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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Las Vegas Wranglers

December 8, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m. PT

RADIO: None

INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

RECORDS:

Stockton Thunder (9-10-2, 20 points) - 3rd, Pacific

Las Vegas Wranglers (15-2-2, 32 points) - 1st, Pacific

2007-08 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

10/21/07 Stockton 1at Las Vegas 4

10/23/07 Stockton 2 at Las Vegas 3

12/07/07 Las Vegas 2 at Stockton 3 (SO)

12/08/08 Las Vegas at Stockton

01/01/08 Stockton at Las Vegas

01/19/08 Las Vegas at Stockton

01/20/08 Las Vegas at Stockton

02/13/08 Las Vegas at Stockton

03/04/08 Stockton at Las Vegas

UPCOMING MILESTONES

œ Chris Cichocki is 8 wins shy of 200 in his ECHL coaching career

œ Mark Adamek is 5 games shy of 100 in his professional career

œ Phil Cole is 6 games shy of 300 in his professional career

œ Andy Contois is 2 games shy of 100 in his professional career

œ Brian Lee is 6 games shy of 100 in his professional career

TONIGHTfS MATCHUP

Game-two of a back-to-back affair at Stockton Arena pits the Thunder and the Las Vegas Wranglers as theThunder is searching for its first winning streak since a five-game tear from 10/24 to 11/6. Las Vegas is 11-0-2 in its last 13 games and has only lost twice in regulation in its last 32 regular season games, dating back to the 2006-07 season. The Thunder, who is 5-3-0 at home this season, went 1-2-0 against Las Vegas at Stockton Arena last year.

TONIGHTfS GUESTS

The Stockton Thunder welcomes staff from the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League to tonightfs game, attended by Oilers development coach Bob Mancini and goaltending coach Pete Peeters.

LAST GAME RECAP

Goaltender Glenn Fisher stopped 29 shots while Ryan OfMarrafs goal in the fifth round of a shootout capped a dramatic comeback by the Thunder in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Las Vegas Wranglers before 6,220 at Stockton Arena on Friday. The Thunder picked up its first win in the all-time series since December 9, 2006, leaving Las Vegas winless for just the second time in 13 games (11-0-2). Ryan MacMurchy and Andy Contois scored for the Thunder in regulation.

NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES

Making their Stockton debut this weekend are right wing Spencer Carbery and defenseman L.P. Lachance, acquired in a trade earlier this week that sent right wing Jesse Bennefield to the Bakersfield Condors. Carbery ranked 11th among Central Hockey League rookies with 44 points (16g, 28a) last year and ranked third on the Tulsa Oilers with 157 penalty minutes in 63 games. Lachance amassed 90 points (21g, 69a) and 419 penalty minutes in 234 career junior games with Rimouski, Prince Edward Island and Quebec of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Goaltender Tim Boron shook off rust from a 17-day absence last week and posted a 1-1-1 record since being acquired off waivers from the Charlotte Checkers, and is facing his former team in Las Vegas for the first time this weekend. Boron stopped a career-high 43 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss last Friday against Utah. Boron has a save percentage of .924 in three games with the Thunder.

MOVINf ON UP c

Last night, left wing Liam Reddox became the second alum in Thunder history to play in the National Hockey League, making his debut with the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place against the St. Louis Blues. Reddox appeared in 70 games with the Thunder last season and scored 19 points (6g-13a) with a +6 rating in 22 games with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League this year before his call-up. Former Thunder defenseman Bryan Young made his debut with Edmonton last year.

ABOUT THE WRANGLERS

The Las Vegas Wranglers are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames and the AHL's Quad City Flames and are in their fifth season of ECHL play. Glen Gulutzan is in his fourth season as general manager and head coach for the Wranglers. Prior to joining the Wranglers, Gulutzan played for the Fresno Falcons of the West Coast Hockey League for six seasons, and was a player-assistant coach for the last four. In 1996-97, Gulutzan played in 60 games and had a Fresno record 80 assists and 110 points. Las Vegas qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs last season with a Brabham Cup title for the leaguefs best record, tallying a 46-12-14 regular season mark (106 points) followed by a second-round playoff exit against Idaho.

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