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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Ontario Reign

October 16, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder continues its season opening stretch at home, finishing the weekend with back-to-back games against the Ontario Reign at Stockton Arena tonight. The Thunder went 7-3-0 last season against the Reign and in the last meeting, Ontario defeated the Thunder, 6-3 last night at Stockton Arena. Through the first 21 regular season games in the all-time series, the Thunder is 11-9-1 against Ontario.

SEASON SERIES (Ontario leads, 1-0-0)

Fri. Oct. 15 Ontario 6 at Stockton 3

Sat. Oct. 16 Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Fri. O ct. 22 Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 23 at Ontario 7:00 p.m.

Fri. Jan. 21 Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 22 Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 23 at Ontario 5:00 p.m.

Wed. Feb. 9 at Ontario 7:00 p.m.

Wed. Feb. 16 at Ontario 7:00 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 27 at Ontario 5:00 p.m.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

Jim McKenzie is 1 game away from 100 in his ECHL career

Chris Lawrence is 16 games away from 200 in his professional career

Scott Howes is 9 games away from 100 in his professional career

Aaron Clarke is 8 games away from 200 in his professional career

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

An exclusive club, the Thunder averaged over 6,000 fans per game and drew over 200,000 fans at the gate for the fifth straight year in 2009-10. The Thunder drew 217,098 fans (6,031 average) in 36 regular season games at Stockton Arena and ranked third overall this season in ECHL attendance, only surpassed by the second-year Ontario Reign (led ECHL with 232,223 fans) and the first-year Toledo Walleye (second with 226,575 fans). The Thunder has drawn 14 sellouts in the team's franchise history, welcomed its one millionth fan last season along with a draw of five crowds of 8,000 fans or more. The Thunder drew 6,117 fans last night to Stockton Arena for Opening Night.

TOP FIVE HOME CROWDS IN 2009-10

OPPONENT DATE ATTENDANCE

1. Alaska 11/7/09 9,392*

2. Victoria 1/30/10 9,158

3. Utah 3/20/10 8,518

4. Las Vegas 3/27/10 8,053

5. Victoria 3/6/10 8,042

* Denotes sellout

HAIL TO THE CHIEF

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas is the third winningest coach in the last decade in the EC HL, entering the year with a lifetime .606 win percentage (234-143-54 record) in six seasons as a head coach for Stockton, Fresno and Atlantic City. Thomas also has never missed the playoffs, won a Kelly Cup championship in 2002-03 as an assistant coach with Atlantic City, has been named coach for the ECHL All-Star Game twice (2005, 2009) and has been behind the bench in a coaching role for teams that advanced to the Conference Finals three times.

ALL-TIME WINS, REGULAR SEASON (2000-2010)

COACH WINS

1. Jeff Pyle (Gwinnett, Mobile) 345

2. Malcolm Cameron (four teams) 296

3. Davis Payne (Alaska, Pee-Dee) 289

4. Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) 254

5. Matt Thomas (Stockton, Fre, A.C.) 234

THIS IS THUNDER/SHARKS TERRITORY

This summer saw the Stockton Thunder announce an affiliation partnership in conjunction with the San Jose Sharks of the National Ho ckey League. The Thunder, who is a dual affiliate of San Jose and the Edmonton Oilers, are separated by only 80 miles of geographic distance from San Jose. As hockey neighbors, both clubs also share similar honors in sports and entertainment. The Thunder is a two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," and the Sharks recently finished as the 12th best overall franchise in ESPN's "Ultimate Standings," ranking all major sports franchises according to how much they give back to fans for all of time, money and emotion invested by each fan (conducted by ESPN: The Magazine). Both Stockton and San Jose advanced to their respective league's Conference Final playoff round last season.

OILING UP THE SHIP AGAIN

The Thunder and Edmonton Oilers renewed an affiliation partnership for the fifth consecutive season, continuing a pipeline to the NHL that has seen seven former members of the Thunder ma ke their NHL debut since beginning in the Oilers farm system. Right wing Troy Bodie, goaltender Devan Dubnyk, right wing Colin McDonald, center Ryan O'Marra, center Tim Sestito, left wing Liam Reddox and defenseman Bryan Young - have gone on to play in the NHL. The Oilers, a member of the NHL's Western Conference and Northwest Division, have been a member of the National Hockey League since the 1979-80 season and have captured five Stanley Cup championships.

ROSTER SERVES A TALL ORDER

As of Opening Night, ten players on the Thunder active roster measure at 6-foot-1 or taller: Anthony Aiello (6-1), Cameron Brodie (6-1), Jesse Gimblett (6-3), Matt Jones (6-4), Chris Lawrence (6-4), Jim McKenzie (6-2), Jason Pitton (6-2), Chase Ryan (6-2), Steve Vanoosten (6-1) and Craig Valette (6-1).

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