Game Preview: Thunder Opens 9th Season against the Colorado Eagles

October 19, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder (@StocktonThunder) opens their season tonight at 7:30 as they play host to the Colorado Eagles. Doors to Stockton Arena will open at 6:30 and the game will be preceded by a 2013 Western Conference Championship Banner raising ceremony. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats at 7:15 as some seating sections near the banner will have limited access after that time.

Fans who cannot make the game can turn to America One for the video broadcast. The cost is $9 for a single game or you can buy a season pass for $110. The free audio broadcast is available on Spreaker and on StocktonThunder.com. The broadcast will begin at 7:15.

The Thunder return 9 players from the Western Conference Championship team, including top playoff performers Ryan Hayes and Andrew Clark. Hayes ranked second in the league behind only Reading's Yannick Tifu in playoff points with 9 goals and 24 points, while Clark was tied for third with 7 goals and 21 points.

There are also a lot of new faces with Stockton to begin the year as the team features seven players from the Thunder's AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, including Russian forward Kirill Kabanov. Kabanov was drafted in the third round, 65th overall by the New York Islanders in 2010. He suited up in 2 games for the AHL team to begin this season scoring 1 goal.

Corey Trivino is another new face to the team after being acquired in the offseason from the Florida Everblades. Last season, Trivino's first professional season, he suited up in 63 contests and scored 18 goals and 51 points. He would then play for Florida in 13 playoff games where he tallied 3 goals and 11 points. Like Kabanov, Trivino was also a high draft pick by the New York Islanders, as they selected Trivino in the second round, 36th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Another key area with new faces is between the pipes. Pembroke, New Hampshire's Brian Foster begins his first season with the Thunder as will former Boston College standout Parker Milner. Foster, drafted in the fifth round 161st overall by the Florida Panthers, has played the majority of his pro career in Cincinnati with the Cyclones, but also has spent time with the San Antonio Rampage and even a one-game-appearance for the Florida Panthers. NCAA champion Parker Milner will also be manning the net for the Thunder this season as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers hope he can become just as big of a star as he was at Boston College. Milner won 19 straight games in 2011 on the way to backstopping the BC Eagles to the NCAA title.

When you take a glance down the Thunder roster one of the first things that stands out is the number of younger players on the squad. The team's average age is just 23.8. On the other side, Colorado boasts a much older, veteran squad led by longtime player Riley Nelson. At 35, Nelson is seven years older than Stockton's eldest statesmen, 28-year-old Ryan Constant.

Out of the Eagles 23 players currently on the roster, 5 of them are 30 years old or older, giving Colorado an average age of 26.5. That extra experience could pay off in providing the Eagles with depth in the form of players that know how to handle themselves at this level. The Eagles do return 13 players to the fold following a season where they earned the 6th seed in the Western Conference and were knocked out in the first round by the Idaho Steelheads.

Heading into its third season as an ECHL club, Colorado will be hoping for a longer playoff run, and at the very least, its first playoff series win. The afore-mentioned Nelson returns for year 11 with the club. He hasn't suited up for another team since a four-game stint with San Antonio in the AHL back in 2003-04.

In terms of fresh faces, Colorado adds a new danger-man up front in the form of former NHL player Ray Sawada. The 28-year-old comes to the ECHL for the first time after spending the last six seasons splitting time between the AHL and NHL.

Like the Thunder, Colorado won both of their preseason games and started their 2013-14 campaign last night with a 2-1 shootout win over Bakersfield. Kyle Ostrow scored the first goal of the Eagles season in just 37 seconds. Goaltender Adam Brown got the start and allowed only 1 goal on 28 shots.

There is still time to get your tickets for tonight's Season Opener. To add to your Mini-Plan or Season Ticket plan, call 209-373-1500. You can also still purchase the Opening Night Value Plan featuring a ticket and a gift, or the Opening Night Ticket Plan which features two Lower Premium seats and two Lower Premium vouchers for $60, saving you $20! For fans that wish to buy single game tickets, the Stockton Arena Box Office will be open beginning at 10AM.



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