Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Bakersfield Condors

Published on December 29, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder faces the Bakersfield Condors in the fifth meeting of the season between both teams at Stockton Arena, marking the first home game for the Thunder since Dec. 5. Both teams face each other 12 times for the 2009-10 season and in the last meeting, the Thunder defeated the Condors 3-1 at Rabobank Arena on Dec. 26. Stockton carries at lifetime record of 14-14-8 against Bakersfield and leads the season series, 3-1-0. With the exception of nine games against the Idaho Steelheads, the Thunder owns an 11-6-2 record this year against the rest of its ECHL schedule.

LAST 3 THUNDER GAMES

STK 3 - BAK 1 (12/26/09): Goaltender Bryan Pitton made 41 saves, one off his career-high, to help the Thunder sink the Bakersfield Condors in a 3-1 victory before a crowd of 6,570 at Rabobank Arena on Saturday night. The win, which capped a seven-game road trip for the Thunder 4-3-0, gave Bakersfield their first loss at home since October 30, snapping a 10-game win streak. The Thunder received goal scoring support from Chris D'Alvise, Kelly Czuy, and an empty net goal from Igor Gongalsky. Stephane Goulet scored the only goal for Bakersfield.

VIC 4 - STK 3 (12/19/09): The Victoria Salmon Kings survived a two-goal comeback and a late 6-on-5 skating situation by the Thunder, sneaking by Stockton, 4-3 and mounting a three-game sweep before 4,051 fans at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Saturday night. The Salmon Kings, who won their tenth in a row at home and sixth overall, sent the Thunder to a 3-3-0 record on the current road trip which wraps up Saturday at Bakersfield. The Thunder received goal scoring support from Jason Pitton, Judd Blackwater and Daryl Marcoux, nearly tying the game in the last seconds on a 6-on-5 skating situation. Randall Gelech scored the eventual game-winner in the second period.

VIC 2 - STK 0 (12/18/09): Goaltender David Shantz outdueled Andrew Perugini by making 30 saves for his second shutout of the season, helping the Victoria Salmon Kings slip by the Thunder, 2-0 before an announced crowd of 3,675 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday. Shantz, a 2007 ECHL All-Star selection formerly with the Florida Everblades, stopped 13 shots poured on by Stockton in the final period and helped solidify the win with a point-blank save on Matt Robinson in the waning seconds. Jimmy Sharrow and Andy Brandt (empty-netter) scored for Victoria and the Thunder were held to without a goal for the second time this season. Perugini made 32 saves in the losing cause, earning second star of the game honors.

SERIES IN A NUTSHELL

Stockton leads the season series, 3-1-0... in the fourth meeting of the year, a 41-save effort by Bryan Pitton helped the Thunder knock off Bakersfield, 3-1 at Rabobank Arena on Dec. 26... Stockton defeated Bakersfield, 6-5 in overtime on Dec. 4 for their first win at home against Bakersfield since Feb. 1, 2008, breaking a five-game winless streak at Stockton Arena (0-4-1)... following a 3-2 loss to the Condors at Rabobank Arena on Nov. 10, the Thunder swept a two-game series over the Condors at Stockton Arena on Dec. 4-5 - J.F. Caudron scored back-to-back game-winners in overtime (6-5 on Dec. 4 and 3-2 on Dec. 5)... Brett Hemingway and Matt Robinson combined for three goals in their Thunder debut on Dec. 4.

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.

WELCOME MATT

Thunder left winger Matt Robinson was named Sher-wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week on Tuesday, Dec. 15 and had a six-game scoring streak with 10 points (7g-3a) in that span, ending Dec. 16 at Victoria. Since Robinson signed with the Thunder as a free agent on Dec. 2, he has seven points (6g-1a) in seven games with Stockton.

THUNDER ALL-TIME ECHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS

Date awarded

1. Joel Irwin March 14, 2006

2. Mathieu Melanson March 13, 2007

3. Brock Radunske March 27, 2007

4. Cory Urquhart January 14, 2009

5. Mike Lalonde January 23, 2009

6. Matt Robinson December 15, 2009

THUNDER CROWDS ROLLING IN

The Thunder is second in ECHL attendance with an average of 5,874 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).

POWER TRIP

The Thunder power-play leads the ECHL at 23.4 percent (32-for-137) and is the top unit on the road this season, converting at 26.8 percent (19-for-71). Last Saturday, the Thunder went 1-for-3 on the power-play against Bakersfield. Judd Blackwater has seven power-play goals, leading the Thunder and currently tied for first in the ECHL.

HEMMER HITS A MILESTONE

Brett Hemingway, picked up by the Thunder as a free agent on Dec. 1 and scoring seven points (2g-5a) in six games since that date, has hit two milestones recently in a Thunder uniform. His three point (1g-2a) effort against the Alaska Aces on Dec. 11 at Sullivan Arena helped him eclipse the 100 point mark in his pro career and an assist on Dec. 16 at Victoria helped him surpass 100 points in his entire pro career.

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