
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
- Grizzles drop 3-1 contest versus Idaho - Utah Grizzlies
- Royals rocked in roller coaster loss to Wheeling, 7-4 - Reading Royals
- OT goal caps hard fought game for Rays - South Carolina Stingrays
- Pilots Lose Hard Fought Game with Gwinnett 3-1 - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Briggs stand tall in Steelheads 3-1 win over Grizzlies - Idaho Steelheads
- Nailers score season-high seven - Wheeling Nailers
- Chiefs thump Jackals - Johnstown Chiefs
- Checkers shutout by Inferno - Charlotte Checkers
- Everblades hand Lynx 6-1 loss on Friday - Florida Everblades
- Early deficit sinks Elmira in 4-3 loss - Elmira Jackals
- 'Blades rebound to silence the Lynx in 6-1 win - Florida Everblades
- Gladiators beat Ice Pilots, 3-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Inferno burn Checkers 5-0 - Columbia Inferno
- Bombers see double in 5-2 win over Trenton - Dayton Bombers
- Devils drop to Bombers 5-2 - Trenton Devils
- Idaho acquires Matt Zabo from the New York Rangers - Idaho Steelheads
- Kowalski Reassigned to Gwinnett from AHL Syracuse - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL and the Wranglers Would Like Your Feedback - Las Vegas Wranglers
- ECHL and the Bakersfield Condors would like your feedback - Bakersfield Condors
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Royals Bring Back Larry Courville - Reading Royals
- Dave McKee Loaned To AHL Grand Rapids - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Take a Break with the Bombers - Dayton Bombers
- Wildcatters Take Shot at History Tonight - Texas Wildcatters
- Halak Named Rbk Hockey/AHL Player of the Week - ECHL
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Alaska Aces - Stockton Thunder
- Salmon King Heads For Manitoba - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Stingrays Featured as ECHL Game of the Week - South Carolina Stingrays
- Jackals Roster Grows With Pair Of Division Battles Looming - Elmira Jackals
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Checkers To Unveil New Primary Logo - Charlotte Checkers
- Mystery Yosemite, Fresno Falcons To Make History At Yosemite National Park - Fresno Falcons
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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