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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Colorado Eagles

December 15, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Saturday, December 15, 2012

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

RADIO: 1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne) /92.5 FM (inside Stockton Arena)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Colorado Eagles: Winnipeg Jets

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight's Promotion: YOUTH INSULATED TUMBLER NIGHT (presented by EZ Network Systems, KHOP 95.1)

National Anthem Singers: Linden High School

Public Address Announcer: Mike McKnight

In-Arena Emcee: "Hot Rod"

NEXT HOME GAME

Saturday, Dec. 29 vs. Las Vegas Wranglers (7:30 p.m.)

MINI-THOR BOBBLEHEAD GIVEAWAY (presented by Pepsi and 97.7/98.3 KWIN)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

Tonight is a rematch between the Thunder and Colorado Eagles, who end a two game series at Stockton Arena. The two teams will meet six times this season and the Thunder defeated the Eagles, 4-1 last night in the series opener. The Thunder is playing in its final home game before the holiday break and has lost only once in regulation in the last 12 home games.

TONIGHT'S GUEST

The Stockton Thunder welcomes management staff from the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League to tonight's game, attended by Oilers goaltending coach Frederic Chabot.

2012-2013 Head to Head Schedule: (1-0-0)

Fri. Dec. 14 Colorado 1 at Stockton 4

Sat. Dec. 15 Colorado 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 5 Colorado 7:30 p.m.

Wed. Jan. 9 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

Fri. Jan. 11 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 12 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder is 7-0-2 when leading after one period this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

STK 4 - COL 1 (12/14/12): In the first meeting between these two teams since the first round of last season's Kelly Cup playoffs, the Stockton Thunder (14-6-3-2, 33 points) proved it still carries the momentum, rolling past the Colorado Eagles 4-1 at Stockton Arena on Friday. Goaltender Cody Reichard posted his third stellar performance at home, recording 25 saves on 26 shots. Center Harrison Reed recorded two goals, while forward Yannick registered two assists in his seven multi-point game of the season. Colorado's Kyle Jones made 30 stops in goal.

SF 4 - STK 3 (OT) (12/13/12): Peter Sivak's power play goal, just 1:13 into sudden death overtime, helped the San Francisco Bulls send the Stockton Thunder (13-6-5, 31 points) to a 4-3 overtime defeat before 2,549 fans at the Cow Palace on Thursday. The Thunder, who squandered a pair of one goal leads in the third period, garnered a point in for the fifth time in the last six games. Thomas Heemskerk earned the win for the Bulls with 33 stops.

BAK 4 - STK 1 (12/9/12): Scott Greenham made 44 saves, including 18 in the third period to help the Bakersfield Condors send the Stockton Thunder (13-6-4, 30 points) to a 4-1 defeat at Rabobank Arena on Sunday. The Thunder saw its five game unbeaten streak (regulation) snapped with the loss and fell to three points behind the Ontario Reign for first place in the Pacific Division.

JUSTIN TIME

Center Justin Maylan is tied for the ECHL lead in scoring among rookies with 25 points and leads all Thunder rookies as well. He has collected five points in the last four games. Maylan has also posted seven multi point games and earned an assist in last night's win over Colorado.

ROLLING IN THE (RIEN)DEAU

Forward Yannick Riendeau has points in six of the last eight games and has posted seven multi point games this season. He earned a pair of assists last night against Colorado and leads the Thunder with 17 assists this season.

DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO SAN JOSE?

The Thunder announced on Dec. 4 that it will play in a game on Monday, Dec. 17 (7:30 p.m.) at HP Pavilion at San Jose (home of the San Jose Sharks since 1993) against the San Francisco Bulls. It will be the first game in Thunder history to be played on a current NHL ice surface. The game will be played before a sold out crowd and p arking is free on a first-come, first-served basis in the HP Pavilion-controlled parking lots. A "Toys for Tots" toy drive will also be hosted at the North and South Entrances of the arena.

PLAYING THE REICHARD

Thunder goaltender Cody Reichard earned his first career shutout last week against Las Vegas and became the 11th goaltender in Thunder history to earn the ECHL Goaltender of the Week award. Reichard was awarded the honor on Dec. 11 after he posted a record of 2-0-1, a 2.30 goals-against average and a .966 save percentage for the week of Dec. 3-9.

AN OFFENSE DRESSED TO THE NINES

The Thunder tied a club record for most goals in a game (9) on Nov. 12 in a 9-6 victory at Utah, matching the record previously set on Dec. 10, 2011 against Bakersfield. The Thunder also notched a season high for most goals (5) in a period, accomplishing the feat in the second period at Maverik Center on Nov. 12. The Thunder is averaging 3.7 goals per game this season, ranking fifth in the ECHL.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

The Thunder has drawn over 200,000 fans for seven straight seasons to Stockton Arena, totaling over 1.5 million through the turnstiles since opening in 2005-06. There have been 17 sellouts at Stockton Arena in Thunder history and last season, there were seven crowds of 7,000 or more at Thunder home games. The Thunder drew a club record 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Last season, the Thunder ranked third in ECHL attendance.

TOP FIVE THUNDER HOME CROWDS IN 2011-12

OPPONENT DATE ATTENDANCE

1. Alaska 3/3/12 9,398

2. Bakersfield 3/24/12 9,323

3. Utah 11/5/11 9,012

4. Alaska 1/28/12 7,613

5. Utah 3/17/12 7,537

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Ryan Constant is 4 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Mike Little is 6 games away from 100 in his ECHL career

- Yannick Riendeau is 19 assists away from 100 in his professional career

COVERED WITH OIL

The Edmonton Oilers return as the NHL affiliate of the Thunder for the seventh straight season, helping advance eight players from the Thunder onto playing in the National Hockey League. The Thunder has also never missed the playoffs since first connecting with the Oilers in 2006-07. Edmonton has won five Stanley Cup championships and sent seven players onto induction in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Among the players assigned to Stockton, beginning this season, was LW Philippe Cornet, who made his NHL debut with Edmonton and led the AHL affiliate Oklahoma City Barons with 24 goals last season.

OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN

Garet Hunt was named the sixth captain in Thunder history on Oct. 12, taking the "C" for the first time in his career for full-time duty. Hunt served as an alternate captain for the Thunder last season and has helped guide the team to the playoffs for four straight seasons since his 2008-09 rookie campaign. Hunt is the Thunder all time leader with 269 games played.

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