Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Idaho Steelheads

Published on November 27, 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 14 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 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.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder hosts the Idaho Steelheads for three games in four days, continuing a five-game homestand at Stockton Arena. Through 40 games in the lifetime series, the Thunder is 16-21-3 against Idaho and is looking to snap a seven-game winless streak in the season series (0-6-1 vs. Idaho). The last time both teams met, Idaho defeated the Thunder, 2-1 on Nov. 25 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 tomorrow's game.

LAST 3 THUNDER GAMES

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.

STK 2 - ONT 8 (11/20/09): Rookie forward Peter Lenes scored two goals to help lead a six-unanswered goal rally by the Ontario Reign in the first 35 minutes of play, sending the Thunder to an 8-2 defeat before 5,269 fans at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Friday. The loss, which spoiled the return of Igor Gongalsky to the lineup, extended the Thunder winless streak to seven games (0-4-3) and Ontario goaltender Mike Zacharias picked up the win with 21 saves.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLLING IN

The Thunder ranks second in ECHL attendance with an average of 6,144 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 third in the ECHL at 23.8 percent (20-for-84) 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. Should McDonald skate for Edmonton tonight, he will become the sixth player in Thunder history to advance and make his NHL debut.

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 15,210 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 five former Thunder players - 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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ECHL Stories from November 27, 2009


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