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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Idaho Steelheads

February 2, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


GAME: Stockton Thunder vs. Idaho Steelheads

DATE: Saturday, February 2, 2013

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

RADIO: StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)/92.5 FM (in house feed)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Idaho Steelheads: Dallas Stars

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight's Promotions: FAITH NIGHT

REPLICA JERSEY GIVEAWAY (presented by Financial Center Credit Union, 97.7/98.3 KWIN and News10)

STAR WARS NIGHT

National Anthem Singers: John Muir Choir

Public Address Announcer: John Taylor

In-Arena Emcees: "Hot Rod" and Alan Sanchez

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, Feb. 15 vs. Ontario Reign (7:30 p.m.)

MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT (presented by Golden Bear Insurance Company, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Coors Light, Blackwell Heating & Air, The Record, KAT Country 103, and FOX 40 News)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder will try to rebound from Friday night's loss in a rematch with the Idaho Steelheads at Stockton Arena. David Toews spoiled Tyler Bunz's return to the Thunder by scoring with 42 seconds left to send the Thunder to a 3-2 defeat. Ryan Constant earned the 100th assist of his ECHL career in defeat. Tonight is also the third "Star Wars" game at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 1-0-1 in Star Wars Night games, with both previous matchups having been against the Steelheads.

2012-13 Head to Head Schedule: (1-2-0)

Wed. Nov. 14 Stockton 2 at Idaho 4

Sun. Nov. 18 Idaho 3 at Stockton 4

Fri. Feb. 1 Idaho 3 at Stockton 2

Sat. Feb. 2 Idaho 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 30 Idaho 7:30 p.m.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder is 12-3-3 when leading after one period this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

IDH 3 - STK 2 (2/1/13 ): David Toews capped off a two goal rally with 42 seconds left, and the Idaho Steelheads (28-11-1-4, 61 points) came back to defeat the Stockton Thunder 3-2 (23-17-5-3, 54 points) in front of 5,120 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday. Center Harrison Reed and forward Maxime Boisclair each tallied a goal and an assist. Defenseman Ryan Constant recorded the 100 th assist of his ECHL career on Reed's goal.

STK 4 - SF 3 (SO) (1/30/13): Goaltender Cody Reichard blanked all three skaters he faced in the shootout, and the Stockton Thunder (23-16-8, 54 points) came back to win a back-and-forth affair over the San Francisco Bulls 4-3 in a shootout in front of 6,497 fans on Wednesday at Stockton Arena. Defenseman Ryan Constant scored in the third period to tie the game, while center Gabriel Levesque and defenseman Tony DeHart added goals as well. Forward Matt Reber contributed with a pair of assists.

STK 2 - UTA 1 (1/27/13): A rock solid Cody Reichard (11-7-5) made 39 saves in goal and helped the Stockton Thunder (22-16-8, 52 points) avoid a winless weekend with a 2-1 victory over the Utah Grizzlies in front of 4,033 at Stockton Arena on Sunday. Forward Yannick Riendeau and center Harrison Reed each found the back of the net for the Thunder. Defenseman Ryan Constant earned an assist (the 100th of his professional career) on Riendeau's goal and finished with two assists on the night.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Garet Hunt is 8 games away from 300 as a member of the Thunder

HOME SWEET HOME

The Thunder has made Stockton Arena ideal for home ice advantage this season with a record of 14-7-3. They are in the midst of playing eight of the nine games at home and will start a season long seven game homestand on Jan. 20. Below is a look at key figures for the Thunder at home this season:

At home this season, the Thunder has:

- A record of 14-7-3

- Totaled ten games of scoring four goals or more

- Outshot the opposition thirteen times this season

- Posted 17 games of 30 shots on goal or more

- Collected at least one power play goal in thirteen of the last fifteen games

THE ALL-STARS ARE ALIGNED

Thunder center Justin Maylan took part in the ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 23 at Colorado. Maylan represented Stockton well, chipping in with an assist in the second period to help the ECHL All-Stars cruise to a 7-3 win over the Colorado Eagles. The rookie center earned his first trip as a replacement for Toni Rajala on the squad. Originally, the Thunder had Rajala and defenseman Nathan Deck (replaced with Ontario's Chris Huxley) selected to the ECHL All-Star Team in early January. Both are continuing to skate in the American Hockey League with Oklahoma City. Deck was named a starter for the game (currently skating in the AHL with Oklahoma City) with 17 points in 19 games. Rajala's 18 goals were among the ECHL's top five at the time of his selection.

THUNDER IN ECHL ALL-STAR GAME

Year Venue Representative

2005-06 Fresno Moreland, Lalonde

2006-07 Idaho Geisler, Dubnyk, Martz, Bodie

2007-08 Stockton Farynuk, Contois, MacMurchy

2008-09 Reading Huddy, Urquhart

2009-10 Ontario Blackwater, D'Alvise

2010-11 Bakersfield Arcobello*

2011-12 N/A N/A**

2012-13 Colorado Maylan

* Named MVP of the All-Star Game

** No All-Star Game hosted

FEEL THE POWER

The Thunder has gone on a power trip, having scored a power play goal in nine consecutive games and only going two games in the entire month of January without one. With a power play percentage of exactly 20 percent in the last nine games, the Thunder has seen center Harrison Reed benefit most from the recent surge, scoring six power play goals (more than half of the Thunder total) during the stretch.

SAINT GABRIEL

Center Gabriel Levesque continued his hot streak by scoring the opening goal just 30 seconds into the game against San Francisco on Wednesday. Having scored three goals and tallied seven points in the last nine games for the Thunder, Levesque has collected 15 assists and 20 points in 42 games in his second year as a pro (all with Stockton).

NO LITTLE ACCOMPLISHMENT

Thunder defenseman Mike Little played in his 100th career ECHL game on Dec. 27 at Bakersfield and helped out offensively with an assist in a 4-2 Thunder win. Little was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team last season and was the first selection in Thunder history. Little also played in his 100th career Thunder game Jan. 9 at Colorado.

JUSTIN TIME

Center Justin Maylan is tied for fourth in the ECHL in rookie scoring with 38 points this season in 46 games. He collected 12 points in 16 games during the month of December. Maylan has also posted nine multi point games this season.

PLAYING THE REICHARD

Thunder goaltender Cody Reichard became the 11th goaltender in Thunder history to earn the ECHL Goaltender of the Week award when he took the honor on Dec. 11. He followed up with two near misses on monthly awards as well - runner up honors for ECHL Rookie of the Month and ECHL Goaltender of the Month (December) with a 4-1-3 record, 2.19 goals against average and .935 save percentage from Dec. 1-31.

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 played in the 300th game of his professional career against Utah on Sunday and is the Thunder all-time leader with 292 games played.

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