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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. San Francisco Bulls

January 18, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Friday, January 18, 2013

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

RADIO: 1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)/92.5 FM (arena feed)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

San Francisco Bulls: San Jose Sharks

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight's Promotion: INSULATED TUMBLER GIVEAWAY (presented by EZ Network Systems and 104.1 The Hawk)

National Anthem Singers: Elk Grove High School

Public Address Announcer: DJ Walker

In-Arena Emcee: "Hot Rod"

NEXT HOME GAME

Sunday, Jan. 20 vs. San Francisco Bulls (4:00 p.m.)

KIDS (GOLD) REPLICA JERSEY GIVEAWAY (presented by the Ray Morgan Company, Financial Center Credit Union and KAT Country 103)

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

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder continues a 13 game season series against their closest geographic rival, the San Francisco Bulls, at Stockton Arena. The game begins a three game series for the weekend which alternates sites between Stockton Arena and the Cow Palace. The Thunder is 1-2-1 this season against San Francisco and defeated the Bulls 6-4 in the last meeting on Dec. 17 at HP Pavilion at San Jose. Friday's game is the first between the two teams at Stockton Arena. The Bulls are coming off a 4-2 loss on Sunday against Bakersfield at the Cow Palace.

2012-2013 Head to Head Schedule: (1-2-1)

Fri. Nov. 9 Stockton 1 at San Francisco 4

Sat. Nov. 24 Stockton 3 at San Francisco 6

Thur. Dec. 13 Stockton 3 at San Francisco 4 (OT)

Mon. Dec. 17 Stockton 6 at San Francisco 4 *

Fri. Jan. 18 San Francisco 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 19 at San Francisco 7:15 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 20 San Francisco 4:00 p.m.

Wed. Jan. 30 San Francisco 7:00 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 16 San Francisco 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 17 at San Francisco 2:15 p.m.

Wed. Mar. 13 San Francisco 7:00 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 22 at San Francisco 7:15 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 23 at San Francisco 7:15 p.m.

*Game at HP Pavilion at San Jose

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder is 11-0-2 when leading after one period this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

STK 6 - COL 2 (1/12/13): Yannick Riendeau and Cameron Abney each buried two goals and the Stockton Thunder (20-13-7, 47 points) never trailed, blasting the Colorado Eagles in a 6-2 victory before 5,289 fans at Budweiser Events Center on Saturday. The Thunder ended the season series with a victory, finishing 3-3-0 against the Eagles. Gabriel Levesque also chipped in with a goal and an assist while Garet Hunt produced a key first period goal. Goaltender Cody Reichard earned the win with 34 saves.

COL 4 - STK 1 (1/11/13): Adam Brown made 22 saves in net and Jason Beatty's late second period goal stood up as the eventual game winner to help the Colorado Eagles defeat the Stockton Thunder (19-13-7, 45 points), 4-1 at Budweiser Events Center on Friday. The Thunder dropped their third loss in the last four road games and suffered through a night which saw their second ranked power play (ECHL) go 0-of-4 in the game.

COL 8 - STK 3 (1/9/13): Michael Forney collected a hat trick while Devin DiDiomete posted a goal and two assists to lead the Colorado Eagles past the Stockton Thunder (19-12-7, 45 points), 8-3 at Budweiser Events Center on Wednesday. The Thunder, who fell to 2-2-0 in the season series against the Eagles, surrendered a trio of power play goals in the defeat and was aided offensively by goals from Ryan Green (first career ECHL goal), Justin Maylan and Matt Reber. Special teams factored in the game with the Eagles, holding the top producing power play in the ECHL, converting at 3-of-5 in the game.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Ryan Constant is 3 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Yannick Riendeau is 6 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Garet Hunt is 6 games away from 300 in his professional career

HOME SWEET HOME

The Thunder has made Stockton Arena ideal for home ice advantage this season with a record of 11-4-2. They are playing eight of the next nine games at home and will start a season long seven game homestand on Jan. 20. Below is a look at key figures for the Thunder at home this season:

At home this season, the Thunder has:

- A record of 11-4-2

- Played in 17 home games (tied for 2nd fewest in ECHL with Florida)

- Totaled eight games of scoring four goals or more

- Outshot the opposition nine times this season

- Posted 11 games of 30 shots on goal or more

- Collected at least one power play goal in six of the last eight games

THE ALL-STARS ARE ALIGNED

Thunder center Justin Maylan is heading to the ECHL All-Star Game to represent Stockton on Jan. 23 at Colorado. The rookie center earned his first trip on Thursday and replaces Toni Rajala on the squad. Originally, the Thunder had Rajala and defenseman Nathan Deck (replaced with Ontario's Chris Huxley) selected to the ECHL All-Star Team in early January. Both are continuing to skate in the American Hockey League with Oklahoma City. Deck was named a starter for the game (currently skating in the AHL with Oklahoma City) with 17 points in 19 games. Rajala's 18 goals were among the ECHL's top five at the time of his selection.

THUNDER IN ECHL ALL-STAR GAME

Year Venue Representative

2005-06 Fresno Moreland, Lalonde

2006-07 Idaho Geisler, Dubnyk, Martz, Bodie

2007-08 Stockton Farynuk, Contois, MacMurchy

2008-09 Reading Huddy, Urquhart

2009-10 Ontario Blackwater, D'Alvise

2010-11 Bakersfield Arcobello*

2011-12 N/A N/A**

2012-13 Colorado Maylan

* Named MVP of the All-Star Game

** No All-Star Game hosted

NO LITTLE ACCOMPLISHMENT

Thunder defenseman Mike Little played in his 100th career ECHL game on Dec. 27 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. Little also played in his 100th career Thunder game last Wednesday at Colorado.

JUSTIN TIME

Center Justin Maylan leads the ECHL in rookie scoring with 34 points this season in 38 games. He collected 12 points in 16 games during the month of December. Maylan has also posted nine multi point games and buried a goal last Wednesday vs. Colorado.

ROLLING IN THE (RIEN)DEAU

Forward Yannick Riendeau had 19 points in 16 games during December and has posted 12 multi point games this season. He earned a pair of goals last Saturday at Colorado and had an eight game assist streak at home end on Jan. 4.

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. He followed up with two near misses on monthly awards as well - runner up honors for ECHL Rookie of the Month and ECHL Goaltender of the Month (December) with a 4-1-3 record, 2.19 goals against average and .935 save percentage from Dec. 1-31.

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 284 games played.

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