Joel Stepp Acquired From Pensacola

February 22, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, has acquired veteran center Joel Stepp from the Pensacola Ice Pilots in exchange for future considerations, Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki announced today.

"Joel is a gifted, playmaking center who we've been looking for since we lost Ryan O'Marra to the AHL and he had a great season last year with the Gwinnett Gladiators," said Cichocki. "I'm hoping that his game will be rejuvenated by bringing him out west in a playoff run. He's a player who can perform in all situations and we're happy to add him."

Stepp, 25, has scored 128 points (46g-82a) in 166 career ECHL games with Pensacola, Gwinnett, the Augusta Lynx and San Diego Gulls while scoring 13 points (5g-8a) in 13 career Kelly Cup Playoff games with Gwinnett. A third round selection (69th overall) of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Stepp posted tied a career-high 54 point effort (17g-37a) in 61 games with Gwinnett in 2006-07 and tallied nine points (4g-5a) in nine games in the 2006 playoffs, helping guide the Gladiators to a berth in the Kelly Cup Final.

Of note, Stepp scored the first hat trick in Gwinnett playoff history with a postseason career-high four-point effort (3g-1a) in game 1 of the 2006 South Division Finals against the Florida Everblades. The 5-foot-10, 187-pound center began this season in Germany with Bremerhaven REV, appearing in three games before returning to the ECHL with the Ice Pilots, where he scored 13 points (6g-7a) in 39 games with 52 penalty minutes.

Stepp has appeared in 312 career pro games with Cincinnati, Portland and Chicago of the AHL and with with Pensacola, Gwinnett, Augusta and San Diego of the ECHL, scoring 157 points (58g-99a) with 220 penalty minutes.

The Sylvan, Alberta native previously competed for five seasons (1998-03) of his junior hockey career with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, scoring 129 points (66g-63a) in 231 games with 225 penalty minutes and helped guide Red Deer to a Memorial Cup Championship in 2001-02, scoring a junior career-high 53 points (27g-26a) in 27 games and ranking tied for second on the Rebels in playoff scoring with 22 points (11g-11a) in 23 games.

It is the second trade in three days involving the Thunder, who acquired right wing Lance Monych from the Mississippi Sea Wolves on Wednesday in exchange for left wing Andy Contois. Additionally, the Thunder placed right wing Ryan MacMurchy on the seven-day injured reserve list (retroactive to February 20) and activated left wing Adam Huxley and defenseman Ryan Geris off injured reserve.

The Thunder returns to play tonight with a 7:30 p.m. road game against the Fresno Falcons from Save Mart Center. The game can be heard live on radio at 1420-AM KSTN and online (video and audio available) at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets, mini plans, group and individual tickets for 2007-08 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 February 22, 2008


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