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Kindle Joins Blueline; Kinley and Urquhart Recalled

March 20, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, have agreed to contract terms with veteran defenseman Tyler Kindle (KIN-dul), Thunder head coach Matt Thomas announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In addition, it was announced that defenseman Cleve Kinley (KIHN-lee) and veteran center Cory Urquhart (URK-hart) have been recalled from the Thunder to Springfield.

"Tyler is a dependable, offensive-minded defenseman who can help us out on the blueline as another left-shot point-man for our power-play," said Thomas. "He's been around the game for several years, his veteran experience and playmaking ability suits our playing style and we're confident all of those factors will be big assets for our club heading into the playoffs."

Kindle is expected to make his debut in a Thunder uniform on Saturday against the Bakersfield Condors at 7:30 p.m. (1420 KSTN/StocktonThunder.com) at Stockton Arena.

Kindle, 31, is reunited with Thomas and fellow defensemen Matt O'Dette, Daryl Marcoux and right wing Igor Gongalsky after playing the previous two seasons (2006-08) for the Fresno Falcons, leading the team's defensemen last year with a career-high 44 points (10g-34a) and 34 assists. Kindle added 48 penalty minutes in 57 games and helped guide Fresno to its third consecutive Kelly Cup Playoff berth.

The 6-foot, 180-pound defenseman has skated in 294 career ECHL games with the Fresno Falcons, Reading Royals, Idaho Steelheads, Johnstown Chiefs, Pee Dee Pride, Cincinnati Cyclones, Trenton Titans and Pensacola Ice Pilots, scoring 170 points (49g-121a) and amassing 193 penalty minutes.

Kindle, who has scored five points (1g-4a) in eight career Kelly Cup Playoff games, skated in 140 career college games over four seasons (1999-03) with Wayne State University (NCAA), graduating as the program's all-time leader among defensemen in points (98), assists (69) and goals (29).

Kinley, 25, leads all Thunder defensemen this year with 27 points (4g-23a), posting 74 penalty minutes in 44 games. The 6-foot, 190-pound defenseman was signed to an AHL contract by Springfield last summer and has skated in 118 career games as a pro with Stockton and Texas of the ECHL, Grand Rapids and Springfield of the AHL and Muskegon of the UHL, scoring 65 points (10g-55a) while notching 143 penalty minutes.

The Surrey, British Columbia native has skated in one game for Springfield this year and led Texas in playoff scoring last season, amassing 13 points (5g-8a) in nine Kelly Cup Playoff games.

Urquhart ranks second on the Thunder with a career-high 58 points (28g-30a) in 56 games, additionally posting 32 penalty minutes this season. Urquhart ranks fourth on the Thunder with six power-play goals and was selected in the second round (40th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound forward has amassed an assist in six games this year for Springfield and has skated in 325 games as a pro in the ECHL with Stockton, Cincinnati and Long Beach, in the AHL with Springfield and Hamilton and in the Central Hockey League with Arizona, scoring 265 points (136g-129a) while posting 191 penalty minutes.

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of 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 tickets, group tickets, individual tickets and mini plans 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.

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