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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Utah Grizzlies

February 6, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 7:00 p.m. PT

RADIO: 1420-AM KSTN

INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

RECORDS:

Stockton Thunder (19-22-3, 41 points) - 3rd, Pacific

Utah Grizzlies (23-20-4, 50 points) - 3rd, West

2007-08 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

11/24/07 Utah 8 at Stockton 3

11/28/07 Stockton 4 at Utah 3 (SO)

11/30/07 Stockton 2 at Utah 3 (SO)

12/01/07 Stockton 0 at Utah 4

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

o Spencer Carbery is 6 games away from 100 in his professional career

o Andy Contois is 15 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder continues the longest stretch on home ice this season (seven of eight games at Stockton Arena) with a Wednesday matchup against the Utah Grizzlies. The Thunder is 1-2-1 in the season series against the Grizzlies and is led by rookie Geoff Paukovich's three points (1g-2a) in four games for the season series. In the defensive crosshairs for the Thunder will be all-star Keith Johnson, who leads Utah with eight points (6g-2a) in four games against the Thunder.

LAST GAME RECAP

Goaltender Tim Boron stopped 25 shots for his third career shutout, a new Thunder single season record, to lift the Thunder to a 4-0 win over the Bakersfield Condors before 5,517 at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The Thunder snapped a four-game losing streak and picked up its first win in the post all-star break schedule, led by Brandon Schwartz's goal and assist for his second straight multi-point game, added by a third period scrap with Condor forward Evan Kotsopolous. Geoff Paukovich, Ryan MacMurchy and Tim Verbeek also scored for the Thunder.

FIRST THING'S FIRST

Of the 19 wins the Thunder has accumulated this season, 18 have come when the Thunder scores the first goal of the game. The Thunder is 18-8-1 when scoring the first goal of the game.

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

The Thunder remains the league's leader in attendance with a league-high average of 6,745 fans in 21 dates (141,642 total) and has drawn two sellouts (9,737) this season. The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons, drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07 and drew the fifth largest crowd in ECHL All-Star Game history on January 23 with a total of 7,455 fans.

BIG MAC'S BIG MONTH

Thunder all-star right wing Ryan MacMurchy has vaulted into the team's goal-scoring lead with 17 goals and paced the Thunder in scoring for the month of January with 14 points (8g-6a) and a team-leading +9 rating in 11 games. MacMurchy's month helped him out-pace his scoring totals from last season with the Alaska Aces.

IN THE NICK OF TIM

A waiver pick-up from the Charlotte Checkers, rookie goaltender Tim Boron has provided steady play in net for the Thunder, posting three shutouts (a new club single-season record) and a .948 save percentage, making 181 saves on 191 shots in the last five games.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: NEW TRADE ACQUISITION JASON BEEMAN

"(Thunder radio color commentator) Derek (Eisler) recommended Jason, and I like what I know about him. He's a pit bull type of player. I know I'm acquiring a guy who isn't afraid to fight."

- Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki, The Record, 2/5/08

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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