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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Alaska Aces

November 23, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m. PT

RADIO: 1420-AM KSTN

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 8 at Stockton 5

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

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

¡ñ Brandon Schwartz is 2 games shy of 100 in his professional career

TONIGHT¡¯S MATCHUP

The Thunder aims for its first win in over two weeks with tonight¡¯s game against the Alaska Aces at Stockton Arena, searching to break a five-game winless skid (0-4-1). Both teams are battling a roster shortage due to callups and injuries ¨C the Thunder skated 15 players on Wednesday, while Alaska had only 14. Alaska has ripped off four wins in a row and is 8-2-0 in its last 10 games, standing one point behind Victoria and Las Vegas for the best record in the National Conference. Rookies Jacob Micflikier and Geoff Paukovich have scored three points (1g-2a) each to lead the Thunder in scoring for the head-to-head season series.

LAST GAME RECAP

Defenseman Corbin Schmidt scored two power-play goals and left winger Matt Robinson tallied a goal and added two assists to lift the Alaska Aces to an 8-5 victory over the Thunder in front of a crowd of 5,118 fans at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night. Jacob Micflikier tallied three points (1g-2a) on the night, tying a career-high. Alaska rallied from a 2-0 deficit, with both teams combining for 13 goals, a new Thunder record (both teams scored 12 in a 7-5 Alaska win on 4/5/06).

FARYNUK NAMED THUNDER¡¯S 2ND CAPTAIN

Defenseman Brad Farynuk was named the second captain in Thunder history on Wednesday 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 15 points (5g-10a) in his last 10 games, jumping into a tie for ninth in ECHL scoring with 18 points (5g-13a) ¨C pacing four points back of Dayton¡¯s Yannick Tifu. Micflikier, out of the University of New Hampshire (NCAA), has posted five multi-point games this season.

FAN-DEMONIUM

The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance through three games with an average of 7,190 fans per game this year, totaling 35,950 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.

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 771 games of professional playing experience.

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