Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Las Vegas Wranglers

January 20, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 4:00 p.m. PT

RADIO: 1420-AM KSTN

INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

RECORDS:

Stockton Thunder (17-18-2, 36 points) - 3rd, Pacific

Las Vegas Wranglers (24-7-7, 55 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 4 at Stockton 1

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 4 games away from 200 in his professional and ECHL career

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder faces the National Conference-leading Las Vegas Wranglers to wrap-up a two-game series at Stockton Arena, the final game before the All-Star festivities arrive next week in Stockton. The Thunder is looking to improve on a 1-5-0 record this season against Las Vegas, who leads the ECHL's National Conference with a 24-7-7 record (55 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

Adam Cracknell and Kelly Czuy scored a pair of goals each and goaltender Kevin Lalande made 33 saves to help the Las Vegas Wranglers send the Thunder to a 4-1 loss before a sellout crowd of 9,737 at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. Brandon Schwartz scored the lone Thunder goal in the third period, igniting a shower of teddy bears onto the ice by the sellout crowd, with the stuffed animals scheduled to be donated to the United Way of San Joaquin County.

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 on 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 after a sellout crowd of 9,737 packed Stockton Arena last night, the second sellout of the season. The Thunder has drawn a league-high average of 6,804 fans in 17 dates (115,665 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.

SCHWARTZ HITTING HIS STRIDE

Thunder center and 2007 ECHL All-Star Brandon Schwartz is enjoying his best stretch of the regular season, scoring nine points (3g-6a) in his last six games. The second-year pro scored his seventh goal of the season in last night's game against Las Vegas and ranks second on the Thunder in scoring for the month of January with nine points (3g-6a) and is tied for the team's monthly lead with a +6 rating with Ryan MacMurchy.

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.



ECHL Stories from January 20, 2008


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