Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Ontario Reign

Published on October 24, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


October 24, 2009 - Stockton Arena

FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RADIO: None (92.5 FM inside Stockton Arena)

INTERNET: www.StocktonThunder.com (B2 Networks)

MILESTONE TRACKER

o Ryan Constant is 6 games away from 200 in his professional career

o Kelly Czuy is 25 points away from 100 in his professional career

o Oren Eizenman is 12 points away from 100 in his professional career

o Riley Emmerson is 2 games away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Craig Valette is 4 games away from 400 in his professional career

2009-10 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

Fri. Oct. 23

Ontario 7 at Stockton 1

Sat. Oct. 24

Ontario

7:30 p.m.

Wed. Nov. 4

@ Ontario

7:00 p.m.

Fri. Nov. 20

@ Ontario

7:30 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 21

@ Ontario

7:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 17

Ontario

4:00 p.m.

Fri. Feb. 5

@ Ontario

7:30 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 6

@ Ontario

7:00 p.m.

Fri. Feb. 12

Ontario

7:30 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 13

@ Ontario

7:00 p.m.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder concludes the opening homestand of the regular season schedule against the Pacific Division rival Ontario Reign, the second of ten games this year between both clubs. It is the second night the Thunder their new gold-colored third jersey. Through the first 11regular season games in the all-time series, the Thunder is 4-6-1 against Ontario. The home opener for Stockton is a celebration of its Fifth Anniversary season. The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons (2005-09).

LAST 3 GAMES

ONT 7 - STK 1 (10/23/09): Adam Henrich and Tony Voce scored a pair of goals each while goaltender Curtis Darling made 30 saves to help the Ontario Reign send the Stockton Thunder to a 7-1 setback before 5,805 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The loss sent the Thunder to a 3-2-0 lifetime record in home openers and featured the only Thunder goal of the game from Craig Valette's power-play goal in the second period. Ontario, who parlayed a dominant 5-fot-5 effort on the power-play,. received an additional offensive lift on goals from Jon Rheault, Greg Hogeboom and Andrew Martens.

STK 2 - IDA 3 (10/18/09): John Swanson snapped a 2-2 tie with 10:03 remaining in the third period on a game-winning power-play goal, helping the Idaho Steelheads complete a three-game sweep of the Thunder in a 3-2 decision before 2,654 fans at Qwest Arena. The Thunder fell to 1-8-1 in the last ten all-time games in Boise and dropped their second straight one-goal game. Judd Blackwater extended his goal-scoring streak to three consecutive games and Chris D'Alvise chipped in with the first goal of his pro career. Idaho's Mark Derlago and Tyler Spurgeon also scored, while rookie Richard Bachman won in his pro debut with 26 saves in net. Thunder goaltender Andrew Perugini made 36 saves in the losing cause.

STK 2 - IDA 3 (10/17/09): Goaltender Bryan Pitton's career-high 42 saves fueled a Stockton Thunder rally, which fell shy by a goal while Evan Barlow and Michael Neal each had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 Thunder loss to the Idaho Steelheads before 3,553 fans at Qwest Arena on Saturday. Pitton, who surpassed his previous career-high of 37 stops last season, was aided in the defeat by Thunder goals from James Bates and Judd Blackwater. Idaho's offensive support came from Barlow, Neal and veteran Ashton Rome.

THUNDER BEFORE REIGN IN THE FIRST ROUND - A RECAP

The Thunder defeated the Ontario Reign, 4-3 in a best-of-seven series last year which was the first playoff series victory in Thunder history ... Cory Urquhart led the Thunder in scoring for the series with 9 points (6g-3a) and Craig Valette tallied three game winning goals ... ... Stockton won Game 7, 5-4 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on the strength of four first period goals and Parker Van Buskirk's 27 saves ... Stockton won Game 4 in overtime, 5-4 on James Bates' goal at 2:28 of the first sudden-death OT period ... the game was the playoff debut of Van Buskirk, who made 29 saves for the Thunder ... the Thunder evened the series at 1-1 with a 6-5 win in Game 2 at Citizens Business Bank Arena, tying a club playoff record with six goals - Craig Valette scored twice in the game ... Ontario took Game 1 in a 4-3 victory despite a third period rally by the Thunder, who tied the game on a Cory Urquhart power-play goal which marked a two-goal rally in the final frame before Shawn Germain's game-winner ... the Thunder finished 4-5-1 against the Reign in the regular season.

