Sports stats

Hunt scores two goals, Thunder secures first win of regular season

October 25, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


VICTORIA, British Columbia - Rookie Garet Hunt scored the first two goals of his pro career and Justin Chwedoruk tallied a three-point night (1g-2a) to help guide the Stockton Thunder (1-2-0, 2 points) to its first victory of the regular season in a 5-2 win over the host Victoria Salmon Kings, before a crowd of 6,602 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday night.

Rookie goaltender Bryan Pitton made 30 saves for the first victory of his professional career, spoiling Victoria's home opener where the club raised its 2008 West Division championship banner in a pregame ceremony.

Chwedoruk scored his first goal of the season just 2:38 into the contest to put the Thunder up 1-0, when he finished a 3-on-1 rush with a wrist shot at the left circle that beat Victoria goaltender Todd Ford to the blocker side.

Wes Goldie's second goal of the season tied the game at 1-1 with 2:41 left in the period on a power-play goal, when his one-timer from the slot eluded Pitton's blocker side to end the club's 0-for-19 drought with a man-advantage.

Hunt scored the first goal of his pro career just 1:11 into the second period to lift the Thunder to a 2-1 cushion. Hunt cleaned up a rebound at the base of the left circle after Ford stopped from a Chwedoruk bid from 20 feet out.

Rookie Dan Gendur responded to knot the score at 2-2 with 9:53 remaining on a power-play goal for the first tally of his pro career. Gendur was the recipient of a rebound at the left goal post after Pitton denied Chris St. Jacques' wrist shot from the right circle. Just 36 seconds later, Hunt buried his second goal of the game to restore the Thunder lead at 3-2, converting a left corner feed by Cleve Kinley past Ford's glove while positioned at the top of the crease.

Mike Lalonde's power-play goal, his second of the season, doubled the Thunder advantage to 4-2 at the 1:26 mark of the third period when he re-directed Robbie Bina's blueline blast through the five hole of Ford.

Rookie Bryan Lerg then finished the scoring with 6:26 remaining on Stockton's second power-play goal of the game, the first goal of his pro career. Lerg converted a rebound below the right circle after Ford stopped Neil Petruic's one-timer.

NOTES; The Thunder snapped a six-game game losing streak at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre and improved to 8-10-3 all-time against the Salmon Kings ... the Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Tom Zanoski (healthy), Jeff Kyrzakos (travel) and Mark Adamek (injured reserve), additionally missing Craig Valette, Adam Huxley, Ryan MacMurchy and Andrew Perugini due to immigration ... Gendur earned a five-minute cross-checking major and a game misconduct in the second period on a hit drawn by Ryan Constant ... Lerg has scored four points (1g-3a) in his first two games as a member of the Thunder.

The Thunder returns to play on Saturday against the Salmon Kings with a rematch at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, beginning at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard live exclusively on the internet (video and audio available) at 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 www.StocktonThunder.com.



ECHL Stories from October 25, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Stockton Thunder Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central