
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
- Texas Tops Corpus Christi 5-4 - Texas Wildcatters
- Steelheads Topped By Salmon Kings 4-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Chiefs beat Inferno 4-2 - Columbia Inferno
- Chiefs Douse Inferno - Johnstown Chiefs
- 'Blades remain perfect at home after 4- 2 win over Ice Pilots - Florida Everblades
- Ice Pilots Play Tight Game with Everblades but Lose 4-2 - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Collins First Goal Lifts Nailers Over Dayton - Wheeling Nailers
- Royals Drop Another Nail Biter To Trenton, 3-2 - Reading Royals
- Checkers Double Up Stingrays 4-2 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Flames Call For Cracknell - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Royals Sign Forward Chris Bala - Reading Royals
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Checkers Add Adam Nightingale - Charlotte Checkers
- Four More Pink In The Rink Jerseys Up For Auction - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Phoenix's Covington Suspended One Game - ECHL
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Alaska Aces - Stockton Thunder
- Inaugural ECHL Hall Of Fame Class Announced - ECHL
- Farynuk Named Second Captain In Thunder History - Stockton Thunder
- Salmon Kings Add Defenseman - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Nailers Sign NHL Tough Guy - Wheeling Nailers
- Jackals' LaCosta Named Rbk Hockey Goalie Of The Week - ECHL
- Stingrays vs. Checkers Tonight at 7:05 pm - South Carolina Stingrays
- 'Blades sign Coalter to contract - Florida Everblades
- Damon named ECHL Player of the Week - Florida Everblades
- Grizzlies Teddy Bear Toss December 1 - Utah Grizzlies
- Florida's Damon Named In Glas Co Player Of The Week - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Wranglers Squash Roadrunners, Win Seventh Straight - Las Vegas Wranglers
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.
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