Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Alaska Aces

Published on January 28, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Saturday, January 28, 2012

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

RADIO: 1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)/92.5 FM (in-house feed)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks

Alaska Aces: St. Louis Blues

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight's Promotion: YOUTH BLACK REPLICA JERSEY (presented by Financial Center Credit Union, Instant Tax Service, 97.7/98.3 KWIN and Recordnet.com)

National Anthem Singer: Venture Academy

Public Address Announcer: Mike McKnight

In-Arena Emcee: Jungle Jim

NEXT HOME GAME

Sunday, Jan. 29 vs. Alaska Aces, 4:00 p.m.

FAMILY DAY (presented by Sutter Gould Medical Foundation)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder hosts the defending Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces for a three game series to be played in three straight days, continuing tonight at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 22-24-14 all time against the Aces and tonight's game marks the sixth game of ten this season between both teams. The Thunder defeated Alaska, 6-3 last evening at Stockton Arena. The series will feature two of the league's top three goal scorers in the last five years - Kevin Baker (Stockton) and Wes Goldie (Alaska). Tonight's game continues a string where the Thunder plays at home for five of six games. Stockton is 4-1-1 at home since Dec. 30.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder: 1-4-0)

Wed. Nov. 23 Alaska 4 at Stockton 1

Thur. Jan. 12 Stockton 0 at Alaska 3

Fri. Jan. 13 Stockton 1 at Alaska 3

Sat. Jan. 14 Stockton 2 at Alaska 4

Fri. Jan. 27 Alaska 3 at Stockton 6

Sat. Jan. 28 Alaska 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 29 Alaska 4:00 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 2 Alaska 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar.3 Alaska 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 4 Alaska 4:00 p.m.

LAST THREE GAMES:

STK 6 - AK 3 (1/27/12): Veterans Kevin Baker (2g-1a) and Matt Foy (1g-2a) each scored three points while goaltender Alex Stalock made 24 saves to lift the Stockton Thunder (19-18-4, 42 points) to a 6-3 victory over the Alaska Aces before 5,829 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The Thunder improved to 4-2-0 in the last six games and halted a six game losing skid to Alaska, dating back to last season. In his return to the lineup, Milan Kytnar earned two assists while Chris D'Alvise collected an assist in his season debut. Matt Reber scored a goal and Max Campbell collected two points (1g-1a) in their home debut with the Thunder.

STK 0 - IDH 1 (1/25/12): Jerry Kuhn turned away all 36 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season, outdueling Olivier Roy and helping the Idaho Steelheads send the Stockton Thunder (18-18-4, 40 points) to a 1-0 defeat at Century Link Arena on Wednesday. The Thunder, playing their fifth game in six days, settled for a two game series split in spite of Roy's 30 saves, including 16 in the third period. Kuhn kept the Thunder at bay with a series of close range saves including a dramatic game-saving stop on Kevin Baker at the right post with 15 seconds left in regulation. Matt Case's second period goal stood as the game winner.

STK 4 - IDH 1 (1/24/12): Goaltender Alex Stalock made 29 saves and Ian O'Connor scored a pair of goals to lift the Stockton Thunder (18-17-4, 40 points) to a 4-1 victory over the host Idaho Steelheads at Century Link Arena on Tuesday. Behind an attack of four unanswered goals, Stockton moved into sole possession of fifth place in the Western Conference with its third consecutive win and improved to 5-1-1 in Boise since 2009-10, benefiting from additional goals by Garet Hunt and Jordan Fulton.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Matt Thomas is 10 wins away from 300 in his professional coaching career

- Kevin Baker is 20 goals away from 200 in his professional career

- Matt Foy is 11 points away from 200 in his professional career

- Chris D'Alvise is 15 points away from 100 in his Thunder career

PUTTING OUT THE WELCOME MAT

In their home debut last night, new Thunder forwards Matt Reber (goal) and Max Campbell (goal and assist) each got in the scoresheet in a 6-3 Thunder win against Alaska. Additionally, center Chris D'Alvise, assigned from Springfield on Thursday and named Thunder Rookie of the Year in 2009-10, collected an assist in his season debut. Milan Kytnar also makes his first return to the Thunder lineup since making his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers on Jan. 11 and put up two assists and a +1 rating.

THUNDER BOOMING AGAIN

In the last six games, the Thunder have blasted through with 25 goals, including seven in last Saturday's 7-5 victory over Las Vegas where they poured on a season high 43 shots on goal. In the game, the Thunder came within two goals of tying a Thunder record of nine goals set in one game (Dec. 10 vs. Bakersfield). Last night, they put together a 3-of-6 effort on the power play.

GOAL ORIENTED

Thunder right winger Kevin Baker was signed as a free agent on Aug. 24 and brings a wealth of offensive accomplishments to the Thunder roster. He was named ECHL Most Valuable Player in 2008-09 and his 57 goals that season were most in the league since 2000-01. He ranks third in ECHL all-time goal scoring (since 2006-07) with 168 goals. On Dec. 10 vs. Bakersfield, he collected his first hat trick of the season.

MOST GOALS, ECHL (SINCE 2006-07)

Rank Player Team GP PTS G A +/-

1 Wes Goldie AK 445 441 266 175 7

2 Mark Derlago IDH 281 340 174 166 41

3 Kevin Baker STK 307 341 168 173 13

4 Marty Flichel IDH 382 358 131 227 -8

5 Chad Painchaud CHI 333 314 131 183 -18

** Statistics include regular season and playoffs

CHRIS CONTROL

Chris D'Alvise enters his third season with the Thunder ranking fourth on the team's all time scoring chart with 85 points. He was named Thunder Rookie of the Year in 2009-10 and has collected four hat tricks in less than two full seasons in the ECHL. Below is where D'Alvise ranks on the Thunder all time scoring list:

ALL TIME THUNDER SCORING

Player PTS

1. Mike Lalonde 156

2. Nathan Martz 122

3. James Bates 121

4. Chris D'Alvise 85

5. Ryan Huddy 73

HUNTING DOWN A MILESTONE

Thunder left winger Garet Hunt has surpassed Mark Adamek as the club's career leader in games played. Hunt is in his fourth season as a member of the Thunder and last season, was named the team's "Unsung Hero" and "Fan Favorite." This season, he was named alternate captain on Oct. 13. He played in his 200th career game with the Thunder on Dec. 16 vs. Idaho.

ALL-TIME THUNDER GAMES PLAYED

Player GP

1. Garet Hunt 212

2. Mark Adamek 186

3. Adam Huxley 183

4. Mike Lalonde 182

5. Daryl Marcoux 166

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

An exclusive club, the Thunder averaged over 6,000 fans per game and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth straight year in 2010-11, ranking second in ECHL in attendance with 6,382 fans per game. A whopping crowd of 9,482 piled into Stockton Arena on Jan. 22 for the "Teddy Bear Toss" game, the largest crowd at Stockton Arena for the season and the fourth crowd over 9,000 in the event's history. Stockton has 17 sellouts in the team's franchise history. They welcomed 12 crowds of 7,000 or more at Stockton Arena last season and had its highest attendance since 2007-08, a six percent increase from 2009-10.

The Thunder is third in ECHL attendance with an average of 5,703 fans per game.

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