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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Utah Grizzlies

December 11, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


A battle featuring two of the top three teams in the Western Conference, the Thunder faces the Utah Grizzlies for the second meeting of this season at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 12-17-3, lifetime against Utah. The last meeting between both teams was on Nov. 26, when Utah defeated Stockton, 3-2 at Stockton Arena. The second of 11 games against Utah this season, tonight's game is the final at home before the Holiday break. Stockton is 5-4-1 at home this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

BAK 5 ‚¬" STK 3 (12/10/10): Kyle Calder scored two goals, added an assist and his Bakersfield Condors never trailed, sending the Thunder to a 5-3 loss before a crowd of 4,377 at Rabobank Arena on Friday night. Calder was aided by two goals from Joel Broda to send the Thunder to its first loss on the road in regulation in ECHL. Chris Lawrence totaled three points (1g-2a) and was also aided on the Thunder end for scoring from Marcus Watson (first pro goal) and Garet Hunt.

STK 5 ‚¬" VIC 4 (OT) (12/4/10): Fraser Clair capped a two-goal game with game-winning goal, coming with 21.9 seconds remaining in sudden death overtime to lift the Thunder to a 5-4 overtime win over the Victoria Salmon Kings, before a crowd of 3,363 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Saturday. Clair, who broke a 12-game goal-scoring drought with the effort, capped off a five-point run in the last two games and converted Chris Lawrence's centering pass from the left corner at the goal mouth to boost the Thunder to a three-game road sweep of Victoria and a team record 6-0-2 streak on the road. Pierre-Andre Bureau capped off a two-goal game (first goal in his pro career) and Lawrence also chipped in with two points (1g-1a). Goaltender Bryan Pitton improved to 7-0-1 with 33 saves.

STK 5 ‚¬" VIC 3 (12/3/10): Defensemen Anthony Aiello tied a career-high with two goals and Bryan Pitton made 28 saves to lift the Thunder to a 5-3 victory over the Victoria Salmon Kings, before 4,479 fans at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday night. The Thunder improved to a club record 5-0-2 (longest road unbeaten streak) on the road. Aiello's two goals produced points spread out among the blueline, including Cameron Brodie (one assist) and Dan Ringwald (one assist). Chris Lawrence, Mark Arcobello and Garet Hunt also chipped in with a goal each.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 0-1-0)

Fri. Nov. 26 Utah 3 at Stockton 2

Sat. Dec. 11 Utah 7:30 p.m.

Fri. Jan. 14 at Utah 6:05 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 15 at Utah 6:05 p.m.

Mon. Jan. 17 at Utah 6:05 p.m.

Fri. Feb. 4 Utah 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 5 Utah 7:30 p.m.

Wed. Mar. 9 at Utah 6:05 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 11 at Utah 6:05 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 12 at Utah 6:05 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 13 at Utah 3:05 p.m.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

Aaron Clarke is 12 assists away from 100 in his professional career

Ryan Constant is 10 points away from 200 in his professional career

Ryan Constant is 26 games away from 300 in his professional career

Jim McKenzie is 17 games away from 200 in his professional career

HOCKEY AND ART COLLIDE

During tonight's game at Stockton Arena, the Thunder will be making limited edition caricature artwork available for fans to take home through silent auction bids. The framed and matted artwork, designed by Alexis Villanueva, features a likeness of and is individually autographed by Thunder players. Each finished "comic book-like" illustration was customized to suit each player's submitted individual taste in various artistic concepts and themes. Portions of proceeds raised through the silent auction will benefit The House of Doodle in Stockton, providing under-served youth with art classes and programs in and around the San Joaquin County region.

LIKE A BROKEN RECORD

The Thunder broke a club record on Saturday, Nov. 20 in a 2-1 shootout loss to Idaho for a 12-game unbeaten streak in regulation (8-0-4). The previous standard was set with an 11-0-0 run in 2006-07. The Thunder began the streak with a 5-4 overtime loss to Ontario on Oct. 16 at Stockton Arena and tied the mark on Nov. 18, in a 3-2 shootout win over the Idaho Steelheads.

THUNDER ANSWERS ROAD RULES CHALLENGE

Despite a 5-3 loss at Bakersfield last night, the Thunder had a 6-0-2 streak on the road, finishing as the last remaining team in the ECHL yet to lose a game in regulation on the road before Friday. Additionally, the streak to start the season broke the mark of five straight games without a loss in regulation (5-0-0), set back in 2006-07 (Mar. 17-31).

CLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC

Forward Fraser Clair picked up an assist in last night's game at Bakersfield, extending his scoring streak to three straight games while scoring six points (2g-4a). Clair was signed by the Thunder as a free agent on Sept. 21, 2010 and had 14 goals and 37 points (14g-23a) in 36 games for Bolzano HC in Italy last season. He set ECHL career-highs with Fresno in 2005-06, scoring 25 goals, 21 assists and 46 points in 58 games.

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

The Thunder have allowed just 27 shots per game, second in the ECHL (Alaska is 1st with 25.9). The Thunder have allowed over 30 shots on goal in just nine games this year and on Nov. 24, the Thunder tied a franchise low with 13 shots allowed in a 1-0 defeat to Las Vegas. They outshot Las Vegas, 42-13. In the last game, the Thunder outshot Bakersfield, 35-33 in a 5-3 defeat last night.

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT, PART II

The Thunder also are averaging 34.1 shots per game, third highest in the ECHL. They have posted 30 shots or more for six consecutive games and have fired 40 shots or more in three games this season. On Nov. 10 at Idaho, the Thunder put up a season-high 45 shots and outshot the Steelheads, 45-33 in a 2-1 shootout win at Qwest Arena. In the last game, the Thunder outshot Bakersfield, 35-33 in a 5-3 defeat last night.

HAIL TO THE CHIEF

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas ranks third in wins in the last decade in the ECHL (among active coaches), entering the year with a lifetime .606 win percentage (234-143-54 record) in six seasons as a head coach for Stockton, Fresno and Atlantic City. Thomas also has never missed the playoffs, won a Kelly Cup championship in 2002-03 as an assistant coach with Atlantic City, has been named coach for the ECHL All-Star Game twice (2005, 2009) and has been behind the bench in a coaching role for teams that advanced to the Conference Finals three times.

ALL-TIME WINS, REGULAR SEASON (2000-2010)

COACH WINS

1. Jeff Pyle (Gwinnett, Mobile) * 357

2. Malcolm Cameron (four teams) * 307

3. Davis Payne (Alaska, Pee-Dee) 289

4. Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) 254

5. Matt Thomas (Stockton, Fre, A.C.) * 244

* Currently ECHL active

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