Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Idaho Steelheads

Published on November 14, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


November 14, 2009 - Stockton Arena

FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RADIO: NONE (92.5 FM inside Stockton Arena)

INTERNET: www.StocktonThunder.com (B2 Networks)

TICKETS: Click here

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 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Nov. 15 Idaho 4:00 p.m.

Wed. Nov. 25 Idaho 7:00 p.m.

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.

MILESTONE TRACKER

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

o Judd Blackwater is 18 games away from 100 in his professional career

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

o Kenny MacAulay is 7 games away from 100 in his ECHL career

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder hosts the Idaho Steelheads tonight to continue three games in three days and finish off a stretch of five games in six at Stockton Arena. Through 36 games in the lifetime series, the Thunder is 16-18-3 against Idaho and is 0-3-1 against Idaho this season. Both teams will face each other 12 times in the first 32 games with Friday's game beginning a stretch of six games in the next nine against the Steelheads. Idaho does not return to Stockton Arena for the remainder of the regular season after Nov. 28.

LAST 3 THUNDER GAMES

IDH 2 - STK 1 (SO) (11/13/09): Goaltender Richard Bachman made 26 saves to outduel counterpart Andrew Perugini and stopped three of four shots in a shootout to help the Idaho Steelheads edge the Thunder, 2-1 in a shootout before 5,101 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday. Adam Huxley scored the shootout winner in his first return to Stockton Arena since last season, to spell Idaho shootout markers from Evan Barlow and Tyler Spurgeon. Perugini made 26 saves to help force overtime. The Thunder (4-1-3 in the last eight games), received a goal from Oren Eizenman in the first period (100th point of his professional career) and Michael Neal scored for Idaho in the second period.

BAK 3 - STK 2 (11/10/09): Sasha Pokulok snapped a 2-2 tie with a game-winning power-play goal with 5:53 left in regulation, which was enough for the Bakersfield Condors to send the Thunder to a 3-2 defeat before a crowd of 4,948 at Rabobank Arena on Tuesday night. The Thunder, who had their six-game unbeaten streak in regulation snapped in the process, were aided with goals from Steve Vanoosten (first of his pro career) and Oren Eizenman. Shawn Weller and John deGray also scored for Bakersfield while Justin Pogge got the win with 18 saves in net.

AK 5 - STK 4 (SO) (11/7/09): Nick Mazzolini's goal in the sixth round of a shootout was enough for the Alaska Aces to stymie a three-goal rally by the Thunder in a 5-4 shootout win for the Aces in front of a standing-room-only, sellout crowd of 9,392 at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. The Thunder moved their unbeaten streak in regulation to 4-0-2. Jason Pitton buried the game-tying goal at 1:52 of the third period, spelling Thunder goals from Craig Valette, Chris D'Alvise and Jamie Bates. Colin Hemingway collected a pair of goals for the Aces and Nick Tuzzolino and Alex Imbeault also scored. Alaska goaltender Scott Reid made 34 saves to take the win.

THUNDER CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,697 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).

'GINI IN A BOTTLE

A 3-0 win on Oct. 24 over Ontario gave Thunder goaltender Andrew Perugini the third shutout of his career and in a Thunder uniform, tying the all-time career shutout lead with Tim Boron. Perugini is 3-0-2in his last five games with a 1.55 goals-against-average and .942 save percentage.

TOP ECHL GOALTENDERS (Since Oct. 24, 60 minutes or more)

GOALTENDER SAVE PCT.

1. Chris Beckford-Tseu (FLA) .955

Matt Keetley (VIC) .955

3. ANDREW PERUGINI (STK) .937

4. Todd Ford (SC) .930

5. Braden Holtby (SC) .923

YELLOW HORN IS RED HOT

Left winger Colton Yellow Horn, acquired in a trade with the Elmira Jackals on Oct. 28 in exchange for the rights to defenseman Neil Petruic, has six points (1g-5a) in six games since joining the team. The 5-foot-9, 190-pound forward produced over a point-per-game average throughout his five-year (2003-08) junior career in the Western Hockey League with Lethbridge and Tri-City, scoring 349 points (153g-196a) in 330 games while compiling 248 penalty minutes. He led the WHL with 48 goals in 2007-08, skating for Tri-City.

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 30,877 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.

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 four former Thunder players - 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. Kenny MacAulay and Bryan Young will serve as alternate captains.

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