Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Utah Grizzlies

Published on November 5, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


GAME: Stockton Thunder vs. Utah Grizzlies

DATE: Saturday, November 5, 2011

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

RADIO: 92.5 FM (in-house feed)/StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks

Utah Grizzlies: Calgary Flames

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight's Promotion:

THUNDER GOES PINK VI (presented by St. Joseph's Medical Center in association with BloodSource, Union Bank and Food-4-Less)

National Anthem Singer: Pamela Buck

Public Address Announcer: Mike McKnight

In-Arena Emcee: Jungle Jim

NEXT HOME GAME

Wednesday, Nov. 23 vs. Alaska Aces, 7:00 p.m.

FAMILY DAY (presented by Sutter Gould Medical Foundation)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder hosts the Utah Grizzlies for the finale of "Thunder Goes Pink VI" at Stockton Arena. Like last night's game, Saturday's game will take on a "pink" Thunder theme pertaining to the ice surface, jerseys and other themes throughout the weekend, all in fundraising and promoting efforts for breast cancer awareness. The two games are also a featured rematch of last year's Western Conference Quarterfinal playoff round, won by Utah 3-1. The Thunder faces Utah for the second time out of six meetings this season and is 22-23-6 lifetime against the Grizzlies. Last night, Utah defeated the Thunder, 1-0 in a shootout at Stockton Arena.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder: 0-0-1)

Fri. Nov. 4 Utah 1 at Stockton 0 (SO)

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

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

Sat. Mar. 10 at Utah 6:05 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 17 Utah 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 18 Utah 4:00 p.m.

PINK POWER HITS STOCKTON ARENA

The ice and lights of Stockton Arena and Thunder jerseys will be turned pink to promote breast cancer awareness this weekend for "Thunder Goes Pink VI." Jerseys will be auctioned off after Saturday's game. On Friday, the first 1,500 kids (ages 12 and under) in attendance received a Thunder Goes Pink replica jersey. For both games, the first 2,000 women (ages 18 and over) receive a collectible "Thunder Goes Pink" rally towel. An additional giveaway will include pink glow necklaces to the first 1,000 fans (ages 18 and under). The events continued this morning for the Thunder Goes Pink 5K Run/Walk, nearby Stockton Arena for great prizes and a V.I.P. experience immediately after. Special merchandise will be sold throughout the arena during the weekend, including limited edition Thunder Goes Pink VI T-shirts, Pink Jersey lapel pins, pink pucks and brand new Ladies-Cut jerseys. Proceeds from this year's event will benefit St. Joseph's Foundation - Breast Cancer Services.

LAST THREE GAMES:

UTA 1 - STK 0 (SO) (11/4/11): Andrew Engelage made 25 saves for his second shutout of the season, outdueling Olivier Roy's 24 stops and first career shutout, and the Utah Grizzlies sent the Stockton Thunder (2-3-2, 6 points) to a 1-0 shootout defeat before 6,193 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday. The crowd, assembling in Stockton Arena for the Thunder's signature promotional event to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and the St. Joseph's Foundation - Breast Cancer Services, were treated to a goaltending duel. Engelage stopped all four Thunder shootout attempts and denied Garet Hunt on a penalty shot in sudden death overtime. The Thunder was led by acting captain Kevin Baker's seven shots on goal.

STK 4 - IDH 3 (10/29/11): Ian O'Connor scored a goal, added two assists and goaltender Thomas Heemskerk made 28 saves to help the Stockton Thunder (2-3-1, 5 points) sink the Idaho Steelheads with a 4-3 victory, in front of 6,397 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday. The Thunder earned their first victory at home and scored three unanswered goals during the course of the game. Defenseman Tony DeHart scored the game winning goal and rookie forward Cameron Abney chipped in with a first period goal - both players netted the first goal of their pro career.

