Sports stats



Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Bakersfield Condors

February 26, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


GAME PREVIEW: STOCKTON THUNDER vs. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS

DATE: Sunday, February 26, 2012

TIME: 4:00 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

Bakersfield Condors: Independent

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight's Promotions:

YOUTH GOLD REPLICA JERSEY GIVEAWAY (presented by Pepsi, Financial Center Credit Union, and KAT Country 103)

FAMILY DAY (presented by Sutter Gould Medical Foundation and 99.3 KJOY)

National Anthem Singer: Brian Besser

Public Address Announcer: Mike McKnight

In-Arena Emcee: Jungle Jim

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, Mar. 2 vs. Alaska Aces, 7:30 p.m.

MATT FOY POSTER GIVEAWAY (presented by In-Shape Health Clubs)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder hosts the Bakersfield Condors for the 11th of 13 meetings tonight at Stockton Arena to conclude three games in three days. The weekend series is split, 1-1 and the Thunder last faced Bakersfield last night, dropping a 4-1 defeat at Rabobank Arena. The Thunder is 7-3-0 against Bakersfield and is 9-1-1 in the last 11 home games. Currently, the Thunder face a "magic number" of 12 to clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff berth.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder: 7-3-0)

Tue. Nov. 15 Stockton 4 at Bakersfield 2

Fri. Dec. 9 Stockton 3 at Bakersfield 1

Sat. Dec. 10 Bakersfield 6 at Stockton 9

Sun. Dec. 11 Bakersfield 5 at Stockton 2

Mon. Dec. 26 Stockton 2 at Bakersfield 3

Fri. Jan. 6, 2012 Stockton 1 at Bakersfield 0

Sat. Jan. 7 Stockton 3 at Bakersfield 2 (SO)

Wed. Feb. 1 Stockton 4 at Bakersfield 1

Fri. Feb. 24 Stockton 4 at Bakersfield 3 (SO)

Sat. Feb. 25 Stockton 1 at Bakersfield 4

Sun. Feb. 26 Bakersfield 4:00 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 23 Bakersfield 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 24 Bakersfield 7:30 p.m.

LAST THREE GAMES:

BAK 4 - STK 1 (2/25/12): Parker Stanfield scored one goal and added an assist, helping build a rally of four unanswered goals by the Bakersfield Condors, who sent the Stockton Thunder (27-22-5, 59 points) to a 4-1 defeat before 6,092 fans at Rabobank Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who absorbed only their third loss in ten games this season to the Condors and saw a four game winning streak snapped, earned its only goal on a first period power play marker by Matt Reber. Bakersfield goaltender Bryan Pitton earned his first win since Jan. 20 with 27 saves in net.

STK 4 - BAK 3 (SO) (2/24/12): Goaltender Thomas Heemskerk made 34 saves and Kevin Baker scored a goal in the fifth round of the shootout to lift the Stockton Thunder (27-21-5, 59 points) to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Bakersfield Condors before 5,926 fans at Rabobank Arena on Friday. Aiding from an offensive effort that included goal scoring contributions from Matt Foy, Colten Hayes and Ian O'Connor, the Thunder moved back to four points behind Colorado for fourth place in the Western Conference and reduced its magic number to 12 to clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff berth.

STK 3 - COL 1 (2/19/12): Center Chris D'Alvise broke a 1-1 tie in the third period with a highlight reel goal and goaltender Olivier Roy made 32 saves to lift the Stockton Thunder (26-21-5, 57 points) to a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles before 5,545 fans at Stockton Arena on Sunday. The Thunder extended its torrid pace at home to a 9-1-1 run in the last 11 games and benefited from additional goals by Matt Foy - who put up a spectacular goal of his own in the second period - and an empty netter by Kevin Baker. Stockton also closed the gap to four points behind Colorado for fourth place in the Western Conference.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Matt Thomas is 2 wins away from 300 in his professional coaching career

- Kevin Baker is 16 goals away from 200 in his professional career

- Jody Pederson is 6 games away from 100 in his professional career

- Jordan Fulton is 6 games away from 100 in his Thunder career

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

This season, the Thunder has boasted a record of 15-8-3 when playing in the second game of a "back to back" or in a "three game in three day" scenario. The last Thunder win in that situation came last Sunday, when they defeated Colorado, 3-1 at Stockton Arena to complete a three game win streak during the weekend.

MILESTONE WELCOME MATT

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas needs just two wins to become the eighth coach in ECHL history to reach the 300 win plateau in his career. Thomas is currently in his fourth season as Thunder head coach and has never missed the playoffs since earning his first position with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2004-05. His 119 wins stand as the all time leader in Thunder career coaching wins.

HOME COOKING

The Thunder has parlayed a record of 9-1-1 in the last 11 home games, most recently defeating Colorado 3-1 on Sunday at Stockton Arena. Taking advantage of leads early and in the middle of the game, the Thunder has never lost when holding a lead after the first period (9-0-0) and second period (10-0-0). The Thunder has also outshot their opponents in 19 of 25 home games.

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 172 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 459 446 270 176 4

2 Mark Derlago IDH 281 340 174 166 41

3 Kevin Baker STK 320 352 172 180 15

4 Olivier Labelle REA 297 245 133 112 -15

5 Chad Painchaud CHI 338 315 131 184 -19

** Statistics include regular season and playoffs

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 226

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. 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. This season, the Thunder has welcome 12 crowds of 6,000 or more to Stockton Arena and drew a season high 9,012 fans on Nov. 5 vs. Utah. The Thunder is third in ECHL attendance with an average of 5,724 fans per game.

THE SHIRT OFF THEIR BACKS

Continuing tonight, the Thunder will be making their "pregame worn" warm up jerseys available for bidding through silent auction, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Stockton Thunder foundation. The jerseys, sponsored by Osborn Concrete, were created by Reebok Hockey, the official jersey supplier of all National Hockey League teams. Featuring a unique "silver and black" look, the jersey displays a black base with a white stripe along the shoulders and a white and silver accented Thor logo crest. Black numbers adorn the back of each jersey in a silver trim with white lettering at the top.

Below is tonight's auction lineup:

Jason Morgan (C) Thomas Heemskerk (G) Nathan Deck (D) Mike Little (D)

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from February 26, 2012


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