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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder at Victoria Salmon Kings

December 4, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder concludes a three-game road trip at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre tonight against the Victoria Salmon Kings at 7:05 p.m. The Thunder (5-0-2) is the last remaining team unbeaten in regulation while on the road, this year in the ECHL. The Thunder is 20-21-5 lifetime against Victoria and the last time both teams met, the Thunder defeated Victoria, 5-3 last night at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Stockton enters the day at first place in the Pacific Division, trailing the Utah Grizzlies by one point for the top record in the Western Conference.

LAST THREE GAMES:

STK 5 ‚¬" VIC 3 (12/3/10): Defensemen Anthony Aiello tied a career-high with two goals and Bryan Pitton made 28 saves to lift the Thunder to a 5-3 victory over the Victoria Salmon Kings, before 4,479 fans at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday night. The Thunder improved to a club record 5-0-2 (longest road unbeaten streak) on the road. Aiello's two goals produced points spread out among the blueline, including Cameron Brodie (one assist) and Dan Ringwald (one assist). Chris Lawrence, Mark Arcobello and Garet Hunt also chipped in with a goal each.

STK 3 ‚¬" VIC 2 (SO) (12/1/10): Goaltender Bryan Pitton made 29 saves in his return from the American Hockey League and stopped three attempts in a shootout to boost the Thunder to a 3-2 shootout victory over the Victoria Salmon Kings before a crowd of 3,010 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday. The Thunder, who reclaimed sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division and snapped a four-game winless skid in regulation, remained unbeaten on the road as well at 4-0-2 this season. Pitton, who improved to 5-0-2 in the ECHL, stopped Rick Cleaver, Matt Siddall and Chad Painchaud in the shootout and also came up with a game-saving stop on Matt Siddall in the remaining seconds of overtime.

UTA 3 ‚¬" STK 2 (11/26/10): J.P. Lamoureux made saves on 34 shots, including all 20 he saw in the third period, to send the Thunder to a 3-2 defeat to the Utah Grizzlies before 5,332 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The Thunder who dropped to 0-3-1 in the last four games despite keeping hold of first place in the Pacific Division, were helped out on goals from Aaron Clarke and Jason Pitton. Utah used three unanswered goals in the decisive rally and were aided on Chris Donovan's game-winning goal in the second period.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 2-1-0)

Sun. Nov. 21 Victoria 4 at Stockton 1

Wed. Dec. 1 Stockton 3 at Victoria 2 (SO)

Fri. Dec. 3 Stockton 5 at Victoria 3

Sat. Dec. 4 at Victoria 7:05 p.m.

Wed. Jan. 5 at Victoria 7:05 p.m.

Fri. Jan. 7 at Victoria 7:05 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 8 at Victoria 7:05 p.m.

Fri. Feb. 18 Victoria 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 19 Victoria 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 20 Victoria 4:00 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 25 Victoria 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 26 Victoria 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 27 Victoria 4:00 p.m.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

Chris Lawrence is 1 game away from 200 in his professional career

Ryan Constant is 11 points away from 200 in his professional career

LIKE A BROKEN RECORD

The Thunder broke a club record on Saturday, Nov. 20 in a 2-1 shootout loss to Idaho for a 12-game unbeaten streak in regulation (8-0-4). The previous standard was set with an 11-0-0 run in 2006-07. The Thunder began the streak with a 5-4 overtime loss to Ontario on Oct. 16 at Stockton Arena and tied the mark on Nov. 18, in a 3-2 shootout win over the Idaho Steelheads.

THUNDER ANSWERS ROAD RULES CHALLENGE

The current road record of 5-0-2 places the Thunder as the only team in the ECHL to yet lose a game in regulation on the road this season. Additionally, the streak to start the season has reached seven games without a regulation loss, breaking the mark of five straight (5-0-0) set back in 2006-07 (Mar. 17-31).

YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN

Returning to the home province of British Columbia are four players that dot the Thunder roster. Defensemen Cameron Brodie (White Rock) and Steve Vanoosten (Langley) are joined by brothers Garet and Trevor Hunt (Maple Ridge) who all claim their respective cities within the province as their hometown.

PITT STOP

Goaltender Bryan Pitton is 6-0-1 in six ECHL decisions and returned from the American Hockey League on Wednesday to post a 29-save victory, including three of four saves in a shootout (3-2 win) and followed up with a 28-save effort in a 5-3 win on Friday. Pitton's 2.05 goals-against-average is second in the ECHL and is tied with Mike Zacharias (Idaho) with two shootout wins to lead the ECHL. He has earned ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors three times in his career.

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

The Thunder have allowed just 26.1 shots per game, lowest in the ECHL. The Thunder have allowed over 30 shots on goal in just seven games this year and on Nov. 24, the Thunder tied a franchise low with 13 shots allowed in a 1-0 defeat to Las Vegas. They outshot Las Vegas, 42-13. In the last game, the Thunder outshot Victoria, 32-31 in a 5-3 win last night.

HAIL TO THE CHIEF

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas ranks third in wins in the last decade in the ECHL (among active coaches), entering the year with a lifetime .606 win percentage (234-143-54 record) in six seasons as a head coach for Stockton, Fresno and Atlantic City. Thomas also has never missed the playoffs, won a Kelly Cup championship in 2002-03 as an assistant coach with Atlantic City, has been named coach for the ECHL All-Star Game twice (2005, 2009) and has been behind the bench in a coaching role for teams that advanced to the Conference Finals three times.

ALL-TIME WINS, REGULAR SEASON (2000-2010)

COACH WINS

1. Jeff Pyle (Gwinnett, Mobile) * 357

2. Malcolm Cameron (four teams) * 306

3. Davis Payne (Alaska, Pee-Dee) 289

4. Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) 254

5. Matt Thomas (Stockton, Fre, A.C.) * 243

* Currently ECHL active

ROSTER SERVES A TALL ORDER

Eleven players on the Thunder active roster measure at 6-foot-1 or taller: Anthony Aiello (6-1), Cameron Brodie (6-1), Jesse Gimblett (6-3), Chris Lawrence (6-4), Jim McKenzie (6-2), Chase Ryan (6-2), Bryan Pitton (6-2), Steve Vanoosten (6-1), Craig Valette (6-1), Marcus Watson (6-2) and Garrett Zemlak (6-1).

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