Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Idaho Steelheads (11-28-09)

Published on November 28, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


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MILESTONE TRACKER

o Mike Bayrack is 32 points away from 400 in his ECHL career

o Judd Blackwater is 13 games away from 100 in his professional career

o Kelly Czuy is 25 points away from 100 in his professional career

o Igor Gongalsky is 26 points away from 100 in his professional career

2009-10 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

Fri. Oct. 16 Stockton 1 at Idaho 3

Sat. Oct. 17 Stockton 2 at Idaho 3

Sun. Oct. 18 Stockton 2 at Idaho 3

Fri. Nov. 13 Idaho 2 at Stockton 1 (SO)

Sat. Nov. 14 Idaho 4 at Stockton 2

Sun. Nov. 15 Idaho 3 at Stockton 1

Wed. Nov. 25 Idaho 1 at Stockton 0

Fri. Nov. 27 Idaho 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 28 Idaho 7:30 p.m.

Thur. Dec. 31 @ Idaho 6:10 p.m.

Fri, Jan. 1, 2010 @ Idaho 6:10 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 2 @ Idaho 6:10 p.m.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder hosts the Idaho Steelheads to conclude three games in four days and continuing a five-game homestand at Stockton Arena. Through 41 games in the lifetime series, the Thunder is 16-22-3 against Idaho and is looking to snap an eight-game winless streak in the season series (0-7-1 vs. Idaho). The last time both teams met, Idaho defeated the Thunder, 1-0 last night at Stockton Arena. Both teams will face each other 12 times in the first 32 games and Idaho will not return to Stockton for the remainder of the regular season after tonight's game.

LAST 3 THUNDER GAMES

IDH 1 - STK 0 (11/27/09): Goaltender Rejean Beauchemin secured the fourth shutout of his pro career with 27 saves and outdueled counterpart Bryan Pitton, as the Idaho Steelheads edged the Thunder, 1-0 before 4,790 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. Idaho, who boasts the league's leading defense with 2.3 goals per game allowed, won their eighth straight over the Thunder in the season's head-to-head series on John Swanson's eventual game-winning goal just 1:10 into the final period. Pitton kept the Thunder in the game with 29 saves.

IDH 2 - STK 1 (11/25/09): Rejean Beauchemin made 23 saves and Mark Derlago broke a 1-1 tie with a go-ahead goal with 12:29 left in regulation to help the Idaho Steelheads sneak by the Thunder, 2-1 before 4,592 fans at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night. The Thunder, who are unbeaten in regulation in seven of ten games (5-3-2) in its ECHL schedule except for a 0-6-1 clip this season against Idaho, received help from goaltender Bryan Pitton who made 26 saves in net despite taking the loss. Igor Gongalsky scored his first goal of the year and Evan Barlow tied the game in the third period just minutes before Derlago's go-head goal.

STK 4 - ONT 3 (OT) (11/21/09): Veteran forward Jason Pitton's wrist shot from the right circle at 1:35 of sudden death overtime helped the Thunder thwart a rally by the Ontario Reign and take a 4-3 overtime victory before an announced crowd of 7,705 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday night. The win snapped the Thunder's seven-game winless streak (0-4-3) and Craig Valette led the Stockton offense with a three-point game (1g-2a), supporting three-power play goals in regulation by Valette, Judd Blackwater and Ryan Constant. Goaltender Andrew Perugini secured the victory with 39 saves. Tim Kraus, Michael Egener and Greg Hogeboom scored for Ontario.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLLING IN

The Thunder ranks second in ECHL attendance with an average of 5,993 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 last Saturday 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 ranks fifth in the ECHL at 22.7 percent (20-for-88) and converted at a 3-for-4 rate against Ontario on Nov. 21. Forward Judd Blackwater has six power-play goals to lead the team and is tied for the ECHL lead.

