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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. San Francisco Bulls

January 20, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Sunday, January 20, 2013

TIME: 4:00 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

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

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

San Francisco Bulls: San Jose Sharks

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight's Promotions: 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)

National Anthem Singer: Julie Vasquez

Public Address Announcer: Michael Ravotti

In-Arena Emcees: Alan Sanchez, "Hot Rod"

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, Jan. 25 vs. Utah Grizzlies (7:30 p.m.)

PLAYER POSTER GIVEAWAY (presented by In Shape Health Clubs, University Plaza Hotel and 104.1 THE HAWK)

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 finishes a three game series for the weekend which alternates sites between Stockton Arena and the Cow Palace. The Thunder is 2-3-1 this season against San Francisco and lost the last matchup, 4-2 at the Cow Palace last night. Tonight's game will also be the final tilt played before the All-Star break. The home team has won five of the six meetings this season.

2012-2013 Head to Head Schedule: (2-3-1)

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 2 at Stockton 5

Sat. Jan. 19 Stockton 2 at San Francisco 4

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 12-1-2 when leading after one period this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

SF 4 - STK 2 (1/19/13): Kris Belan broke a 2-2 tie with 6:04 left in the third period and Taylor Nelson hung on for 32 saves to help the San Francisco Bulls defeat the Stockton Thunder (21-14-7, 49 points), 4-2 at the Cow Palace on Saturday. Mike Little and Harrison Reed contributed offensively with goals for the Thunder. Goaltender Cody Reichard took the loss with 27 saves.

STK 5 - SF 2 (1/18/13): Yannick Riendeau, Eric Hunter and Matt Reber racked up a combined nine points to lead a relentless Stockton Thunder (21-13-7, 49 points) offense, en route to a 5-2 victory over the San Francisco Bulls before 5,617 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday. The Thunder, who won its second straight game over San Francisco and in the first meeting between the two teams in Stockton, improved to 12-4-2 on home ice. Center Gabriel Levesque chipped in with two assists as well.

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.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

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

- Yannick Riendeau is 5 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Garet Hunt is 4 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 12-4-2. They are in the midst of playing eight of the 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 12-4-2

- Totaled nine games of scoring four goals or more

- Outshot the opposition ten times this season

- Posted 12 games of 30 shots on goal or more

- Collected at least one power play goal in seven of the last nine 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 is tied for the ECHL lead in rookie scoring with 34 points this season in 40 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 286 games played.

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