Lighting Up Las Vegas and Long Beach

December 12, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: (all times PT)

at LAS VEGAS WRANGLERS (Friday, 12/15 * 7:05 p.m.)

The ECHL's National Conference top two teams split two games at Stockton Arena last week and will play the third game in the three-game series at Orleans Arena this Friday. Friday's game marks the beginning of a four-game road trip for the Thunder that lasts until the Christmas break. Unbeaten in 11 of its last 12 games, Stockton trails Las Vegas by only a point for the best record in the ECHL. Friday's contest marks the third of six regular season meetings between the two clubs. Las Vegas is playing only their sixth home game of the season and have a record of 2-1-2 at home. Las Vegas is the ECHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames.

at LONG BEACH ICE DOGS (Saturday, 12/16 * 7:00 p.m.)

Despite sitting at the bottom of the ECHL's National Conference standings, the Long Beach Ice Dogs (ECHL Boston Bruins affiliate), who host the Thunder for the second time at Long Beach Arena this season, have played several very close games against the Thunder this season. The Thunder holds a perfect 4-0-0 record against the Ice Dogs this season and is unbeaten in regulation in the two-year Stockton history with a 5-0-4 all-time record against Long Beach. Thunder assistant captain and former Ice Dog Nathan Martz leads Stockton in scoring in the series with seven points (3g-4a).

Thunder games can be heard live on the Internet (free-of-charge) and are available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Thunder broadcaster Mike Benton will provide play-by-play commentary, with the pre-game show beginning 6:50 on Friday and 6:45 on Saturday (audio only).

In addition, Valley Brew Family Restaurant continues its first season as official host of the Thunder Watch Party (via B2 Networks' "Bar and Pub Network") for all road games, with prizes, broadcast-interactive contests, player appearances and more scheduled for all road games this week. Valley Brew will host a viewing party on Friday, December 15th for the Las Vegas game. The Saturday game against Long Beach will not have an accompanying video broadcast.

Located at 157 W. Adams Street in Stockton, Valley Brew Family Restaurant is placed in the heart of Stockton's "Miracle Mile" district and features an array of acclaimed burgers, beverages, appetizers, specialties and more, offering customers free wi-fi internet access inside the restaurant.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o Tim O'Connell is 13 points shy of 100 in his ECHL career

o Tim Verbeek is 2 assists shy of 100 in his professional career

o Tim Sestito is 1 game shy of 100 in his professional career

TEAM NOTES:

o ATTENDANCE UPDATE: The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance with 6,462 fans per game (77,548 total) and drew 8,149 in last Saturday's win against Las Vegas

o Stockton scored a season-high four power-play goals in last Saturday's 6-2 win vs. Las Vegas, and is tied for third in the ECHL with a 19.1 power-play percentage

o Stockton's 6-2 win last Sunday against Las Vegas was Stockton's ninth home win of the year; Stockton had eight total home wins in 2005-06

o Defenseman Beau Geisler is tied for fourth in the ECHL in scoring among defensemen with 19 points (4g-15a)

o Right wing Troy Bodie leads Stockton and is tied for second among ECHL rookies with 10 goals

o Goaltender Cam Ellsworth leads the ECHL with a 1.87 goals-against-average

o Goaltender Devan Dubnyk ranks ninth in the ECHL with a 2.78 goals-against-average

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, December 8 LAS VEGAS 2 - Stockton 1

In a game that featured a goaltending duel and playoff-like pace of play, Thunder goaltender Devan Dubnyk made 20 saves while Las Vegas netminder Mike McKenna's 29 stops propelled Las Vegas to a 2-1 season-series opening win over the Thunder, before 5,042 at Stockton Arena. Assistant captain Brendon Hodge collected the only goal for the Thunder in the third period while Las Vegas' Chris Neiszner had two. Both teams engaged in a swift-moving, two-hour and 15-minute contest that featured a disciplined style of play - both clubs combined for just 20 minutes in penalties total and both went 0-for-3 on the power-play.

Sunday, December 9 STOCKTON 6 - Las Vegas 2

Rookies Troy Bodie and Stephane Goulet led the Thunder offensive attack in a 6-2 win over Las Vegas before more than 8,000 fans at Stockton Arena on Satruday, with Bodie posting two goals and an assist, along with a "Gordie Howe hat trick" with a goal, assist and fight notched in the game. Goulet scored two goals while the Thunder power-play broke out of a recent slump with a season-high four power-play goals, going 4-for-5 on the man-advantage. Assistant captain Brendon Hodge posted a season-high three assists as Stockton won its ninth home game of the year, topping last season's eight-win home mark.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING (courtesy of The Record)

"These are the type of games that tell you where you are," Bodie said. "I think everyone wants to play in games like these, and we're motivated." - Thunder right wing Troy Bodie on the three-game series against Las Vegas, ending this Friday

"We didn't dwell on our streak too much because we realistically didn't expect to win 36 games at home. But it was nice to do this, because this is a budding rivalry." -Bodie, after Stockton followed its first regulation loss at home on Friday with a 6-2 win over Las Vegas on Saturday

"The second period was the difference again. Troy's goals were the turning point, and it's unusual to get a double helping on the 5-on-3." - Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki on Saturday's 6-2 win over Las Vegas



ECHL Stories from December 12, 2006


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