Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Idaho Steelheads

March 1, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


March 1, 2009 - Stockton Arena

FACEOFF: 4:00 p.m.

RADIO: 1420 KSTN

INTERNET: www.StocktonThunder.com (B2 Networks)

2008-09 HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUP

11/19/08 Stockton 2 at Idaho 3 (OT)

11/21/08 Stockton 7 at Idaho 3

11/22/08 Stockton 1 at Idaho 3

1/17/09 Idaho 3 at Stockton 4

1/18/09 Idaho 3 at Stockton 4 (OT)

2/9/09 Idaho 6 at Stockton 1

2/27/09 Idaho 2 at Stockton 3

2/28/09 Idaho 3 at Stockton 1

3/1/09 Idaho 4:00 p.m.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder and Idaho Steelheads meet for the final time of the season today, marking the final of nine matchups between both teams. The Thunder is 14-16-2 lifetime against the Steelheads and is 4-3-1 this season. Both teams last met on Feb. 28 and the Steelheads defeated the Thunder 3-1. Friday's game, between both teams, began a stretch of three games in three nights for both teams. By the end of Sunday, both teams will have played four games in five days.

SERIES NOTES

The Thunder is 4-3-1 this season against Idaho ... both teams faced off in the first round (National Conference Quarterfinal) of the 2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs ... Idaho won the series 4-2 and would go onto win their second Kelly Cup championship in club history ... the nine head-to-head matchups are tied for the highest amount of times the Thunder faces an opponent this season ... Ryan Huddy leads the Thunder in scoring against Idaho this season with 10 points (4g-6a) in 8 games ... Idaho's Mark Bomersback leads the Steelheads in scoring for the series with 14 points (7g-7a) in 8 games ... Stockton is 7-of-29 on the power-play in its last five games against the Steelheads ... Thunder goaltender Andrew Perugini is 3-0-1 in four games vs. Idaho, posting a 2.74 goals-against-average and a .919 save percentage.

LAST THREE THUNDER GAMES

2/28/09 - IDA 3 at STK 1: Ben Nelson's goal with 9:44 left in the third period broke a 1-1 tie and helped the Idaho Steelheads send the Stockton Thunder (26-26-5, 57 points) to a 3-1 defeat before a crowd of 8,176 at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. The loss brought an end to the Thunder two-game winning streak, who was supported offensively by Cory Urquhart's 26th goal of the season. Goaltender Bryan Pitton labored through 32 saves, keeping the Thunder in the game despite suffering his seventh straight loss.

2/27/09 - IDA 2 at STK 3: Veteran Cory Urquhart buried a pair of goals and linemate Ryan Huddy notched a career-high three assists to lead the Stockton Thunder (26-25-5, 57 points) to a 3-2 victory over the Idaho Steelheads before a 6,661 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The game, which began a stretch of nine contests in 11 games for Stockton, featured a 24-save effort by goaltender Andrew Perugini, who won his 11th game in the last 13 decisions. Igor Gongalsky contributed with a power-play goal in the second period and Idaho was led by Mark Bomersback's pair of goals.

2/25/09 - LV 2 at STK 3: Rookie goaltender Andrew Perugini made 26 saves to help the Stockton Thunder break a four-game losing skid, defeating the Las Vegas Wranglers 3-2 before a crowd of 3,635 at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night. David Rohlfs, Damian Surma and Cory Urquhart each scored for the Thunder while Ryan MacMurchy paced the offense with two assists. In his first game back from the American Hockey League, Igor Gongalsky tallied an assist. Las Vegas was aided offensively by goals from veteran Peter Ferraro and Tim Spencer. Las Vegas goaltender Glenn Fisher, on loan from the AHL's Springfield Falcons and who was a Thunder goaltender in 2007-08, made his first return to Stockton Arena since March 2007 and took the loss with 33 saves.

HUDDY IS GOAL-ORIENTED

Ryan Huddy's 27 goals lead the Thunder this season and ranks fourth in ECHL rookie goal-scoring. Huddy needs three goals to break Mike Lalonde's single-season record (29) set in 2005-06. Currently signed to an AHL contract with the Springfield Falcons, Huddy participated for the National Conference at the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game in Reading, PA.

HE'S BACK

Thunder left wing Mike Lalonde was activated off the injured reserve list before today's game and makes his first return to the Thunder lineup since Feb. 21. Lalonde is the Thunder all-time leading scorer with 145 points and ranks third on the team in goal-scoring (17) and scoring (41 points) in 48 games. Of note, Lalonde has seven points (4g-3a) in five games against Idaho and led the team in scoring in the head-to-head series before this weekend.

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,257 through 26 home games, has 13 sellouts in the team's franchise history and finished last year as the ECHL's attendance leader for the third consecutive season. It was the second straight year the Thunder surpassed the mark of 230,000 fans for one season. The Thunder's yearly attendance total finished at 239,337, an average of 6,648 fans per game. The Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for three straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons). Stockton's crowd of 9,737 on Nov. 8 against Victoria was the team's first sellout of the year.

STEP UP TO THE MIKE

Returning to the lineup this season is left wing Mike Lalonde, who is the Thunder all-time leading goal scorer with 69 goals and ascended to the top perch as the Thunder all-time leading scorer with 145 points, scoring the milestone point on a goal on Dec. 21 at Ontario. Selected as the first player in Thunder history to the ECHL All-Star Game (2006), Lalonde led the ECHL with 308 shots and paced the Thunder with 29 goals as a rookie in 2005-06. Lalonde spent last season with Tilburg of the Netherlands League, guiding his team to the Dutch Cup and scoring 92 points (43g-49a) in just 34 games.

Below is a look at Lalonde's placing on the Thunder career scoring charts:

GOALS:

1. Mike Lalonde 69

2. Ryan MacMurchy 29

Nathan Martz 29

Steve Slonina 29

5. Tim Verbeek 28

POINTS

1. Mike Lalonde 145

2. Nathan Martz 122

3. Joel Irwin 68

4. Ryan MacMurchy 67

5. Stephane Goulet 63



ECHL Stories from March 1, 2009


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