Kenny Macaulay, Bryan Pitton Return

Published on December 14, 2009 under 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, announced defenseman Kenny MacAulay (Mick-ALL-ee) has been returned to the Thunder from his loan to the San Antonio Rampage on a professional tryout agreement (PTO).

MacAulay, 25, has suited up in four games this year with San Antonio and was originally signed by the Thunder as a free agent on Dec. 30, 2008.

The 5-foot-10, 193-pound blueliner has skated in 14 games this season for the Thunder, leading the team in scoring among defensemen (tied for third, ECHL) with 11 points (1g-10) and leading all ECHL defensemen with 10 power play points (10 assists). He has been named twice to the National Conference for the ECHL All-Star Game (2008, 2009).

In 152 career professional games with Stockton and Fresno of the ECHL and Rockford and Portland of the AHL, MacAulay has scored 65 points (9g-56a) and posted 216 penalty minutes while adding six points (2g-4a) in 17 career postseason games at the ECHL and AHL levels.

The Baddeck, Nova Scotia native earned the third recall to the AHL in his career on Nov. 17 and has suited up in 57 games for San Antonio, Portland and Rockford, scoring 10 points (1g-9a) and posting 48 penalty minutes while adding one assist in five Calder Cup Playoff games.

Pitton, 21, returns after being the first player in Thunder history to be recalled directly to the NHL on Dec. 12 and has appeared in 13 ECHL games this year, going 4-7-1 with a.907 save percentage and 3.28 goals-against-average.

The 6-foot-2, 176-pound goaltender was selected by the Oilers in the fifth round (133rd overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and has appeared in 47 career games in a Thunder uniform in two seasons (2008-10), compiling a 13-26-4 record,.893 save percentage and 3.36 goals-against-average.

Additionally, the Thunder announced emergency goaltender Jeff Barney was released, defenseman Bobby Davey was placed on the three-day injured reserve list and center Craig Valette was transferred to the 21-day I.R.

MacAulay and Pitton are expected to suit up when the Thunder returns to play on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre to face the Victoria Salmon Kings at 7:05 p.m., continuing a seven-game road trip. The game can be heard on radio at 1420 KSTN and viewed online at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

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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ECHL Stories from December 14, 2009


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