Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Alaska Aces

January 11, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 8:15 p.m. PT

RADIO: 1420-AM KSTN

INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

RECORDS:

Stockton Thunder (15-16-2, 32 points) - 3rd, Pacific

Alaska Aces (18-11-4, 40 points) - 3rd, West

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 3 at Stockton 4

12/11/07 Stockton 2 at Alaska 5

12/12/07 Stockton 4 at Alaska 3 (OT)

01/09/07 Stockton 5 at Alaska 4 (OT)

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

o Chris Cichocki is 2 wins shy of 200 in his ECHL coaching career

o Spencer Carbery is 9 games away from 100 in his professional career

o Andy Contois is 24 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Adam Huxley is 8 games away from 200 in his professional and ECHL career

o Brad Farynuk is 9 games shy of 100 in his professional career

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder returns to play tonight in the midst of a three-game series at Sullivan Arena against the Alaska Aces, where the Aces are 69-13-7 over the last three seasons. The Thunder has a 4-2-0 record this season against the Aces and has won the last two games at Sullivan Arena in the season series, both coming in sudden-death overtime. One more win against Alaska this season guarantees the Thunder no worse than a .500 mark in the 2007-08 season series.

LAST GAME RECAP

Rookie David Rohlfs scored 40 seconds into sudden-death overtime to complete a two-goal comeback and help lift the Thunder to a dramatic 5-4 comeback victory in overtime against the host Alaska Aces before 3,632 at Sullivan Arena on Wednesday night. The Thunder battled back from two separate two-goal deficits and was led in scoring by former Ace right wing Ryan MacMurchy, who tied a career-high four point (1g-3a) effort in his first game back at Sullivan Arena in a visiting uniform since being acquired by the Thunder in an October trade with the Elmira Jackals.

BIG MAC ATTACK

Thunder right wing Ryan MacMurchy returned to familiar territory as a former member of the Alaska Aces, his first return trip to Sullivan Arena since the Thunder acquired him in October from the Elmira Jackals and tied a career-high four-point game (1g-3a) in Wednesday's win for the Thunder, set just three days prior when he registered the first hat trick of his career in a 5-2 win vs. Bakersfield and added an assist. MacMurchy is scoring over a point-per-game pace with 22 points (11g-11a) in 19 games, ranking third on the Thunder in scoring and tied for the team lead in goals.

THE CAPTAIN COMES BACK

Thunder captain and all-star defenseman Brad Farynuk, recently summoned back to the American Hockey League on his third recall of the season with the Springfield Falcons, was reassigned to the Thunder on January 7. In 24 games with the Thunder this season, the Stockton captain has three goals and 12 assists for 15 points and has been named to participate in the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game at Stockton Arena.

CICHOCKI CLOSE TO MILESTONE

Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki needs just two wins to reach 200 for his coaching career and carries a lifetime record of 197-202-65 in seven seasons having previously coached Arkansas and Cincinnati. Currently in his third year as Thunder head coach, Cichocki has served as a coach at the ECHL All-Star Game three times, tying a league record shared by Gwinnett's Jeff Pyle, Las Vegas' Glen Gulutzan and former Alaska Aces head coach Davis Payne.

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 several players remaining on its Kelly Cup championship squad, including center Kimbi Daniels, who has over 700 games of professional playing experience.



ECHL Stories from January 11, 2008


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