POWER PLAY GOAL LEADERS (ECHL)

1. Matt Pierce (CIN) 6

Judd Blackwater (STK) 6

2. Several tied 5

ALUMNI UPDATE

On Thursday, ex-Thunder forwards Ryan O'Marra and Colin McDonald were recalled from the Springfield Falcons of the AHL to the Edmonton Oilers, on the eve of the team's matchup at Rexall Place against the San Jose Sharks. O'Marra made his NHL debut on Nov. 11 at Ottawa, two years after skating for Stockton with 20 points (11g-9a) in 24 games. McDonald, who skated in three games for the Thunder last season, became the sixth player to don a Thunder uniform and eventually make his NHL debut. McDonald skated on a line with Ryan O'Marra in last night's 5-4 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks at Rexall Place.

CAUDRON COMES IN

Wednesday night marked the debut of new Thunder forward Jean-Francois (J.F.) Caudron, who signed with the Thunder as a free agent on Monday, Nov. 23. Caudron, 31, recorded an assist in his season debut and returns to the ECHL after a six-year stint in Europe with Bremerhaven and Heilbronn of the 2nd Eishockey-Bundesliga (2.Gbun) and the German Oberliga Leagues, producing over a point-per-game pace through 254 career games with 381 points (153g-228a) and 153 goals. Caudron is reunited with head coach Matt Thomas after the two helped guide the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (Caudron as a forward and Thomas as assistant coach) to a Kelly Cup championship in 2003. That year, Caudron led the team and ranked 5th in the ECHL with 39 goals.

ONE IN A MILLION

The Thunder has launched a special landmark "One Millionth Fan" contest which began Oct. 23. The contest begins the official countdown to search for one millionth fan to cross the turnstiles of Stockton Arena in the Thunder's five year history. As the reigning four-time ECHL attendance leader, the Thunder needs just 10,420 fans to reach the one million mark. The lucky fan will be selected as fans enter Stockton Arena, on the day the Thunder is scheduled to reach the one millionth fan mark. Upon selection, the lucky fan to cross the turnstiles will be awarded an array of prizes, including a vacation stay at Yosemite Lodge (Yosemite National Park), 2009-10 season tickets and an Amtrak train trip to Salt Lake City to see the Thunder face the Utah Grizzlies.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"I just want to come in here and help us win, and I'm prepared to do whatever I have to do to accomplish that," Caudron said. "I just want to do well."

- Right winger J.F. Caudron after signing with the Thunder as a free agent on Nov. 23, The Record, 11/25/09

"It's great, but I did have a few words with them to make sure that they knew I was signing teammates, not brothers," Thomas said. "I didn't want anyone to get upset if I didn't play one of them. But they are professionals, and it's been great."

- Head coach Matt Thomas after signing forward Jason Pitton - securing his spot on the roster with brother and Thunder goaltender, Bryan Pitton, The Record, 11/27/09

OILING UP THE SHIP

For the fourth consecutive season, Stockton will serve as the AA minor-league affiliate for Oilers prospects. Since the Thunder and Oilers began their partnership in 2006-07, the Thunder has advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs three consecutive years and six former Thunder players - right wing Colin McDonald, center Ryan O'Marra, right wing Troy Bodie, center Tim Sestito, left wing Liam Reddox and defenseman Bryan Young - have gone on to play in the NHL.

Players with the Thunder that have been assigned through the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons:

Andrew Perugini (G)

Bryan Pitton (G)

Jordan Bendfeld (D)

James Bates (RW)

Kelly Czuy (RW)

Riley Emmerson (RW)

Bryan Young (D)

LETTER JACKET

Center Craig Valette was named the fourth captain in Thunder history on Oct. 15 (Dean Stork, Brad Farynuk and Matt O'Dette). He served as acting captain during nine games of the Kelly Cup Playoffs last year after an injury to O'Dette, the captain for 08-09. With alternate captains Bryan Young and Kenny MacAulay currently playing in the AHL. current Thunder forward Igor Gongalsky and defenseman Daryl Marcoux are serving as alternate captains in their place.

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