Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Phoenix

Published on January 25, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


January 25, 2009 - Stockton Arena

FACEOFF: 4:00 p.m.

RADIO: 1420 KSTN

INTERNET: www.StocktonThunder.com (B2 Networks)

2008-09 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

1/6/09 Stockton 5 at Phoenix 4

1/8/09 Stockton 8 at Phoenix 2

1/23/09 Phoenix 4 at Stockton 1

1/25/09 Phoenix 4:00 p.m.

2/1/09 Phoenix 4:00 p.m.

2/28/09 Phoenix 7:30 p.m.

3/3/09 @ Phoenix 6:05 p.m.

3/4/09 @ Phoenix 6:05 p.m.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder ends a six-game homestand and faces the Phoenix RoadRunners for the fourth time this season, the second time the teams meet this season at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 16-5-1 lifetime against Phoenix and went 2-0-0 against in a two-game series at U.S. Airways Center on Jan. 6 and Jan. 8. Both teams last met on Jan. 23 at Stockton Arena, with Phoenix winning 4-1. The game continues a stretch where the Thunder play five games in six nights.

TONIGHT'S GUEST

The Stockton Thunder welcomes staff from the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League to tonight's game, attended by Oilers assistant coach Charlie Huddy and development coach Bob Mancini.

LAST THREE THUNDER GAMES

1/24/09 - AK 4 at STK 5 (SO): Rookie James Bates scored in the fourth round of a shootout to cap the eighth win in the last nine games for the Stockton Thunder (18-18-5, 41 points), who survived a furious comeback by the Alaska Aces and won 5-4 in a shootout before 7,316 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who mounted a 4-1 lead in the third period with three goals in a span of 3:36 then saw it evaporate on three goals by Alaska in the final 5:14 of regulation, won their first shootout under Head Coach Matt Thomas and became the first team to hand the Aces a loss when trailing after one period this season, breaking Alaska's 9-0-0 mark. Last night was the finale of back-to-back games where the Thunder suited up in Reebok EDGE home jerseys of their NHL affiliate, the Edmonton Oilers (midnight blue and copper). The jerseys were auctioned off to the public after the game on the ice surface of Stockton Arena, with all proceeds benefiting the Stockton Thunder and Lightning Foundation.

1/23/09 - PHX 4 at STK 1: Craig Kowalski made 33 saves while Kimbi Daniels and Ashton Rome both scored a goal and an assist to help the Phoenix RoadRunners snap the Stockton Thunder's (17-18-5, 39 points) eight-game unbeaten streak in regulation, in a 4-1 Thunder loss before 5,745 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday. The Thunder, who outshot Phoenix 34-18 and lost in regulation for the first time under head coach Matt Thomas (7-1-1), were aided by a goal from veteran center Cory Urquhart in his return to the lineup after the ECHL All-Star Game. Phoenix won for just the sixth time in 23 lifetime meetings against the Thunder and notched its third lifetime win in four seasons at Stockton Arena.

1/18/09 - IDA 3 at STK 4 (OT): All-Star forward Ryan Huddy scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner just 27 seconds into sudden-death overtime, to lift the Stockton Thunder (17-17-5, 39 points) to a come-from-behind 4-3 OT win over the Idaho Steelheads before 4,658 at Stockton Arena on Sunday. The Thunder won their seventh game in a row in the finale before the ECHL All-Star break and are now 7-0-1 since Dec. 31 under Head Coach Matt Thomas, who were aided by a goal each from Ryan Constant and James Bates. Goaltender Bryan Pitton made 23 saves and the win moved his record to 9-10-2. Idaho received a goal each from Marty Flichel, Bryan McGregor and Mark Bomersback.

THUNDER STRIKES AT READING'S ALL-STAR GAME

The Thunder were well represented at the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game in Reading, as veteran center Cory Urquhart scored a first period goal and was one of five goal scorers for the National Conference, who were defeated 11-5 by the American Conference at the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Guardian Wear before 5,693 at Sovereign Center. Urquhart ripped a one-timer past goaltender Kris Mayotte of Johnstown with 2:07 left in the first period on a feed by Alaska Aces forward Colin Hemingway, capping off a three-goal first period for the National Conference. The Thunder were also represented on the ice by rookie forward Ryan Huddy, who registered a team-leading seven shots-on-goal.

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas was behind the National Conference bench for the second ECHL All-Star coaching honor of his career.

In Tuesday's Skills Competition, Urquhart hit 3-of-9 targets (Ryan Cruthers of Mississippi and Kevin Baker of Florida) and hit a 1-for-1 mark in the tie-breaker event to defeat both players and win the individual Accuracy Shooting competition. Urquhart, who served as an alternate captain for the National Conference team, helped guide the National Conference to its fourth victory in five seasons in the Skills Competition.

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,759 through 15 home games, has 13 sellouts in the team's franchise history and finished last year as the ECHL's attendance leader for the third consecutive season. It was the second straight year the Thunder surpassed the mark of 230,000 fans for one season. The Thunder's yearly attendance total finished at 239,337, an average of 6,648 fans per game. The Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for three straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons). Stockton's crowd of 9,737 on Nov. 8 against Victoria was the team's first sellout of the year.

STEP UP TO THE MIKE

Returning to the lineup this season is left wing Mike Lalonde, who is the Thunder all-time leading goal scorer with 63 goals and ascended to the top perch as the Thunder all-time leading scorer with 135 points, scoring the milestone point on a goal on Dec. 21 at Ontario. Selected as the first player in Thunder history to the ECHL All-Star Game (2006), Lalonde led the ECHL with 308 shots and paced the Thunder with 29 goals as a rookie in 2005-06. Lalonde spent last season with Tilburg of the Netherlands League, guiding his team to the Dutch Cup and scoring 92 points (43g-49a) in just 34 games.

Below is a look at Lalonde's placing on the Thunder career scoring charts:

GOALS:

1. Mike Lalonde 63

2. Nathan Martz 29

Steve Slonina 29

3. Tim Verbeek 28

Ryan MacMurchy 28

POINTS

1. Mike Lalonde 135

2. Nathan Martz 122

3. Joel Irwin 68

4. Stephane Goulet 63

5. Ryan MacMurchy 55

STREAK UPDATE: Lalonde returned to the Thunder lineup on Jan. 16 and has scored nine points (3g-6a) in his last five games. His four point effort (2g-2a) on Jan. 16 vs. Las Vegas tied a career-high for scoring.

RED HOT HUDDY

Thunder rookie and 2009 ECHL All-Star Ryan Huddy amassed two more assists vs. Alaska on Saturday to run his current scoring streak to nine consecutive games, scoring 16 points (9g-7a) in that span which ranks as the fourth current longest in the ECHL. During that span, Huddy posted a six-game goal-scoring streak which is the fourth longest in the league this season.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"I think we have a lot of confidence in our team right now, and even when we're down we can come back and win," Huddy said. "The whole game we thought we were going to win."

- Thunder all-star forward Ryan Huddy after a 4-3 OT comeback win vs. Idaho, The Record, 1/19/08

"Well, we were getting a little tired and decided to jump in," Pitton said with a smile. "It looked like a big sofa."

- Goaltender Bryan Pitton after assisting the Thunder and the United Way of San Joaquin County for "Teddy Bear Toss Night" with gathering of stuffed animals for local charity, The Record, 1/23/08

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