Holiday Break Ends With Battle At Bakersfield

Published on December 22, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: (all times PT)

at Bakersfield Condors (Saturday - 7:00 p.m.) - 1420 KSTN, B2 Networks

The Thunder faces the Bakersfield Condors in the fourth meeting of the season between both teams at Rabobank Arena, ending a seven-game road trip for the Thunder. Both teams face each other 12 times for the 2009-10 season and in the last meeting, the Thunder defeated the Condors in overtime, 3-2 at Stockton Arena on Dec. 5. Stockton carries at lifetime record of 13-14-8 against Bakersfield. Bakersfield leads the Pacific Division with a run of 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. With the exception of nine games against the Idaho Steelheads, the Thunder owns a 10-6-2 record this year against the rest of its ECHL schedule.

1420 KSTN is the Thunder's flagship radio station and all Thunder games can be heard live on the Internet (free-of-charge) and are available for viewing at a $7 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Radio broadcaster Mike Benton provides play-by-play commentary with the "Thunder Forecast" pre-game show starting 15 minutes before each broadcast.

PROMOTIONAL NEWS

Tuesday, Dec. 29 vs. Bakersfield Condors, 7:00 p.m.

KNIT CAP GIVEAWAY (presented by 97.7/98.3 KWIN and Comcast)

- The first 1,000 fans (ages 13 and over) will receive a free Thunder knit cap!

COMMUNITY UPDATE

"Thor" appearance, Winter Wonderland Public Skating Session at Stockton Arena

Monday - Wednesday, Dec. 21-23, 1:00 - 9:00 pm

Thunder mascot "Thor," is scheduled to appear at the "Winter Wonderland" Public Skate session, hosted by Stockton Arena from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Dec. 21-23. Thor will be available for photo and autograph opportunities to the public throughout the entire event.

"Winter Wonderland" is a holiday celebration where kids and adults are invited to skate on the ice of Stockton Arena, home to the Thunder, for $5 admission, which includes skate rental. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to local charities, including the Emergency Food Bank Stockton/San Joaquin. Additionally, all fans in attendance who bring canned food or a gently used or new coat will receive $2 off admission.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS FOR STOCKTON ARENA FAN ATTIC

The Stockton Arena "Fan Attic," the official team store of the Thunder, will open its doors for select holiday hours for that perfect hockey gift fans are searching for. The Fan Attic will be open from Noon-5:00 p.m. today and Wednesday.

"KINGS ROOM" PREGAME AND POSTGAME PARTIES FEATURING LIVE MUSIC

Back by popular demand, the Stockton Thunder is hosting pregame and postgame parties inside the new "Kings Room" of Stockton Arena, open before each home game and after each Friday and Saturday home game. Discount on drink specials are available, in addition to special live music that will entertain Thunder fans. For more information, call the Thunder at (209) 373-1500.

2009-10 TEAM LEADERS:

Points - Oren Eizenman, Judd Blackwater (25)

Goals - Judd Blackwater (12)

Assists - Oren Eizenman (18)

Plus/Minus -Steve Vanoosten (+5)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (86)

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o Judd Blackwater is 5 games away from 100 in his professional career

o Kelly Czuy is 22 points away from 100 in his professional career

o Igor Gongalsky is 22 points away from 100 in his professional career

o Matt Robinson is 4 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

TEAM NOTES

- Matt Robinson has seven points (6g-1a) in his last seven games- Andrew Perugini is tied for fifth in the ECHL with a.915 save percentage

- Judd Blackwater is tied for the ECHL lead with seven power-play goals

- Stockton is second in the ECHL with an average of 5,874 fans in attendance (12 home games)

- Stockton's power-play is second in the ECHL at 23.1 percent (31-for-134)

- Stockton is 3-0-0 in the last three games decided in overtime or shootout

The team's upcoming schedule for the coming week is as follows:

(subject to change, all times PT)

MON. - FRI.: DEC. 21-25

ECHL holiday break

SAT, DEC. 26:

9:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Stockton Arena

Travel to Bakersfield, Calif. immediately after

7:00 p.m. - GAME AT BAKERSFIELD (Rabobank Arena)

1420 KSTN/StocktonThunder.com

SUN. DEC. 27:

Practice TBD

MON. DEC. 28:

10:00 a.m. - Practice at Stockton Arena

WEEK IN REVIEW

VIC 4 - STK 3 (12/19/09): The Victoria Salmon Kings survived a two-goal comeback and a late 6-on-5 skating situation by the Thunder, sneaking by Stockton, 4-3 and mounting a three-game sweep before 4,051 fans at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Saturday night. The Salmon Kings, who won their tenth in a row at home and sixth overall, sent the Thunder to a 3-3-0 record on the current road trip which wraps up Saturday at Bakersfield. The Thunder received goal scoring support from Jason Pitton, Judd Blackwater and Daryl Marcoux, nearly tying the game in the last seconds on a 6-on-5 skating situation. Randall Gelech scored the eventual game-winner in the second period.

VIC 2 - STK 0 (12/18/09): Goaltender David Shantz outdueled Andrew Perugini by making 30 saves for his second shutout of the season, helping the Victoria Salmon Kings slip by the Thunder, 2-0 before an announced crowd of 3,675 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday. Shantz, a 2007 ECHL All-Star selection formerly with the Florida Everblades, stopped 13 shots poured on by Stockton in the final period and helped solidify the win with a point-blank save on Matt Robinson in the waning seconds. Jimmy Sharrow and Andy Brandt (empty-netter) scored for Victoria and the Thunder were held to without a goal for the second time this season. Perugini made 32 saves in the losing cause, earning second star of the game honors.

VIC 7 - STK 2 (12/16/09): Olivier Latendresse engineered a four-point effort (2g-2a) and the Victoria Salmon Kings scored five unanswered goals in the first and second period to beat the Thunder, 7-2 before 3,842 fans at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Wednesday. The Thunder, who had their winning streak halted at five games, received goal-scoring support in the first period from J.F. Caudron and Kenny MacAulay. Spelling Latendresse's multi-goal effort were individual markers from Scott Howes, Randall Gelech, Wes Goldie, Dirk Southern and Chad Painchaud.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

(courtesy of The Record)

"But I'm proceeding as the long-term owner of the team. I expect to be in Stockton for a long time to come."

- Owner/Chairman Michael Reinsdorf on the updated state of the Thunder, The Record, 12/15/09

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ECHL Stories from December 22, 2009


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