Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Utah Grizzlies

Published on March 14, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder, five points behind the first place Bakersfield Condors of the Pacific Division, face the Utah Grizzlies for the seventh meeting this season at The E-Center tonight. The Thunder is 11-14-2, lifetime against Utah. The last meeting between both teams was on Mar. 13, when Stockton defeated Utah, 6-5 in overtime at The E-Center. The series finishes a three-game road trip for the Thunder, who are looking to take two out of three against Utah. There are just four road games remaining on the Thunder regular season schedule.

LAST 3 THUNDER GAMES

STK 6 - UTA 5 (3/13/10) (OT): Winger Matt Robinson converted a backdoor power-play goal with 4:15 left in sudden death overtime to complete a come-from-behind rally by the Thunder in a thrilling 6-5 overtime win over the Utah Grizzlies before 4,910 fans at The E-Center on Saturday night. In breaking an eight-game winless streak in West Valley City (0-7-1) dating back to 2007-08, the Thunder twice rallied from one-goal deficits in the third period and were led by Robinson's career-high four point effort (2g-2a), spelled by a goal and two assists from Chris D'Alvise and a goal and assist from James Bates.

UTA 5 - STK 2 (3/12/10): Veteran forward Lance Galbraith scored twice, Tim Crowder had three assists and goaltender Beau Erickson made 28 saves to help the Utah Grizzlies send the Thunder to a 5-2 defeat before 5,111 fans at The E-Center on Friday night. The Thunder, who stayed seven points behind the first place Bakersfield Condors, received offensive support with two power-play goals from James Bates and Ryan Constant. Utah, who won its third straight over Stockton in The E-Center this season, secured the win with a four-goal effort in the third period.

STK 7 - VIC 3 (3/6/10): Chris D'Alvise registered a career-high four assists and linemates James Bates (1g-2a) and Matt Robinson (two goals) chipped in with five combined points to help the Stockton Thunder (26-23-8, 62 points) demolish the Victoria Salmon Kings in a 7-3 victory before 8,042 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. The Thunder, who had 13 different players hit the scoresheet and were aided by goaltender Aaron Sorochan, who earned his first career ECHL victory with 33 saves. Oren Eizenman, Igor Gongalsky, Daryl Marcoux and Kelly Czuy each contributed with a goal and the power-play motored to a 3-for-11 effort.

FAMILIAR FOES

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas and counterpart Kevin Colley of Utah face-off for the 13th time as opposing head coaches. Thomas, was an assistant coach for the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2003 when the team won the Kelly Cup championship, coached Colley who was a forward for team and also was named the playoffs Most Valuable Player. Thomas owns a 5-6-1 record vs. Utah since Colley was named the team's head coach before the 2008-09 regular season. At one point in their careers, both Thomas (age 28 for Atlantic City) and Colley (age 29 for Utah) were the youngest head coaches in the ECHL.

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. In February, he erupted with 13 points (6g-7a) in 10 games. D'Alvise leads the Thunder with 25 goals (T-4, ECHL rookies) and leads Thunder rookies with 52 points (6th, ECHL rookies) in 57 games this season. D'Alvise has two hat tricks this season and posted a career-high four assists on Mar. 6 vs. Victoria (7-3 win).

THUNDER CROWDS ROLLING IN

The Thunder ranks third in the ECHL in attendance with an average of 5,933 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).

BATES AND SWITCH

Since returning from an AHL call-up with the Springfield Falcons, James Bates has embarked on a tear spanning over two months with 37 points (14g-23a) in 26games and has a +11 rating. Bates currently leads the Thunder with 58 points (22g-36a), 35 assists and has set a new career-high with 21 goals.

ECHL LEADERS - SCORING (since Jan. 15)

Player Team GP PTS G A +/-

1. Mark Derlago Idaho Steelheads 23 49 24 25 20

Tyler Donati Elmira Jackals 24 49 22 27 19

3. James Bates Stockton Thunder 26 37 14 23 11

4. Adam Miller Las Vegas Wranglers 26 36 16 20 0

5. Mark McCutcheon Idaho Steelheads 21 35 10 25 11

20 AND OVER ADMITTED

A growing club this season that is nearly tying a franchise high, four different players with 20 goals in one season adorn the roster, tying a club record when four separate 20-goal scorers dotted the roster in 2005-06 (Joel Irwin, Mike Lalonde, Ned Havern and Aaron Foster). Chris D'Alvise leads the Thunder with 25 goals (T-4, ECHL rookies), Colin Hemingway has 21 goals (four off his career-high) to rank tied for third and Matt Robinson has 24 goals (new career-high) to rank second. James Bates' 22 goals are also a career-high. The Thunder are looking for their first pair of 30-goal scorers in club history.

THUNDER 20 GOAL CLUB

YR PLAYERS GOALS

05-06 4. Mike Lalonde 29

Joel Irwin 25

Ned Havern 23

Aaron Foster 20

06-07 2. Mike Lalonde 23

Troy Bodie 21

07-08 2. Lance Monych 32

Ryan MacMurchy 23

08-09 2. Ryan Huddy 35*

Cory Urquhart 28

09-10 3. Chris D'Alvise 25

Matt Robinson 24

James Bates 22

Colin Hemingway 21

* Denotes Thunder record

'GINI IN A BOTTLE

Goaltender Andrew Perugini, who is tied for third in ECHL save percentage (.914) and ranks sixth in the ECHL in goals-against-average (2.80), became the Thunder career shutout leader (4) on Feb. 12 and posted his most recent blanking on a week later at Bakersfield, a career-high 45-save effort in a 2-0 Thunder win. Perugini was named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week in February for the second time in his career.

ALL-TIME THUNDER SHUTOUT LEADERBOARD

GOALTENDER SHUTOUTS

1. Andrew Perugini (2008-present) 5

2. Tim Boron (2007-08) 3

3. Devan Dubnyk (2006-07) 2

Glenn Fisher (2007-08) 2

Jake Moreland (2005-06) 2

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