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Kelly Cup Champ Caudron, Thunder Agree to Terms

November 23, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League and Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, has agreed to contract terms with right wing Jean-Francois Caudron (KAW-drohn, Zhawn-Frahn-swah), Thunder head coach Matt Thomas announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Caudron, 31, who is reunited with Thomas after the two helped guide the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies to a Kelly Cup championship in 2003 (Caudron as a second-year forward and Thomas as an assistant coach), will wear the same jersey #12 from his two-year stint with Atlantic City and is expected to make his Thunder debut at Stockton Arena on Wednesday against the Idaho Steelheads at 7:00 p.m. (StocktonThunder.com/B2 Networks).

"J.F. has a history of scoring goals and has been very successful at forging a reputation of being an offensive threat throughout his whole career, including the ECHL," said Thomas. "His championship experience, speed and ability to finish are all welcomed ingredients to our hockey club as we continue to look for ways to fulfill our offensive potential."

Entering his ninth year as a pro, Caudron's career-high 39 goals in 2002-03 were fifth in the ECHL and he also ranked tied for eighth in league scoring with a team-leading 85 points (39g-46a) in 70 games.

The 6-foot, 211-pound forward led the league in playoff scoring during the Boardwalk Bullies run to the Kelly Cup in 2003, pouring in 22 points (13g-9a) during 19 games. His five game-winning goals in the playoffs led the league and finished tied for first with 13 postseason goals. In Atlantic City's five-game series victory over Columbia in the Finals, Caudron tallied two game-winning goals, including one in the championship-clinching game.

In his two seasons of Kelly Cup Playoff experience, Caudron has scored 34 points (18g-16a) in 31 postseason games.

Caurdon skated in Europe for the previous six seasons (2003-09) with Bremerhaven and Heilbronn of the 2nd Eishockey-Bundesliga (2.Gbun) and the German Oberliga Leagues, producing over a point-per-game pace through 254 career games with 381 points (153g-228a) and 153 goals.

The native of St. Hubert, Quebec led his teams in scoring during four of his six seasons in Europe and scored 41 points (12g-29a) in only 38 games last year for Heilbronn. His 88 points (40g-48a) and 40 goals in 48 games for Heilbronn stand as career-highs in 2005-06.

Caudron skated in 110 career games during four seasons (1998-2002) of his college hockey career for the University of Vermont (NCAA), totaling 80 points (31g-49a) and 74 penalty minutes. He led the program with a career-high 37 points (18g-21a) in 34 games during his 2000-01 senior season.

"Coach Thomas and I have a great relationship - he knows me and I know his system," said Caudron. "I'm aware of his expectations, we've won a championship together and I'm confident in what I can do offensively, so I'm confident it will work out well. I'm excited to come to Stockton since never played on the west coast, so it's made me eager for a return to the ECHL."

The Thunder return to play for Caudron's debut on Wednesday at Stockton Arena at 7:00 p.m. and individual tickets can be purchased by visiting www.stocktontickets.com or by calling (209) 373-1700.

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season, Group, Mini Plan and Individual 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/.

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