Game Preview: Stockton Thunder at Utah Grizzlies

November 12, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Monday, November 12, 2012

TIME: 6:05 p.m.

SITE: Maverik Center

RADIO: 1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Utah Grizzlies: Calgary Flames

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, Nov. 16 vs. Utah Grizzlies, 7:30 p.m.

TEAM PHOTO GIVEAWAY

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder takes on the Utah Grizzlies tonight at Maverik Center for the first of seven meetings this season between the two teams. The Thunder holds a lifetime record of 24-26-6 against Utah and last faced the Grizzlies on Mar. 18, 2012 in a 4-2 Thunder victory at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 6-1-0 in the last seven games and carries a 3-1-1 record on the road this season.

2012-2013 Head to Head Schedule: (0-0-0)

Mon. Nov. 12 at Utah 6:05 p.m.

Fri. Nov. 16 Utah 7:30 p.m.

Mon. Dec. 31 at Utah 5:05 p.m.

Wed. Jan. 2, 2013 at Utah 6:05 p.m.

Fri. Jan. 25 Utah 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 26 Utah 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 27 Utah 4:00 p.m.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder carries a goal differential of +14 (38 goals scored, 24 goals allowed) which ranks tied for third in the ECHL this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

SF 4 - STK 1 (11/9/12): The Stockton Thunder (7-2-1, 15 points) saw their six-game win streak and eight-game unbeaten streak end at the hands of the San Francisco Bulls who used a three-goal third period to down the Thunder 4-1 Friday night at the Cow Palace. The loss was the Thunder's first regulation loss since a 2-1 defeat to Ontario on Opening Night at Stockton Arena. In goal for Stockton, Cody Reichard (2-1-0) made 27 saves, while San Francisco's Thomas Heemskerk (2-5-1) stopped 31 shots.

STK 5 - AK 1 (11/4/12): The Stockton Thunder (7-1-1, 15 points) enjoyed goal scoring from five different players and ended Thunder Goes Pink VII victorious in a 5-1 rout over the Alaska Aces (5-4-0, 10 points) in front of 4,194 fans on Sunday at Stockton Arena. The win completes a three-game weekend sweep, as well as back to back wins over the Aces. In victory, Thunder goaltender Tyler Bunz (5-1-1) made 31 saves on 32 shots. Center Harrison Reed collected three points (1 goal, 2 assists) to lead the Thunder offense.

STK 7 - AK 4 (11/3/12): Philippe Cornet had a four point night while Toni Rajala posted two goals and an assist to lead the Stockton Thunder (6-1-1, 13 points) offense in a 7-4 blowout win over the Alaska Aces before a crowd of 8,018 at Stockton Arena on Saturday. Goaltender Tyler Bunz earned the win in net with 28 saves while all but five Thunder skaters registered a point in the game.

REUNION OF SORTS

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas coached current Grizzlies head coach Kevin Colley in Atlantic City during 2002-03, when Thomas was an assistant coach and helped guide the club to a Kelly Cup championship. Colley was named MVP of the Kelly Cup Playoffs in 2003.

BOLTING OUT OF THE GATE

The Thunder's 7-1-1 record was its best nine game stretch to begin the season since 2006-07, when the Thunder and Edmonton Oilers were in the first season of their affiliation agreement. During that stretch, the Thunder offense earned six occasions where they produced four goals or more in a game.

BUNZ ON A ROLL

Goaltender Tyler Bunz ranks third in the ECHL with a 2.12 goals against average this season. He is 5-0-1 in his last six appearances and made a season high 30 saves in his last appearance on Nov. 4 against Alaska (5-1 win).

THE DECK IS STACKED

Defenseman Nathan Deck has points in six of his last seven games and leads all Thunder defensemen with eight points in 10 games. Deck is in his second year with the Thunder and was named the team's "Unsung Hero" at the end of last season.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

The Thunder has drawn over 200,000 fans for seven straight seasons to Stockton Arena, totaling over 1.5 million through the turnstiles since opening in 2005-06. There have been 17 sellouts at Stockton Arena in Thunder history and last season, there were seven crowds of 7,000 or more at Thunder home games. The Thunder drew a club record 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Last season, the Thunder ranked third in ECHL attendance.

TOP FIVE THUNDER HOME CROWDS IN 2011-12

OPPONENT DATE ATTENDANCE

1. Alaska 3/3/12 9,398

2. Bakersfield 3/24/12 9,323

3. Utah 11/5/11 9,012

4. Alaska 1/28/12 7,613

5. Utah 3/17/12 7,537

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Ryan Constant is 10 games away from 300 in his ECHL career

- Ryan Constant is 10 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Harrison Reed is 6 games away from 300 in his professional career

- Yannick Riendeau is 2 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

TONI (NEARLY GETS HIS) AWARD

Thunder rookie forward Toni Rajala was named runner up for Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week last Tuesday, narrowly finishing behind Michael Forney of Colorado. Rajala earned seven points and was +3 in three games to help the Thunder go 3-0-0 against Alaska and Bakersfield from Nov. 2-4. Rajala is on a seven game scoring streak, posting 12 points in that span.

COVERED WITH OIL

The Edmonton Oilers return as the NHL affiliate of the Thunder for the seventh straight season, helping advance eight players from the Thunder onto playing in the National Hockey League. The Thunder has also never missed the playoffs since first connecting with the Oilers in 2006-07. Edmonton has won five Stanley Cup championships and sent seven players onto induction in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Among the players assigned to Stockton, beginning this season, was LW Philippe Cornet, who made his NHL debut with Edmonton and led the AHL affiliate Oklahoma City Barons with 24 goals last season.

OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN

Garet Hunt was named the sixth captain in Thunder history on Oct. 12, taking the "C" for the first time in his career for full-time duty. Hunt served as an alternate captain for the Thunder last season and has helped guide the team to the playoffs for four straight seasons since his 2008-09 rookie campaign. Hunt is the Thunder all time leader with 254 games played.



ECHL Stories from November 12, 2012


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.

OurSports Central