Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Alaska Aces

January 24, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


January 24, 2009 - Stockton Arena

FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RADIO: None

INTERNET: www.StocktonThunder.com (B2 Networks)

2008-09 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

11/28/08 Alaska 3 at Stockton 4

12/31/08 Stockton 2 at Alaska 3 (OT)

1/2/09 Stockton 4 at Alaska 1

1/3/09 Stockton 2 at Alaska 1 (OT)

1/24/09 Alaska 7:30 p.m.

2/4/09 Alaska 7:00 p.m.

MILESTONE TRACKER

- Ryan MacMurchy is 1 game away from 100 in his professional career

- Matt O'Dette is 14 points away from 100 and 14 PIM's away from 900 in his ECHL career

- Damian Surma is 7 assists away from 100 in his pro career

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder host the Alaska Aces at Stockton Arena for the second time this season on Saturday, marking the fifth overall meeting between both clubs this year. The Thunder is 10-13-5 in the lifetime matchup vs. Alaska with five wins coming in sudden-death overtime in the last two seasons. The Thunder finished with a record of 5-5-0 vs. Alaska in 2007-08. The teams last met on Jan. 3 with the Thunder defeating the Aces 2-1 in OT at Sullivan Arena. The Thunder is 3-0-1 against Alaska this season.

TONIGHT'S GUEST

The Stockton Thunder welcomes staff from the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League to tonight's game, attended by Oilers assistant coach Charlie Huddy.

OIL-SLICK WEEKEND

Tonight ends back-to-back games where the Thunder will salute its National Hockey League affiliate, the Edmonton Oilers, by suiting up in Oilers home (midnight blue and copper) Reebok EDGE jerseys. After tonight's game, the Thunder is scheduled to host a live "Jersey Off Our Back" auction presented by Comcast & 104.1 The Hawk where all fans are invited to bid on each game-worn jersey by the Thunder players, which will be facilitated on the ice surface of Stockton Arena.

Reebok EDGE jerseys are designed and created by Reebok Hockey, the official equipment supplier of the ECHL. Worn by every National Hockey League team since 2007-08 and used in the ECHL All-Star Game since 2006-07, the Reebok EDGE jersey was introduced as a new uniform system designed to assist players in repealing moisture and enhanced mobility.

LAST THREE THUNDER GAMES

1/23/09 - PHX 4 at STK 1: Craig Kowalski made 33 saves while Kimbi Daniels and Ashton Rome both scored a goal and an assist to help the Phoenix RoadRunners snap the Stockton Thunder's (17-18-5, 39 points) eight-game unbeaten streak in regulation, in a 4-1 Thunder loss before 5,745 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday. The Thunder, who outshot Phoenix 34-18 and lost in regulation for the first time under head coach Matt Thomas (7-1-1), were aided by a goal from veteran center Cory Urquhart in his return to the lineup after the ECHL All-Star Game. Phoenix won for just the sixth time in 23 lifetime meetings against the Thunder and notched its third lifetime win in four seasons at Stockton Arena.

1/18/09 - IDA 3 at STK 4 (OT): All-Star forward Ryan Huddy scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner just 27 seconds into sudden-death overtime, to lift the Stockton Thunder (17-17-5, 39 points) to a come-from-behind 4-3 OT win over the Idaho Steelheads before 4,658 at Stockton Arena on Sunday. The Thunder won their seventh game in a row in the finale before the ECHL All-Star break and are now 7-0-1 since Dec. 31 under Head Coach Matt Thomas, who were aided by a goal each from Ryan Constant and James Bates. Goaltender Bryan Pitton made 23 saves and the win moved his record to 9-10-2. Idaho received a goal each from Marty Flichel, Bryan McGregor and Mark Bomersback.

