Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Bakersfield Condors

Published on December 5, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder faces the Bakersfield Condors in the third meeting of the season between both teams at Stockton Arena, ending a five-game homestand for the Thunder. Both teams face each other 12 times for the 2009-10 season and in the last meeting, the Thunder defeated the Condors in overtime, 6-5 at Stockton Arena on Dec. 4. Stockton carries at lifetime record of 12-14-8 against Bakersfield. Bakersfield leads the Pacific Division with a seven-game unbeaten streak in regulation (6-0-1). With the exception of nine games against the Idaho Steelheads, the Thunder owns a 6-3-2 record this year against the rest of its ECHL schedule.

LAST 3 THUNDER GAMES

STK 6 - BAK 5 (OT) (12/4/09): Right winger J.F. Caudron capped a four-point effort (2g-2a) with a game-winning goal just 52 seconds into sudden death overtime, lifting the Thunder to a wild, 6-5 overtime victory over the Bakersfield Condors before 5,104 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. Caudron and Oren Eizenman (2g-2a) had four points each to lead the Thunder in a season-high six-goal effort, while newcomers Brett Hemingway and Matt Robinson each scored in their Thunder debut. Goaltender Bryan Pitton stopped 41 shots for the win.

IDH 5 - STK 1 (11/28/09): Ashton Rome collected a hat trick and goaltender Richard Bachman made 27 saves to help the Idaho Steelheads sweep the Thunder in a three-game series for a 5-1 decision before 6,011 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. The Thunder, who despite carry a 5-3-2 record against its ECHL schedule sans Idaho (who have won nine in a row against the Thunder this year), received its only goal from Judd Blackwater in the first period. Evan Barlow and Mathieu Tousignant also scored for the Steelheads, who carry the league's best record at 16-3-1.

IDH 1 - STK 0 (11/27/09): Goaltender Rejean Beauchemin secured the fourth shutout of his pro career with 27 saves and outdueled counterpart Bryan Pitton, as the Idaho Steelheads edged the Thunder, 1-0 before 4,790 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. Idaho, who boasts the league's leading defense with 2.3 goals per game allowed, won their eighth straight over the Thunder in the season's head-to-head series on John Swanson's eventual game-winning goal just 1:10 into the final period. Pitton kept the Thunder in the game with 29 saves.

THUNDER REWARDS S.A.T. EXAM TAKERS TONIGHT

The Thunder and Stockton Unified School District have once again joined forces, continuing a program started last year designed to encourage students to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Just as last year, any high school senior within SUSD who takes the SAT exam this Saturday will receive a free ticket voucher to the Thunder vs. Bakersfield Condors game tonight at Stockton Arena. Last year, more than 1,200 seniors took advantage of this opportunity, as over 70% of eligible seniors within the district took the exam, to lead all districts in California on test day. Through SUSD's initiative, every high school senior will have the opportunity to take the SAT exam this year, free-of-charge, for a savings of $45 on the standard SAT "reasoning exam."

ONE IN A MILLION

The Thunder named Kim Cuevas of Stockton the winner of its "One Millionth Fan" award on Dec. 4 against Bakersfield. The contest began on Oct. 23 in the official countdown to search for one millionth fan to cross the turnstiles of Stockton Arena in the Thunder's five year history. Cuevas was selected as fans entered Stockton Arena before last night's game and was awarded an array of prizes, including a vacation stay at Yosemite Lodge (Yosemite National Park), 2010-11 season tickets and an Amtrak train trip to Salt Lake City to see the Thunder face the Utah Grizzlies.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLLING IN

The Thunder leads ECHL attendance with an average of 5,914 fans per game and is vying to tie a league record by leading the league in attendance for five straight seasons. The Thunder led the ECHL in attendance last year with an average of 6,218 fans through 36 home games. Stockton has 14 sellouts in the team's franchise history and drew a standing room only crowd of 9,392 on Nov. 8 vs. Alaska. Last year, the Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for four straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons - 2000-05).

SMASHING DEBUTS

The Thunder roster experienced a change comprising of eight transactions in a three-day span, producing offensively-fueled debuts on Dec. 4 for former Alaska Aces forwards Brett Hemingway (1 goal) and Matt Robinson (1 goal), who were signed as free agents and defensemen Anthony Aiello and Justin Dacosta (2 assists), who were acquired in trades with Florida and Utah, respectively, on Dec. 2. Additionally, Hemingway was on the ice for J.F. Caudron's game-winning goal at 52 seconds of sudden-death overtime.

THUNDER BOOMS IN "THE SHOW"

Last Saturday, goaltender Devan Dubnyk became the seventh player to suit up in a Thunder uniform and advance to make his NHL debut. Dubnyk represented the Thunder in the 2007 ECHL All-Star Game and set Thunder single-season records for wins (24), minutes played (2,529), lowest goals-against-average (2.56) and save percentage (.921) in 2006-07. He made his debut against the Vancouver Canucks. It came one day after Colin McDonald became the sixth player to don a Thunder uniform and eventually make his NHL debut, against San Jose.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"You don't necessarily expect players to come in and do this in their first game, but it's great the new guys came out and contributed," Thomas said. "And Caudron has been here a few games and he had a great game. It's just one game, but we needed this."

- Head coach Matt Thomas after the Thunder 6-5 overtime win vs. Bakersfield, The Record, 12/5/09

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