Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Bakersfield Condors

January 10, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder faces the Bakersfield Condors in the seventh meeting of the season between both teams at Stockton Arena on Sunday. Tonight's game will mark the beginning of a club record 11-game homestand and a stretch of 12 of the next 14 games at the home confines of Stockton Arena. Both teams face each other 12 times for the 2009-10 season and in the last meeting, the Condors defeated the Thunder, 6-4 at Rabobank Arena on Friday. Stockton carries at lifetime record of 15-15-8 against Bakersfield and leads the season series, 4-2-0. With the exception of 12 games against the Idaho Steelheads, the Thunder owns an 12-7-2 record this year against the rest of its ECHL schedule.

AS GOOD AS GOLD

As part of today's Replica Jersey Giveaway (first 2,000 kids in attendance) the Thunder are scheduled to sport their third jersey, the first of its kind added to the team's uniform scheme. Based in the Thunder's gold color, the jersey features white bolts with a black trim on the front and back of the shoulders and extending to the arms along with a dominant black colored trim on the shoulders and arms. The jersey additionally pays tribute to a classic hockey look by featuring tie-down laces at the base of the collar.

UPCOMING THUNDER THIRD JERSEY SCHEDULE

Sun. Jan. 10 vs. Bakersfield 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 17 vs. Ontario 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 24 vs. Bakersfield 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 31 vs. Alaska 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 21 vs. Utah 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 28 vs. Las Vegas 4:00 p.m.

LAST 3 THUNDER GAMES

BAK 6 - STK 4 (1/8/10): Shawn Weller tallied a four-point effort (2g-2a) to help lead a four-goal third period comeback by the Bakersfield Condors, sending the Thunder to a 6-4 defeat before 6,005 fans at Rabobank Arena on Friday night. The Thunder, who lost a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes and finished a four-game road trip at 2-2-0 before a season-long 11-game homestand, each received goal-scoring support from Chris D'Alvise, Igor Gongalsky, Ryan Constant and Jamie Bates. Former Thunder forward Stephane Goulet pitched in with a three-point (2g-1a) effort.

STK 5 - IDH 1 (1/2/10): Goaltender Andrew Perugini made 29 saves in his first return in net since December 19 and Oren Eizenman scored a pair of goals to lead the Stockton Thunder (14-15-3, 31 points) to their ninth win in 12 games in a 5-1 rout of the Idaho Steelheads before a crowd of 3,665 at Qwest Arena on Saturday. The win, giving the Thunder the three-game series victory in a 2-1-0 record at Boise, lifted the team into a second place tie in the Pacific Division with the Ontario Reign (tied for fifth, National Conference). Goals by Igor Gongalsky, Riley Emmerson and Chris D'Alvise spelled Eizenman's effort, while Matt Sorteberg netted the only Idaho goal.

IDH 5 - STK 1 (1/1/10): Newcomer Sergei Korostin broke open a one-goal game late in the third period with a pair of goals to complete a three point (2g-1a) effort, helping the Idaho Steelheads slide by the Thunder, 5-1 before a crowd of 3,318 at Qwest Arena on Friday night. The Thunder, who were missing leading scorer Judd Blackwater due to flu-like symptoms, were aided in a 38-save effort by goaltender Aaron Sorochan in his Thunder debut. Idaho also netted goals from Matt McKnight, Brandon Kushniruk and Marty Flichel. Brett Hemingway buried the only Thunder goal in the third period.

STAR-STUDDED BLACKWATER

Last Wednesday, Judd Blackwater was named to the National Conference roster for the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game, representing the Thunder in Ontario for the two-day event on Jan. 19-20 at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Blackwater, 22, is in his second season and makes his first All-Star appearance while scoring a Thunder-leading 14 goals. His seven power-play goals are tied for second in the ECHL.

THUNDER IN ECHL ALL-STAR GAME Year Venue Representative

2005-06 Fresno Moreland, Lalonde

2006-07 Idaho Geisler, Dubnyk, Martz, Bodie

2007-08 Stockton Farynuk, Contois, MacMurchy

2008-09 Reading Huddy, Urquhart

2009-10 Ontario Blackwater

SERIES IN A NUTSHELL

Stockton leads the season series, 4-2-0... the Thunder last defeated Bakersfield, 5-1 on Dec. 29 at Stockton Arena, behind five different goal scorers... 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.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLLING IN

The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,006 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 22.9 percent (36-for-157) and is tied for the ECHL lead on the road this season, converting at 26.7 percent (23-for-86). On Friday, the Thunder went 3-for-5 on the power-play. Judd Blackwater has seven power-play goals, leading the Thunder and currently tied for second in the ECHL.

MILESTONE MARKS FOR BLACKWATER, HEMINGWAY, ROBINSON

Brett Hemingway, picked up by the Thunder as a free agent on Dec. 1 and scoring nine points (3g-6a) in nine 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.

Judd Blackwater, leading the Thunder with 14 goals and 28 points (14g-14a), played in his 100th pro game last Thursday at Idaho. With a two-assist effort against the Condors on Friday, Robinson hit the 100-point plateau in his career.



ECHL Stories from January 10, 2010


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