MacMurchy Returns, Gongalsky Loaned to San Antonio

Published on February 3, 2009 under 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, announced today that right wing Ryan MacMurchy (Mick-MUR-chee) has been activated off the injured reserve list and right wing Igor Gongalsky has been loaned to the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL on a professional tryout agreement (PTO).

MacMurchy is expected to suit up for the Thunder on Wednesday, his first return to the lineup since Dec. 5, facing the Alaska Aces (7:00 p.m., 1420 KSTN/StocktonThunder.com) at Stockton Arena.

MacMurchy, 25, has skated in 12 games for the Thunder this season, scoring 10 points (5g-5a) while posting 18 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound forward represented the Thunder at the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game in Stockton (had an assist) and led the Thunder with 23 goals last year in 45 games, additionally amassing 45 points (23g-22a) and 67 penalty minutes.

The Regina, Saskatchewan native was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the ninth round (284th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and has skated in 99 career games with Stockton and Alaska of the ECHL and Peoria of the AHL, scoring 70 points (36g-34a) while notching 157 penalty minutes.

MacMurchy has skated in 15 games in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, scoring five points (4g-1a) for Alaska in 2006-07.

Gongalsky earns the first call-up to the AHL in his career and was signed by the Thunder as a free agent on Dec. 30, 2008. The native of Kiev, Ukraine has scored 11 points (3g-8a) and posted 34 PIM's in 14 games since his arrival in Stockton and scored two assists for the National Conference in the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game in Stockton. In 105 career games with Fresno and Stockton of the ECHL, Gongalsky has scored 66 points (27g-39a) and amassed 228 penalty minutes.

Last season, Gongalsky posted 43 points (18g-25a), 18 goals and 140 penalty minutes in 63 games as a rookie for Fresno.

Gongalsky's PTO agreement is on a 25-game tryout basis (maximum) with San Antonio.

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.

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