Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Ontario Reign

Published on March 16, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Saturday, March 16, 2013

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

RADIO: 1360 AM KFIV/StocktonThunder.com (America One)/ 92.5 FM (in arena feed)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Ontario Reign: Los Angeles Kings

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight's Promotion: THOR COIN BANK GIVEAWAY (presented by MetroPCS and KHOP 95.1)

National Anthem Singers: Kohl Open Elementary School

Public Address Announcer: DJ Walker

In-Arena Emcee: "Hot Rod"

NEXT HOME GAME

Sunday, Mar. 17 vs. Bakersfield (4:00 p.m.)

FAMILY DAY (presented by Sutter Gould Medical Foundation, 99.3 KJOY and Farmers Insurance)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

A home and home series concludes tonight with the regular season finale between the Thunder and the Ontario Reign at Stockton Arena, before an expected large crowd. The Thunder is 6-4-1 in the season series and defeated the Reign in the last meeting, 5-4 in a shootout last night at Citizens Business Bank Arena. The Thunder leads the all time series over Ontario with a record of 29-17-6.

2012-13 Head to Head Schedule: (6-4-1)

Fri. Oct. 12 Ontario 2 at Stockton 1

Sat. Oct. 13 Stockton 4 at Ontario 0

Fri. Nov. 3 Stockton 4 at Ontario 5 (OT)

Fri. Feb. 15 Ontario 1 at Stockton 2 (OT)

Wed. Feb. 20 Stockton 1 at Ontario 4

Fri. Feb. 22 Stockton 2 at Ontario 4

Sun. Feb. 24 Ontario 1 at Stockton 4

Sat. Mar. 2 Stockton 3 at Ontario 2 (SO)

Sun. Mar. 3 Ontario 4 at Stockton 3

Sun. Mar. 10 Ontario 3 at Stockton 4

Fri. Mar. 15 Stockton 5 at Ontario 4 (SO)

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

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder is 17-3-3 when leading after one period this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

STK 5 - ONT 4 (SO) (3/15/13): Goaltender Matt Cooper made 26 saves in relief effort and stopped all four shots in the shootout to lift the Stockton Thunder (33-25-9, 78 points) to a resilient 5-4 victory over the Ontario Reign before 9,616 fans at Citizens Business Bank Arena. The Thunder came back from two separate two goal deficits and helped Cooper earn his first career win. He stopped Matt Reigster in the fourth round to seal the game. Nine different Thunder players recorded points in the game.

SF 7 - STK 2 (3/13/13): Six unanswered goals by the San Francisco Bulls (23-34-7, 53 points) spelled doom for the Stockton Thunder (32-25-9, 73 points) in a 7-2 loss in front of 3,201 fans at Stockton Arena on Wednesday. Forwards Ryan Hayes and Gabriel Levesque accounted for the Thunder goals. San Francisco's Tommy Grant led the way with a goal and three points, while Taylor Nelson made 38 stops in goal.

STK 4 - ONT 3 (3/10/13): Forward Shawn Weller had a hand in all four goals for the Stockton Thunder (32-24-9, 73 points) in a back-and-forth 4-3 win over the Ontario Reign (42-16-6, 90 points) in front of 4,358 fans at Stockton Arena in Sunday. Weller finished with a goal and four total points on the night. Forward Ryan Hayes put forth a two-goal effort, which included the game-winner. Defenseman Nathan Deck totaled a goal and an assist.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Garet Hunt is 1 point away from 100 in his ECHL career

- Shawn Weller is 6 games away from 100 in his ECHL career

HELLO (AGAIN)

The Thunder was boosted by recent additions to their lineup with defenseman Nathan Deck reassigned from Oklahoma City on Feb. 27. Deck, who spent 19 games with the Thunder before being called up to Oklahoma City earlier this season, earned five goals and 16 total points at the time of his return. Deck earned the Thunder's "Unsung Hero" award while ranking second among Thunder defenseman with 26 points in 60 games in his rookie campaign last season. Deck was named as a starter for the 2013 ECHL All-Star Classic.

HOME SWEET HOME

The Thunder has made Stockton Arena ideal for home ice advantage this season with a record of 20-10-3. Below is a look at key figures for the Thunder at home this season:

At home this season, the Thunder has:

- A record of 20-10-3

- Totaled 14 games of scoring four goals or more

- Outshot the opposition 18 times this season

- Posted 23 games of 30 shots on goal or more

- Collected at least one power play goal in 18 of the last 23 games

THE DEFENSE DOESN'T REST

During the month of February, the Thunder defense has limited opponents to three goals or less in each of the seven games featuring a win or shootout loss (Feb. 9 at Alaska - 3-2 shootout loss). The Thunder defense allowed just two goals or less in five of the previous seven games.

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL(ER)

Thunder forward Shawn Weller has collected 12 points in the last 11 games. Weller had the shootout-winning goal last Saturday in Ontario and put forth a four-point effort against the Reign on last Sunday. Weller, a former captain of Bakersfield and South Carolina and an ECHL All-Star in 2010, was acquired by the Thunder from South Carolina on Jan. 25 in exchange for defenseman Cameron Brodie and future considerations.

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 309 games played.

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