Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Utah Grizzlies

Published on November 24, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m. PT

RADIO: 1420-AM KSTN (joined in progress)

INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

2007-08 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

11/24/07 Utah at Stockton

11/28/07 Stockton at Utah

11/30/07 Stockton at Utah

12/01/07 Stockton at Utah

02/06/08 Utah at Stockton

02/29/08 Utah at Stockton

04/03/08 Stockton at Utah

04/04/08 Stockton at Utah

04/05/08 Stockton at Utah

UPCOMING MILESTONES

¡ñ Chris Cichocki is 10 wins shy of 200 in his ECHL coaching career

¡ñ Brandon Schwartz is 1 game shy of 100 in his professional career

TONIGHT¡¯S MATCHUP

The Thunder faces the Utah Grizzlies for the first time this season in a Saturday night duel at Stockton Arena, the first of nine meetings between both clubs this year. The Thunder went 6-1-0 against Utah last season and has won the last three consecutive games in the head-to-head matchup. Entering this week, Utah was the second most penalized team in the ECHL with 371 penalty minutes. Tonight¡¯s game begins a four-game series between both teams and the final three will be held at The E-Center, the home venue of the Grizzlies. Second on the team in scoring with 11 points, Utah¡¯s Michael Haley has scored two game winning goals this season.

LAST GAME RECAP

Rookie left wing Jacob Micflikier scored a goal, added an assist which included an eventual third period game-winning goal, capping a two-goal comeback for the Thunder in the third period in a 4-3 victory over the Alaska Aces in front of 7,011 at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The Thunder was the first team since March 2004 to send Alaska to a loss in regulation after leading through two periods. Cam Ellsworth stopped 20 shots in net for the Thunder, while Jonas Almtorp, Pat Bateman and Brian Lee also scored for the Thunder.

FARYNUK NAMED THUNDER¡¯S 2ND CAPTAIN

Defenseman Brad Farynuk was named the second captain in Thunder history on Wednesday and is currently on recall to the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. In his place, Brandon Schwartz was named ¡°acting¡± captain and will wear the ¡°C,¡± serving in Farynuk¡¯s place while serving time in Springfield. Serving as assistant captains are Schwartz and defenseman Beau Geisler, while Phil Cole will serve as an additional assistant captain with Farynuk on recall. Dean Stork was the team¡¯s first captain in 2005-06 and the Thunder did not name a captain in 2006-07.

FEATURE FLIK

Rookie forward Jacob Micflikier has emerged with 12 points (6g-6a) in his last 7 games, jumping into a tie for eighth in ECHL scoring with 20 points (6g-14a) ¨C pacing four points back of Dayton¡¯s Yannick Tifu. Micflikier, out of the University of New Hampshire (NCAA), has posted six multi-point games this season.

FAN-DEMONIUM

The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance through three games with an average of 7,160 fans per game this year, totaling 42,961 at the turnstiles. A November 3 tilt against the Idaho Steelheads, part of "Thunder Goes Pink II," was the first sellout of the year at Stockton Arena with a total of 9,737 fans. The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans (an average of 6,780) to Stockton Arena in 2006-07.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES

The Utah Grizzlies are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL¡¯s New York Islanders and the AHL¡¯s Bridgeport Sound Tigers and are in their third season of ECHL play. Jason Christie is in his third season as head coach for the Grizzlies and has been with the team since their inception into ECHL. Prior to joining the Grizzlies, Christie played ten years professionally and coached Peoria Rivermen to the Kelly Cup Championship in the 1999-2000 campaign. Christie is the all time franchise leader for wins with Peoria. Utah did not qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs last season, tallying a 22-42-8 record (52 points).

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