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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Las Vegas Wranglers

December 29, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


GAME PREVIEW: STOCKTON THUNDER vs. LAS VEGAS WRANGLERS

DATE: Saturday, December 29, 2012

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

RADIO: 1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)/92.5 FM (inside Stockton Arena)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Las Vegas Wranglers: Independent

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight's Promotion: MINI-THOR BOBBLEHEAD GIVEAWAY (presented by Pepsi and 97.7/98.3 KWIN)

National Anthem Singer: Avery Chapman

Public Address Announcer: John Taylor

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

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, Jan. 4 vs. Alaska Aces (7:30 p.m.)

WALL CLING GIVEAWAY (presented by KAT Country 103)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder takes on the Las Vegas Wranglers in the fifth meeting of the season between the two teams, and the second at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 3-0-1 this season against the Wranglers and in the last matchup Stockton won 1-0 at Stockton Arena on Dec. 5. Dating back to the 2011-12 season, the Thunder has won five home games in a row against Las Vegas. Saturday's game will be the first Thunder home game since Dec. 15. Las Vegas lost 4-1 last night at San Francisco.

2012-2013 Schedule: (3-0-1)

Fri. Oct. 19 Stockton 2 at Las Vegas 3 (OT)

Sat. Oct. 20 Stockton 5 at Las Vegas 4

Tue. Dec. 4 Las Vegas 1 at Stockton 3

Wed. Dec. 5 Las Vegas 0 at Stockton 1

Sat. Dec. 8 at Las Vegas 7:05 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 29 Las Vegas 7:30 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 8 Las Vegas 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 9 Las Vegas 7:30 p.m.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder is 10-0-2 when leading after one period this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

STK 6 - BAK 3 (12/28/12): Eric Hunter and Justin Maylan each buried two goals while goaltender Tyler Bunz made 21 saves to lift the Stockton Thunder (17-9-6, 40 points) to a 6-3 victory over the Bakersfield Condors at Rabobank Arena on Friday. The Thunder, who led wire to wire in the game and improved to 6-1-1 this season over their division rivals, buried a pair of power play goals and collected multi point games from Teigan Zahn and Yannick Riendeau as well.

STK 4 - BAK 2 (12/27/12): Matt Bergland collected a goal and an assist while goaltender Tyler Bunz made 29 saves to help the Stockton Thunder (16-9-6, 38 points) boom past the Bakersfield Condors in a 4-2 victory before 3,332 fans at Rabobank Arena on Thursday. Four unanswered goals powered the Thunder attack and Bergland was joined by Toni Rajala, Teigan Zahn and Phil Mangan, who each contributed with a goal. Bunz snapped a 0-5-3 streak with the win and made 23 saves in the final 40 minutes.

AK 4 - STK 1 (12/22/12): Nick Mazzolini collected three assists to boost the Alaska Aces offense, en route to a 4-1 win over the Stockton Thunder (15-9-6, 36 points) before 5,819 fans at Sullivan Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, swept in a three game series in Anchorage, were led offensively by Mike Little's goal in the third period. Yannick Riendeau had an assist on Little's power play goal, giving him 18 points in the last 14 games.

NO LITTLE ACCOMPLISHMENT

Thunder defenseman Mike Little played in his 100th career ECHL game on Thursday 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.

JUSTIN TIME

Center Justin Maylan is tied for second in ECHL rookie scoring with 29 points this season in 30 games. He has collected nine points in the last 11 games. Maylan has also posted eight multi point games and buried a pair of goals last night at Bakersfield.

ROLLING IN THE (RIEN)DEAU

Forward Yannick Riendeau has 21 points in the last 16 games and has posted nine multi point games this season. He earned a goal and an assist last night at Bakersfield and is on a seven game assist streak at home.

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. Reichard posted a record of 2-0-1, a 2.30 goals-against average and a .966 save percentage for the week of Dec. 3-9.

AN OFFENSE DRESSED TO THE NINES

The Thunder tied a club record for most goals in a game (9) on Nov. 12 in a 9-6 victory at Utah, matching the record previously set on Dec. 10, 2011 against Bakersfield. The Thunder also notched a season high for most goals (5) in a period, accomplishing the feat in the second period at Maverik Center on Nov. 12. The Thunder is averaging 3.5 goals per game this season, ranking fifth in the ECHL. The Thunder has also scored six goals or more in a game seven times this season.

COVERED WITH OIL

The Edmonton Oilers return as the NHL affiliate of the Thunder for the seventh straight season, helping advance eight players from the Thunder onto playing in the National Hockey League. The Thunder has also never missed the playoffs since first connecting with the Oilers in 2006-07. Edmonton has won five Stanley Cup championships and sent seven players onto induction in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Among the players assigned to Stockton, beginning this season, was LW Philippe Cornet, who made his NHL debut with Edmonton and led the AHL affiliate Oklahoma City Barons with 24 goals last season.

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 275 games played.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

The Thunder has drawn over 200,000 fans for seven straight seasons to Stockton Arena, totaling over 1.5 million through the turnstiles since opening in 2005-06. There have been 17 sellouts at Stockton Arena in Thunder history and last season, there were seven crowds of 7,000 or more at Thunder home games. The Thunder drew a club record 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Last season, the Thunder ranked third in ECHL attendance.

TOP FIVE THUNDER HOME CROWDS IN 2011-12

OPPONENT DATE ATTENDANCE

1. Alaska 3/3/12 9,398

2. Bakersfield 3/24/12 9,323

3. Utah 11/5/11 9,012

4. Alaska 1/28/12 7,613

5. Utah 3/17/12 7,537

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Ryan Constant is 4 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Yannick Riendeau is 10 assists away from 100 in his professional career

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ECHL Stories from December 29, 2012


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