Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Alaska Aces

November 21, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 7:00 p.m. PT

RADIO: None

INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

2007-08 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

10/27/07 Alaska 2 at Stockton 3 (OT)

11/21/07 Alaska at Stockton

11/23/07 Alaska at Stockton

12/11/07 Stockton at Alaska

01/09/07 Stockton at Alaska

01/11/08 Stockton at Alaska

01/12/08 Stockton at Alaska

02/16/08 Alaska at Stockton

02/17/08 Alaska at Stockton

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Chris Cichocki is 11 wins shy of 200 in his ECHL coaching career

- Brandon Schwartz is 3 games shy of 100 in his professional career

KEY TRANSACTIONS THUNDER - Brad Farynuk (D) - recalled to Springfield (AHL)

THUNDER - Geoff Paukovich (C) - placed on 3-day injured reserve

ACES - Chris Beckford-Tseu (G) - recalled to Peoria (AHL)

ACES - Matt Shasby (D) - placed on 30-day injured reserve

ACES - Vladimir Novak (C) - placed on 30-day injured reserve

ACES - Olivier Filion (C) - placed on 3-day injured reserve

WEDNESDAY'S MATCHUP

Aiming to recover after a rough week which entailed a four-game winless streak (0-3-1), the Thunder squares-off against the Alaska Aces for the second time this season after both teams opened up the Stockton Arena home schedule this season in a thrilling 3-2 overtime win for the Thunder's home crowd. Alaska has ripped off three wins in a row and is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games, standing one point behind Victoria for the best record in the National Conference.

LAST GAME RECAP

Behind goaltender Glenn Fisher's 27 saves, the Thunder ended a three-game losing streak in regulation as Dylan Yeo's game-winning goal with three minutes left in overtime gave the Victoria Salmon Kings a 2-1 overtime win over the Thunder, before 4,415 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Saturday. Billy Thompson made 41 saves in net to help guide Victoria to their ninth win in 10 games. Brandon Schwartz scored the only Thunder goal in the second period and the Thunder outshot Victoria 42-29.

FAN-DEMONIUM

The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance through three games with an average of 7,708fans per game this year, totaling 30,832 at the turnstiles. A November 3 tilt against the Idaho Steelheads, part of "Thunder Goes Pink II," was the first sellout of the year at Stockton Arena with a total of 9,737 fans. The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans (an average of 6,780) to Stockton Arena in 2006-07.

FARYNUK NAMED THUNDER'S 2ND CAPTAIN Defenseman Brad Farynuk was named the second captain in Thunder history today and is currently on recall to the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. In his place, Brandon Schwartz was named "acting" captain and will wear the "C," serving in Farynuk's place while serving time in Springfield. Serving as assistant captains are Schwartz and defenseman Beau Geisler, while Phil Cole will serve as an additional assistant captain with Farynuk on recall. Dean Stork was the team's first captain in 2005-06 and the Thunder did not name a captain in 2006-07.

FEATURE FLIK

Rookie forward Jacob Micflikier has emerged with 12 points (4g-8a) in his last nine games, jumping into the team's scoring lead and tying for third among all ECHL rookies in scoring with 15 points (4g-11a) - pacing four points back of Dayton's Matt Beaudoin. Micflikier, out of the University of New Hampshire (NCAA), has posted four multi-point games this season.

MAN DOWN? NO PROBLEM

The Thunder is tied for first in the ECHL with five shorthanded goals and is just four shy of the modern-club record of nine (set in 2006-07). After recent penalty-kill troubles in a three-game series against the Phoenix RoadRunners that left the Thunder surrendering eight power-play goals, the Thunder stumped the league's top-ranked power-play unit in the Victoria Salmon Kings with a perfect 12-for-12 in penalty-kill efforts for the last two games. Five different players have registered a shorthanded goal on Stockton's squad, with Ryan MacMurchy tallying the most recent shortie in last Friday's loss at Victoria.

ABOUT THE ACES

The Alaska Aces are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's St. Louis Blues and the AHL's Peoria Rivermen and are in their fifth season of ECHL play. The Aces' Kelly Cup championship in 2005-06 helped them become the second team to win a professional sports championship in the state, and the first since 1980. Entering his first behind the bench is head coach Keith McCambridge, a former 11-year defenseman who wrapped up his career with the Aces in 2005-06 and now takes over for the departed Davis Payne, who accepted a coaching position with the Rivermen. Alaska has six players remaining on its Kelly Cup championship squad, including center Kimbi Daniels, who has 770 games of professional playing experience.



ECHL Stories from November 21, 2007


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