Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Colorado Eagles

Published on October 14, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Friday, October 14, 2011

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

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

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks

Colorado Eagles: Winnipeg Jets

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight's Promotion:

OPENING NIGHT (presented by Coors Light, Chase Chevrolet of Stockton, Food 4 Less, Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel, KAT Country 103, and Discount Plumbing)

MAGNETIC SCHEDULE GIVEAWAY

National Anthem Singer: Tune Struck

Public Address Announcer: Mike McKnight

NEXT HOME GAME

Saturday, Oct. 29 vs. Idaho Steelheads, 7:30 p.m.

NEWS10 COATS FOR KIDS (presented by AAA, and KAT Country 103)

SAFE TRICK OR TREATING WITH THE THUNDER

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder opens the seventh season of play in the Central Valley tonight against the Colorado Eagles, which features the first lifetime matchup between both clubs and the first of nine between the two teams this season. Colorado will play in their inaugural ECHL game after spending eight seasons in the Central Hockey League. The Thunder is 3-3-0 in lifetime home openers and last won its opening home game of the season against Alaska in 2007-08.

TONIGHT'S GUEST

The Stockton Thunder welcomes staff from the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League to tonight's game, attended by Sharks Vice President and Assistant General Manager Wayne Thomas.

SEASON SERIES

Fri. Oct. 14 Colorado 7:30 p.m.

Fri. Oct. 21 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 22 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

Fri. Feb. 10 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 11 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 18 Colorado 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 19 Colorado 4:00 p.m.

Tue. Mar. 6 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

Wed. Mar. 7 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Matt Thomas is 29 wins away from 300 in his professional coaching career

- Kevin Baker is 3 points away from 300 in his ECHL career

- Matt Foy is 14 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Garet Hunt is 12 games away from becoming the Thunder career leader in games played

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.

TOP FIVE HOME CROWDS IN 2010-11

OPPONENT DATE ATTENDANCE

1. Ontario 1/22/11 9,482

2. Idaho 3/19/11 9,396 *

3. Bakersfield 11/6/10 9,015

T-4. Idaho 3/26/11 8,923*

. Idaho 1/29/11 8,923*

* Denotes sellout

** Stockton Arena's base capacity for hockey is 8,923 and has capabilities of expansion to 9,737 with auxiliary seating.

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 150 goals.

MOST GOALS, ECHL (SINCE 2006-07)

Rank Player Team GP PTS G A +/-

1 Wes Goldie VIC, AK 404 394 241 153 -2

2 Mark Derlago BAK, IDH 281 340 174 166 41

3 Kevin Baker TEX, FLA 266 307 150 157 24

4 Ryan Kinasewich UTA 205 292 131 161 -4

5 Marty Flichel IDH 369 348 126 222 -2

ON THE HUNT

Thunder left winger Garet Hunt needs 12 games to surpass 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.

ALL-TIME THUNDER GAMES PLAYED

Player GP

1. Mark Adamek 186

2. Adam Huxley 183

3. Mike Lalonde 182

4. Garet Hunt 175

5. Daryl Marcoux 166

THIS IS THUNDER/SHARKS TERRITORY

This summer saw the Stockton Thunder renew an affiliation partnership in conjunction with the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. The Thunder, who is a dual affiliate of San Jose and the Edmonton Oilers, are separated by only 80 miles of geographic distance from San Jose. As hockey neighbors, both clubs also share similar honors in sports and entertainment. The Thunder is a two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," and the Sharks recently finished as the 13th best overall franchise in ESPN's "Ultimate Standings," ranking all major sports franchises according to how much they give back to fans for all of time, money and emotion invested by each fan (conducted by ESPN: The Magazine). Both Stockton and San Jose advanced to their respective league's playoffs last season.

OILING UP THE SHIP AGAIN

The Thunder and Edmonton Oilers renewed an affiliation partnership for the sixth consecutive season, continuing a pipeline to the NHL that has seen seven former members of the Thunder make their NHL debut since beginning in the Oilers farm system. Right wing Troy Bodie, goaltender Devan Dubnyk, right wing Colin McDonald, center Ryan O'Marra, center Tim Sestito, left wing Liam Reddox and defenseman Bryan Young - have gone on to play in the NHL. The Oilers, a member of the NHL's Western Conference and Northwest Division, have been a member of the National Hockey League since the 1979-80 season and have captured five Stanley Cup championships.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW

Two players, right winger Matt Foy and center Jason Morgan, have playing experience in the National Hockey League. Foy suited up for the Minnesota Wild from 2005-08 and Morgan has skated for five National Hockey League clubs (Los Angeles, Calgary, Minnesota, Nashville and Chicago). A total of 12 players are on the Thunder active roster who have skated in training camp or rookie camp with National Hockey League or American Hockey League teams this season: Cameron Brodie, Dan Ringwald, Bretton Cameron, Tyler Shelast, Gabriel Levesque, Brock Matheson, Ian O'Connor, Tony DeHart, Sebastian Owuya, Olivier Roy, Ryan Martindale and Cameron Abney.

ROSTER SERVES A TALL ORDER

A total of six players on the Thunder active roster measure at 6-foot-3 or taller: Jody Pederson (6-3), Colten Hayes (6-3), Sebastian Owuya (6-4), Ryan Martindale (6-3), Cameron Abney (6-5) and Matt Foy (6-3).

GET 'EM WHILE THEY'RE HOT

Thunder Season Ticket Holders can take advantage of the first Item of the Week for 2011-12 and pick up a new Thunder replica jersey, produced by Reebok, for $10 off the listed retail price. This offer lasts through Friday night's home game against Colorado and is available in person at the Stockton Arena Fan Attic.

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