 in his professional career

¡ñ Andy Contois is 4 games shy of 100 in his professional career

¡ñ Brian Lee is 8 games shy of 100 in his professional career

TONIGHT¡¯S MATCHUP

The Thunder and the Utah Grizzlies wrap-up a four-game series with a Saturday night matchup at The E-Center, where the Thunder is 4-0-1 in the last five games on Utah¡¯s home ice. The Thunder has an 8-6-1 all-time record against Utah and went 6-1-0 against the Grizzlies last year. Utah is 5-3-0 at home this season and has been paced by veteran Scott Burt in the last two games, netting four goals in the three-game road series in suburban Salt Lake City.

LAST GAME RECAP

Behind goaltender Tim Boron¡¯s career-high 43 saves, the Thunder battled back from a two-goal deficit in the third period for the second straight game, but the Utah Grizzlies took the extra point on goaltender Michael Mole¡¯s four shootout stops in a 3-2 shootout win over the Thunder before 4,266 at The E-Center on Friday. The Thunder forced overtime on goals from Ryan O¡¯Marra and Geoff Paukovich, while Scott Burt led Utah¡¯s offense with two goals.

CAPTAIN CLOCKING IN

Defenseman Brad Farynuk made his first appearance in a Thunder uniform on Wednesday since 11/20. 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.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Goaltender Tim Boron picked up his third consecutive win in his Thunder debut on Wednesday after a 17-day absence which included stops on three teams (Las Vegas, Charlotte, Stockton) and stopped a career-high 43 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss last night. In his 3-0-1 stretch, Boron has allowed just seven goals and carries a save percentage of .951.

FEATURE FLIK

Rookie forward Jacob Micflikier has emerged with 13 points (6g-7a) in his last 10 games, jumping into fourth in ECHL scoring with 21 points (6g-15a) ¨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 December 1, 2007


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