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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Idaho Steelheads

March 30, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Saturday, March 30, 2013

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

RADIO: 1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com (America One)/92.5 FM (in house feed)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Idaho Steelheads: Dallas Stars

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight's Promotion: FAN APPRECIATION/RALLY TOWELS (presented by 104.1 The Hawk)

National Anthem Singer: Michael Adams

Public Address Announcer: DJ Walker

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

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, Apr. 5 vs. Las Vegas Wranglers (7:30 p.m.)

GAME 1 - WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder wraps up the 2012-13 regular season tonight against the Idaho Steelheads. The Thunder and Steelheads have split the season series at 2-2, with the last three matchups decided by one goal. The last time these two clashed was on Feb. 2 at Stockton Arena, where Harrison Reed's two goals propelled the Thunder to a 3-2 win on Star Wars Night. Idaho and Stockton are locked into the third and fourth seeds (respectively) in the Western Conference for the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

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

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 2 at Stockton 3

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

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder is 19-3-3 when leading after one period this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

STK 4 - SF 1 (3/23/13): Rookie Andrew Clark, playing in just his third professional game, collected a hat trick and goaltender Olivier Roy made 28 saves to lift the Stockton Thunder (36-26-9, 81 points) to a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Bulls at the Cow Palace on Saturday.

STK 2 - SF 1 (SO) (3/22/13): Veteran Shawn Weller scored his 12th goal with 0.1 seconds left in regulation for a game tying marker and earned the winner in the fifth round to lift the Stockton Thunder (35-26-9, 79 points) to a heart stopping 2-1 comeback shootout win before 4,027 fans at the Cow Palace on Friday. The Thunder, who had just 12 shots through the first 40 minutes, came back with a 17 shot effort in the third period and posted its third come-from-behind victory when trailing after two periods this season.

STK 2 - BAK 1 (3/17/13): Captain Garet Hunt's second period finish proved to be the game-winning goal, as the Stockton Thunder (34-26-9, 77 points) held on for a 2-1 win in the season series finale against the Bakersfield Condors (21-41-5, 47 points) in front of 4,304 fans at Stockton Arena on Sunday. Hunt and forward Shawn Weller found the back of the net for the Thunder, who polished their final season series record at 8-2-1 against Bakersfield. In goal, Olivier Roy made 29 stops, while his Bakersfield counterpart Brian Stewart made 28 saves.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Ryan Constant is 3 points away from 100 in his Thunder career

- Shawn Weller is 8 games away from 400 in his professional career

- Gabriel Levesque is 9 games away from 100 in his Thunder career

AND THE AWARD GOES TO:

Following tonight's game, fans are invited to stay for the Thunder's annual team awards ceremony, scheduled to be conducted at center ice. The Thunder and select Season Ticket Holders will help present awards to the team as follows:

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

2005-06 Jake Moreland

2006-07 - Team shared -

2007-08 Brandon Schwartz

2008-09 Ryan Huddy

2009-10 James Bates

2010-11 Fraser Clair

2011-12 Kevin Baker

LEADING SCORER/OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

2005-06 Joel Irwin

2006-07 Nathan Martz

2007-08 Brandon Schwartz

2008-09 Ryan Huddy

2009-10 James Bates

2010-11 Chris Lawrence

2011-12 Kevin Baker

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

2006-07 Devan Dubnyk

2007-08 No award given

2008-09 No award given

2009-10 Chris D'Alvise

2010-11 Jordan Fulton

2011-12 Oliver Roy

UNSUNG HERO

2006-07 Tim Verbeek

2007-08 Mark Adamek

2008-09 Mark Adamek

2009-10 Daryl Marcoux

2010-11 Garet Hunt

2011-12 Nathan Deck

DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR

2006-07 Tim O'Connell

2007-08 Brian Lee

2008-09 Daryl Marcoux

2009-10 Anthony Aiello

2010-11 Ryan Constant

2011-12 Mike Little

FAN FAVORITE (as voted by the fans)

2008-09 (shared) Garet Hunt, Adam Huxley

2009-10 Garet Hunt

2010-11 Garet Hunt

2011-12 Garet Hunt

HOME SWEET HOME

The Thunder has made Stockton Arena ideal for home ice advantage this season with a record of 21-11-3. Below is a look at key figures for the Thunder at home this season:

At home this season, the Thunder has:

- A record of 21-11-3

- Totaled 14 games of scoring four goals or more

- Outshot the opposition 18 times this season

- Posted 23 games of 30 shots on goal or more

- Collected at least one power play goal in 18 of the last 25 games

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL(ER)

Thunder forward Shawn Weller has collected 16 points in the last 15 games. Weller, a former captain of Bakersfield and South Carolina and an ECHL All-Star in 2010, was acquired by the Thunder from South Carolina on Jan. 25 in exchange for defenseman Cameron Brodie and future considerations.

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 is the Thunder all-time leader with 313 games played.

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