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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Las Vegas Wranglers

January 19, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m. PT

RADIO: None

INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

RECORDS:

Stockton Thunder (17-17-2, 36 points) - 3rd, Pacific

Las Vegas Wranglers (23-7-7, 53 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 2 at Stockton 1

01/01/08 Stockton 1 at Las Vegas 4

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

o Spencer Carbery is 9 games away from 100 in his professional career

o Andy Contois is 20 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Adam Huxley is 5 games away from 200 in his professional and ECHL career

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder faces the National Conference-leading Las Vegas Wranglers for a back-to-back series at Stockton Arena, the final two games before the All-Star break. The Thunder is looking to improve on a 1-4-0 record this season against Las Vegas, who leads the ECHL's National Conference with a 23-7-7 record (53 points) heading into the week. The last time both teams faced each other at Stockton Arena was in two-game series on December 7-8, with the teams splitting both games.

TONIGHT'S GUEST

The Stockton Thunder welcomes staff from the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League to tonight's game, attended by Oilers Development Coach Bob Mancini.

LAST GAME RECAP

Rookie goaltender Glenn Fisher tied a career-high 44-save effort while all-star Andy Contois scored a game-winning goal early in the third period to aid the Thunder in a 2-1 victory over the Fresno Falcons before a crowd of 6,415 at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night. The Thunder improved to 7-3-0 in its last 10 games and 4-1-0 in its last five all-time home games against Fresno, giving Head Coach Chris Cichocki the 200th victory in his all-time coaching career.

CALLING ALL STARS ...

On Monday, right wing Ryan MacMurchy and left wing Andy Contois were named to the National Conference team for the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game, joining defenseman Brad Farynuk as three Thunder who will represent the home crowd at Stockton Arena on Jan. 22-23. MacMurchy leads the Thunder with 13 goals and is scoring over a point-per-game pace with 25 points (13g-12a) in 22 games, ranking third on the Thunder in scoring. In his second full professional season, the 26-year-old Contois is tied for the Thunder lead with 33 points (12g-21a). Head Athletic Trainer Kevin Anderson and Equipment Manager Mark Burgess will serve the National Conference staff while radio play-by-play announcer Mike Benton will serve the radio broadcast team, totaling six representatives of the Thunder (a league-high) at the All-Star Game.

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

The Thunder remains the league's leader in attendance with a crowd of 6,415 taking in its most recent home game against Fresno on January 16. The Thunder has drawn a league-high average of 6,621 fans in 16 dates (105,928 total). The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons, drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07 and is the host of the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game and festivities on Jan. 22-23. Tonight's game is an expected sellout inside the 9,737-seat Stockton Arena.

TOSS THAT TEDDY

Tonight, the Thunder will host its third annual "Teddy Bear Toss Night" presented by News10, Jackson Rancheria, California Water Service Company & KAT Country 103. All fans in attendance are invited to bring a new or gently-used teddy bear or stuffed animal to the game and are invited to throw them onto the ice immediately when the Thunder scores its first goal of the game, where they will be gathered and donated to the United Way of San Joaquin County. Last year, over 3,600 stuffed animals were donated to local charity in the Thunder's 2006-07 Teddy Bear Toss event.

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. Las Vegas qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs last season with a Brabham Cup title for the league's best record, tallying a 46-12-14 regular season mark (106 points) followed by a second-round playoff exit against Idaho. Las Vegas will send Gulutzan as a coach and is slated to send three players to next week's Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game at Stockton Arena, which includes right wing Peter Ferraro, goalie Daniel Manzato and defenseman Jason Dest.

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