ONT 4 - STK 2 (10/28/11): Francois Brisebois, Steven Tarasuk and Matt Tassone each scored a goal and added an assist to help the Ontario Reign send the Stockton Thunder (1-3-1, 3 points) to a 4-2 defeat, before 4,458 fans at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Friday. Ontario never trailed in the game and scored three unanswered goals in all three periods. The Thunder, who dropped its first regulation loss at Ontario since the 2009-10 season (breaking a 5-0-2 streak), were helped out offensively by rookie forward Ian O'Connor, who had a pair of goals.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Matt Thomas is 27 wins away from 300 in his professional coaching career

- Matt Foy is 11 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Garet Hunt is 5 games away from becoming the Thunder career leader in games played

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

An exclusive club, the Thunder averaged over 6,000 fans per game and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth straight year in 2010-11, ranking second in ECHL in attendance with 6,382 fans per game. A whopping crowd of 9,482 piled into Stockton Arena on Jan. 22 for the "Teddy Bear Toss" game, the largest crowd at Stockton Arena for the season and the fourth crowd over 9,000 in the event's history. Stockton has 17 sellouts in the team's franchise history. They welcomed 12 crowds of 7,000 or more at Stockton Arena last season and had its highest attendance since 2007-08, a six percent increase from 2009-10.

The Thunder ranks second in ECHL attendance this season with an average of 6,472 fans per game.

TOP FIVE HOME CROWDS IN 2010-11

OPPONENT DATE ATTENDANCE

1. Ontario 1/22/11 9,482

2. Idaho 3/19/11 9,396 *

3. Bakersfield 11/6/10 9,015

T-4. Idaho 3/26/11 8,923*

Idaho 1/29/11 8,923*

* Denotes sellout

** Stockton Arena's base capacity for hockey is 8,923 and has capabilities of expansion to 9,737 with auxiliary seating.

GOAL ORIENTED

Thunder right winger Kevin Baker was signed as a free agent on Aug. 24 and brings a wealth of offensive accomplishments to the Thunder roster. He was named ECHL Most Valuable Player in 2008-09 and his 57 goals that season were most in the league since 2000-01. He ranks third in ECHL all-time goal scoring (since 2006-07) with 153 goals.

MOST GOALS, ECHL (SINCE 2006-07)

Rank Player Team GP PTS G A +/-

1 Wes Goldie AK 413 401 243 158 -1

2 Mark Derlago IDH 281 340 174 166 41

3 Kevin Baker STK 273 311 153 158 21

4 Ryan Kinasewich UTA 205 292 131 161 -4

5 Marty Flichel IDH 375 350 128 222 -4

** Statistics include regular season and playoffs

ON THE HUNT

Thunder left winger Garet Hunt needs 5 games to surpass Mark Adamek as the club's career leader in games played. Hunt is in his fourth season as a member of the Thunder and last season, was named the team's "Unsung Hero" and "Fan Favorite." This season, he was named alternate captain on Oct. 13.

By playing in tonight's game, he will tie Adam Huxley for second on the Thunder all-time list.

ALL-TIME THUNDER GAMES PLAYED

Player GP

1. Mark Adamek 186

2. Adam Huxley 183

3. Mike Lalonde 182

Garet Hunt 182

5. Daryl Marcoux 166

WELCOME TO THE SHOW

Two players, right winger Matt Foy and center Jason Morgan, have playing experience in the National Hockey League. Foy suited up for the Minnesota Wild from 2005-08 and Morgan has skated for five National Hockey League clubs (Los Angeles, Calgary, Minnesota, Nashville and Chicago). A total of 12 players are on the Thunder active roster who have skated in training camp or rookie camp with National Hockey League or American Hockey League teams this season: Cameron Brodie, Bretton Cameron, Thomas Heemskerk, Gabriel Levesque, Brock Matheson, Ian O'Connor, Tony DeHart, Sebastian Owuya, Olivier Roy, Milan Kytnar, Ryan Martindale and Cameron Abney.

GET EM WHILE THEY'RE HOT

Thunder Season Ticket Holders can take advantage of the Item of the Week for 2011-12 and pick up a new Thunder Goes Pink replica jersey, produced by Reebok, for $10 off the listed retail price. This offer lasts through Saturday night's home game against Utah and is available in person at the Stockton Arena Fan Attic.

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