Lightning Welcome Receiver Tonae Martin

June 11, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league have been assigned WR Tonae Martin (TOH-nay), DB Mervin Brookins Jr. and DL Derrick Ford from the af2 League Office, Lightning head coach Chad Carlson announced today.

The following transactions were also announced:

DB Nathan Kenion and DL Mike Peko placed on injured reserve DL Dale Robinson placed on the "team suspension" list "Tonae is a guy who's played in the league here before and has a wealth of experience, so his learning curve is minimal," said Carlson.

Martin, 24, returns to the gridiron after sitting out the beginning of the 2009 season due to injury. The two-year af2 veteran previously spent the last two seasons with the Central Valley Coyotes, where he caught 171 passes for 49 touchdown receptions and 1,935 receiving yards in 28 career games.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound receiver posted career-best numbers in receiving yards (1,051) and catches (90) as a 2007 rookie and posted a career-high 29 touchdown receptions last season in 13 games which led the Coyotes. Last year, Martin also led the Coyotes and ranked fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game.

Brookins, in his af2 rookie season, is a product of Sacramento City College and Bethel College (NAIA) where he was a JCfootball.com All-Mid-Empire First Team selection in 2006. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound defensive back transferred to Bethel where he posted 26 take-downs and four tackles-for-loss in 13 career games for the Threshers in two years (2007-08).

Ford, 30, has previously garnered experience in the Arena Football League with New England and San Jose and previously competed in college for Arizona State University (NCAA), where he was a member of the Sun Devils 1996 Rose Bowl championship team.

The Lightning return to play for a Week 12 home matchup against the defending National Conference champion Spokane Shock, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena on Friday, June 12. The game be heard and viewed online, free-of-charge, through www.stocktonlightning.com (courtesy of NifTy Online TV).

Season ticket for the Lightning are on sale beginning Friday, June 12. Group tickets and individual tickets for the 2009 Lightning regular season are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, merchandise, or other information, please call the Lightning at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonlightning.com.



ECHL Stories from June 11, 2009


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