1/17/09 - IDA 3 AT STK 4: Igor Gongalsky scored a pair of goals and goaltender Andrew Perugini made 27 saves to lift the Stockton Thunder (16-17-5, 37 points) to their sixth straight victory, 4-3 over the Idaho Steelheads on "Teddy Bear Toss Night," before a crowd of 7,884 at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. Gongalsky was aided by goals from Mike Lalonde and Ryan Huddy, who increased his goal-scoring streak to five consecutive games. Idaho received goals from Marty Flichel, Darrell Hay and Mark Bomersback, who fell for the third time in five games. Stockton improved to 6-0-1 in its first seven games under Head Coach Matt Thomas. Gongalsky's first period goal triggered the Stockton Arena crowd to shower the ice with stuffed animals, to be donated to the United Way of San Joaquin County. In the past three years of the event hosted by the Thunder, there have been 11,000 stuffed animals donated for the cause.

THUNDER STRIKES AT READING'S ALL-STAR GAME

The Thunder were well represented at the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game in Reading, as veteran center Cory Urquhart scored a first period goal and was one of five goal scorers for the National Conference, who were defeated 11-5 by the American Conference at the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Guardian Wear before 5,693 at Sovereign Center. Urquhart ripped a one-timer past goaltender Kris Mayotte of Johnstown with 2:07 left in the first period on a feed by Alaska Aces forward Colin Hemingway, capping off a three-goal first period for the National Conference. The Thunder were also represented on the ice by rookie forward Ryan Huddy, who registered a team-leading seven shots-on-goal.

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas was behind the National Conference bench for the second ECHL All-Star coaching honor of his career.

In Tuesday's Skills Competition, Urquhart hit 3-of-9 targets (Ryan Cruthers of Mississippi and Kevin Baker of Florida) and hit a 1-for-1 mark in the tie-breaker event to defeat both players and win the individual Accuracy Shooting competition. Urquhart, who served as an alternate captain for the National Conference team, helped guide the National Conference to its fourth victory in five seasons in the Skills Competition.

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,919 through 14 home games, has 13 sellouts in the team's franchise history and finished last year as the ECHL's attendance leader for the third consecutive season. It was the second straight year the Thunder surpassed the mark of 230,000 fans for one season. The Thunder's yearly attendance total finished at 239,337, an average of 6,648 fans per game. The Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for three straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons). Stockton's crowd of 9,737 on Nov. 8 against Victoria was the team's first sellout of the year.

STEP UP TO THE MIKE

Returning to the lineup this season is left wing Mike Lalonde, who is the Thunder all-time leading goal scorer with 63 goals and ascended to the top perch as the Thunder all-time leading scorer with 133 points, scoring the milestone point on a goal on Dec. 21 at Ontario. Selected as the first player in Thunder history to the ECHL All-Star Game (2006), Lalonde led the ECHL with 308 shots and paced the Thunder with 29 goals as a rookie in 2005-06. Lalonde spent last season with Tilburg of the Netherlands League, guiding his team to the Dutch Cup and scoring 92 points (43g-49a) in just 34 games.

Below is a look at Lalonde's placing on the Thunder career scoring charts:

GOALS:

1. Mike Lalonde 63

2. Nathan Martz 29

Steve Slonina 29

3. Tim Verbeek 28

Ryan MacMurchy 28

POINTS

1. Mike Lalonde 133

2. Nathan Martz 122

3. Joel Irwin 68

4. Stephane Goulet 63

5. Ryan MacMurchy 55

STREAK UPDATE: Lalonde returned to the Thunder lineup on Jan. 16 and has scored eight points (3g-5a) in his last four games. His four point effort (2g-2a) on Jan. 16 vs. Las Vegas tied a career-high for scoring.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING "I think we have a lot of confidence in our team right now, and even when we're down we can come back and win," Huddy said. "The whole game we thought we were going to win."

- Thunder all-star forward Ryan Huddy after a 4-3 OT comeback win vs. Idaho, The Record, 1/19/08

"Well, we were getting a little tired and decided to jump in," Pitton said with a smile. "It looked like a big sofa."

- Goaltender Bryan Pitton after assisting the Thunder and the United Way of San Joaquin County for "Teddy Bear Toss Night" with gathering of stuffed animals for local charity, The Record, 1/23/08



ECHL Stories from January 24, 2009


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.

OurSports Central