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Huddy sets single-season record, Thunder move into second place

March 5, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


PHOENIX - Rookie Ryan Huddy became the first player in Stockton Thunder (27-26-5, 61 points) history to hit the 30-goal plateau by scoring a pair of goals while veteran Cory Urquhart scored a goal and added two assists to help the Thunder rally with three goals in the third period and sink the Phoenix RoadRunners in a 5-3 victory, before 2,186 fans at U.S. Airways Center on Wednesday.

The Thunder surpassed the idle Las Vegas Wranglers for second place in the Pacific Division and were aided by Andrew Perugini's 21 saves in net, improving to 13-2-0 in his last 15 appearances. The first line of Urquhart, Huddy and James Bates combined for a whopping seven points (3g-4a) and a +11 rating.

Huddy's 30th goal broke the Thunder single season goal-scoring record, previously set by teammate Mike Lalonde (29) in 2005-06.

Huddy tied the Thunder record with his team-leading 29th goal of the year at 5:18 of the first period when he put a rebound past Kyle Jones' stick side to put the Thunder up 1-0.

Just 50 seconds later, Sebastien Bisaillon collected his third ECHL goal of the season when he carried the puck down the left wing, moved in behind the net and angled a pass from behind the goal line that went off Jones' skate and into the net for a 2-0 lead.

Phoenix knotted the score on two power-play goals, starting with Kimbi Daniels' 17th goal of the season at the 9:37 mark of the first period to cut the deficit to 2-1 with a snap shot from the left circle. Jim Jorgensen then leveled the score with 4:28 left in the first on a 5-on-3 power-play goal when his shot from the right circle trickled through Perugini's five-hole for his sixth goal of the year.

Perugini helped keep the score tied in the second period by helping the Thunder fend off a 5-on-3 Phoenix power-play for two minutes, which included a point-blank save on Daniel Sisca's bid from the mid slot.

Daniels netted his second goal of the game with 12:55 left in regulation to put Phoenix ahead 3-2, when he took Ashton Rome's rebound off Perugini's left pad and stuffed in a rebound from the top of the crease.

The Thunder responded with the rally produced by two goals in near identical fashion. Mike Lalonde tallied his 19th goal of the season on the power-play to level the score at 3-3 with 11:30 left in the game, when he stuffed a wrap-around from below the right circle over Jones' glove.

Huddy's record-setting goal put the Thunder ahead again at 4-3 with 5:19 left in regulation, when his wrap-around attempt snuck through Jones five-hole, who was attempting to cover the glove-side post.

Urquhart put the game away with an empty-net goal from center ice with 1:07 left.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Jordan Bendfeld (injured reserve) and Igor Gongalsky (final game of a two-game suspension) ... the Thunder won the season series at a 4-3-0 clip, winning 3 of 4 games at U.S. Airways Center ... the Thunder went 1-for-4 on the power-play and outshot Phoenix 31-24 ... with just three road games remaining in the regular season, the Thunder improved its road record to 15-13-5.

The Thunder returns to play Friday at home against the Bakersfield Condors, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena for "Easy Being Green" Presented by Port of Stockton California. The game is available exclusively 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, group, individual tickets and mini plan packages 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 5, 2009


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