Huddy breaks scoring record, Thunder drop magic number

March 28, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Rookie Ryan Huddy broke the Stockton Thunder (31-31-6, 68 points) single-season scoring record on an assist just 27 seconds into the first period, helping the Thunder beat the Utah Grizzlies 5-3 before 6,705 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night.

Huddy assisted on Bo Cheesman's first goal in a Thunder uniform for his 69th point of the season, toppling Joel Irwin's mark set in 2005-06. The win dropped the Thunder's "magic number" to five points to clinch its third straight Kelly Cup Playoff berth. Cheesman (1g-1a), Mike Lalonde (1g-1a) and veterans Tyler Kindle (1g-1a) and Craig Valette (two assists) each posted two points in the game.

Goaltender Andrew Perugini made 25 saves to improve to 20-12-2, becoming the second goaltender in Thunder history (Devan Dubnyk, 2006-07) to surpass the 20-win plateau.

On the game's opening shift, Huddy accomplished the record-setting point when he walked out from behind the net and fed Cheesman in the slot for a one-timer that was ripped past Utah goaltender Robert Gherson for a 1-0 Thunder lead.

David Rohlfs' sixth goal of the season, coming on a 2-on-1 shorthanded break, lifted the Thunder to a 2-0 lead at the 5:55 mark of the first period when he tapped in a rebound at the doorstep that was produced from Valette's shot at the right circle.

The Thunder threatened to blow the lead open to three goals on a 5-on-3 power-play in the second period, but Gherson made a point-blank glove save on Huddy from below the right circle to set-up an eventual shorthanded goal by James Sixsmith, helping Utah creep back into the game with a one-goal deficit. With 9:48 left, Sixsmith took Tim Verbeek's lead pass for a breakaway and stuffed a forehand shot past Perugini's right pad.

Stockton and Utah combined for five goals in the third period which served as a coronation to a wild finish.

Veteran Damian Surma's 10th goal of the season stretched the Thunder lead to 3-1 with 15:34 left in regulation when he took Valette's centering pass and put a wrist shot through Gherson's five hole. After Utah's Todd Miller took a tripping minor with 6:41 left in the game, Lalonde buried his 20th goal on the year 32 seconds later, when his one-timer from the mid slot bounced over Gherson and into the net with Kindle and Cheesman crashing the crease for a rebound.

Kindle and Gherson collided as the puck went into the net and a scrap ensued, giving Kindle a five-minute charging major and Cheesman and Gherson matching double-minor penalties. The goal, which was initially waved off, was overturned and gave the Thunder a 4-1 lead.

Utah rallied with two power-play goals in the major sequence, beginning with Andy Sertich's blast from the right point with 4:58 left on a 5-on-3 situation to cut the deficit to 4-2. Just 1:39 later, Dan McDonald converted Peder Skinner's centering pass in the deep slot over Perugini's blocker to cut the Thunder lead to 4-3.

The Thunder killed off the remaining major penalty and finished the Grizzlies when Kindle swiped a bouncing puck at the neutral zone and buried an empty net goal with 42.6 seconds left in the game to put Stockton ahead 5-3.

Gherson took the loss for Utah, making 20 saves.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Jordan Bendfeld (injured reserve), James Bates (one-game suspension) and Ryan MacMurchy, who was placed on the seven-day injured reserve list before the game ... Lalonde registered his 10th multi-point game in his return from bereavement leave ... Stockton finished with a 3-5-0 record in the season series against Utah ... the Thunder converted at a 1-for-5 rate on the power-play.

The Thunder returns to play tomorrow against the Victoria Salmon Kings, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The game is available on radio at 1420 KSTN and online for viewing online (audio is free-of-charge) for a $7 charge at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ (courtesy of B2 Networks).

The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.



ECHL Stories from March 28, 2009


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