POWER SWITCH

The Thunder power-play has converted in four consecutive games and ranks ninth in the ECHL with a 19.0 percent conversion rate. Last night against Ontario, the Thunder went 1-for-7 on the power-play. Judd Blackwater leads the team with two power-play goals.

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

For the fourth straight season, the Thunder led the ECHL in attendance last year with an average of 6,218 fans through 36 home games. Stockton has 13 sellouts in the team's franchise history and finished last year as the ECHL's attendance leader for the third consecutive season. The Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for four straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons - 2000-05).

ONE IN A MILLION

The Thunder has launched a special landmark "One Millionth Fan" contest which began last night. The contest begins the official countdown to search for one millionth fan to cross the turnstiles of Stockton Arena in the Thunder's five year history. As the reigning four-time ECHL attendance leader, the Thunder needs just 58,555 fans to reach the one million mark. The lucky fan will be selected as fans enter Stockton Arena, on the day the Thunder is scheduled to reach the one millionth fan mark. Upon selection, the lucky fan to cross the turnstiles will be awarded an array of prizes, including a vacation stay at Yosemite Lodge (Yosemite National Park), 2009-10 season tickets and an Amtrak train trip to Salt Lake City to see the Thunder face the Utah Grizzlies.

AS GOOD AS GOLD

Last night was the debut of the Thunder gold-colored third jersey, the first of its kind added to the team's uniform scheme. Based in the Thunder's gold color, the jersey's appearance features white bolts with a black trim adorning the front and back of the shoulders and extending to the arms along with a dominant black colored trim on the shoulders and arms. The jersey additionally pays tribute to a classic hockey look by featuring tie-down laces at the base of the collar.

UPCOMING THUNDER THIRD JERSEY SCHEDULE

Sun. Nov. 15

vs. Idaho

4:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 10

vs. Bakersfield 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 17

vs. Ontario

4:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 24

vs. Bakersfield 4:00 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 31

vs. Alaska

4:00 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 21

vs. Utah

4:00 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 28

vs. Las Vegas 4:00 p.m.

THUNDER FIGHTING CANCER TONIGHT WITH SPECIAL SILENT AUCTION

The Thunder is conducting a special fundraiser tonight, presenting silent auction items designed to help raise funds for cancer research through Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre and Fred's Team - Miles of Hope for Cancer Research. The money raised will be donated to benefit cancer patient Brian Bannan of Toronto, a childhood friend of Thunder head coach Matt Thomas and his entry as a scheduled participant in the New York City Marathon on Oct. 31. Bannan's participation funding in the New York City Marathon will be forwarded to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York through the Fred's Team Foundation - Miles of Hope, designed to research elimination methods of the terminal illness.

Among the items for bidding are a special behind -the-scenes "All Access Pass" for a lucky fan to shadow Thunder players and team personnel on a game day, a round of golf with the Thunder, and an array of autographed memorabilia.

BACK FOR MORE

A total of 13 players have returned to this year's Thunder roster from the 2008-09 club, when they advanced to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs: James Bates, Judd Blackwater, Ryan Constant, Oren Eizenman, Igor Gongalsky, Garet Hunt, Kenny MacAulay, Daryl Marcoux, Matt O'Dette, Andrew Perugini, Bryan Pitton and Craig Valette.

OILING UP THE SHIP

For the fourth consecutive season, Stockton will serve as the AA minor-league affiliate for Oilers prospects. Since the Thunder and Oilers began their partnership in 2006-07, the Thunder has advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs three consecutive years and four former Thunder players - right wing Troy Bodie, center Tim Sestito, left wing Liam Reddox and defenseman Bryan Young - have gone on to play in the NHL.

Players with the Thunder that have been assigned through the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons:

Andrew

Perugini (G)

Bryan

Pitton (G)

Jordan

Bendfeld (D)

James

Bates (RW)

Kelly

Czuy (RW)

Riley

Emmerson (RW)

Bryan

Young (D)

LETTER JACKET

Center Craig Valette was named the fourth captain in Thunder history on Oct. 15 (Dean Stork, Brad Farynuk and Matt O'Dette). He served as acting captain during nine games of the Kelly Cup Playoffs last year after an injury to O'Dette, the captain for 08-09. Kenny MacAulay and Bryan Young will serve as alternate captains.

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