MacMurchy, Contois Named To All-Star Roster

January 14, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, announced in conjunction with the ECHL that right wing Ryan MacMurchy and left wing Andy Contois have been named to the National Conference roster for the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game presented by Jackson Rancheria and Bud Light at Stockton Arena.

MacMurchy and Contois, who will be making their first career all-star appearance, replace teammates Jacob Micflikier and Ryan O'Marra, who are both on recall to Springfield of the AHL.

In his second professional season, the 24-year-old MacMurchy leads the Thunder with 13 goals and is third on the team with 25 points (13g-12a) in 21 games. Acquired by the Thunder from the Elmira Jackals in exchange for future considerations on October 23, 2007, MacMurchy split his first season in professional hockey last year with the ECHL's Alaska Aces and the AHL's Peoria Rivermen, scoring 15 points (8g-7a) with 72 penalty minutes in 42 combined games.

A ninth round selection (284th overall) of the St. Louis Blues in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, MacMurchy helped guide Alaska to the National Conference Finals of last year's Kelly Cup Playoffs, scoring five points (4g-1a) with 63 penalty minutes in 15 playoff games. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound right wing had two game-winning goals in the Kelly Cup Playoffs last year and scored 10 points (4g-6a) with 52 penalty minutes in just 18 regular season games with Alaska.

In his second full professional season, the 26-year-old Contois is second on the Thunder with 21 assists and 32 points in 35 games. The Marquette, Mich. native helped guide the Gwinnett Gladiators to a berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs last season (41-24-7 record, 89 points) as rookie, scoring 40 points (19g-21a) in 71 games with 56 penalty minutes.

Signed by the Thunder as a free agent on August 24, 2007 and a participant in Oilers 2007-08 preseason rookie camp, Contois tied for second on the Gladiators with two shorthanded goals and appeared in four Kelly Cup Playoff games last season, scoring a goal and adding an assist. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound left wing made his professional debut in 2005-06 with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL), scoring seven points (1g-7a) in only six games while appearing in three Kelly Cup Playoff games.

The 23-year-old Micflikier is not able to play in the game after suffering a leg injury in his first game after being called up to the American Hockey League by the Springfield Falcons in December. O'Marra was reassigned to Springfield by the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League on Dec. 23 and will not return for the game.

In total, the Thunder has six representatives at this year's ECHL All-Star Game at Stockton Arena. Defenseman Brad Farynuk, right wing Ryan MacMurchy and left wing Andy Contois were named to the National Conference team. Head Athletic Trainer Kevin Anderson and Equipment Manager Mark Burgess will serve the training and equipment staff for the National Conference team and radio play-by-play announcer Mike Benton was named to the radio broadcast announcing crew, with the game airing nationally on XM Satellite Radio and produced through NHL Radio.

ABOUT THE 2008 CHASE CHEVROLET ECHL ALL-STAR GAME

Hosted by the Stockton Thunder and the City of Stockton at Stockton Arena, the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game presented by Jackson Rancheria and Bud Light will be played on Jan. 23 starting at 7:00 p.m. PT with the 11th edition of the Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game Skills Competition being held on Jan. 22., beginning at 7:00 p.m. PT. The economic impact of the All-Star Game is projected to give the city of Stockton an estimated more than $1 million in revenue and will take place in the 9,737-seat Stockton Arena, adjacent to the new seven-story Sheraton Stockton Hotel at Regent Pointe. Stockton is the 13th largest city in California and the 69th largest city in the United States of America.

Tickets for the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game and ECHL All-Star Skills Competition are on sale now, starting as low as $5 for the Skills Competition and $10 for the All-Star Game. Tickets can be purchased by calling 209-373-1500 or by visiting www.stocktontickets.com.

Game will be televised live at 7:00 p.m. PT on NHL Network for sixth-consecutive year.

Telecast available online free-of-charge through ECHL web site on B2 Networks, the "Official Broadband Broadcast Provider of the ECHL".

Broadcast carried live on XM Radio for third consecutive year on NHL Hockey Play-by-Play (XM Channel 206) at 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 23 in the United States on XM Radio and in Canada through XM Radio's partner, Canadian Satellite Radio.

The NHL Radio broadcast will be broadcast on KGEO-AM 1230 in Bakersfield, Calif.; 1640 WTNI and 1490 WXBD in Biloxi, Miss.; 1350 KTIK - The Ticket in Boise, Idaho; 790 ESPN Radio, The Deuce in Fresno, Calif.; AM-970 ESPN Radio in Modesto/Stockton, Calif.; ESPN 910 The Team in North Charleston, S.C.; KKAT AM 860 in Salt Lake City; 1420 KSTN-AM in Stockton, Calif.; and WKWK 97.3 FM in Wheeling, W.Va.

Stanley Cup and Patrick J. Kelly Cup will be on display at all events. Henry Brabham, Patrick J. Kelly, Nick Vitucci and Chris Valicevic will be inducted as the inaugural class into the ECHL Hall of Fame at a luncheon on Jan. 23.

Diane and Tom Husband of Phoenix are the winners of the Chase Chevrolet "Win A Trip to the ECHL All-Star Game" contest, receiving roundtrip transportation to Stockton where they will stay at the new Sheraton Stockton Hotel at Regent Pointe, the official host hotel of the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game.

Game-worn jerseys and game-used pucks from the All-Star Game and Skills Competition will be auctioned online at MeiGray.com.

Host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game and festivities on Jan. 22 and 23, the Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets, mini plans, group and individual tickets for 2007-08 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.



ECHL Stories from January 14, 2008


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