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New Year Begins With Road Test at Las Vegas

December 31, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: (all times PT)

at LAS VEGAS WRANGLERS (Tuesday - 5:00 p.m.) - 1420 KSTN, B2 Networks

The Thunder opens the New Year with a stern test, taking on the National Conference's first place Las Vegas Wranglers in a 5:00 p.m. affair on New Year's Day. The Thunder is 3-11-1 in the all-time series and is searching for its first win at Orleans Arena since April 2006, a winless streak of 0-4-1 away from home ice in Stockton. The Thunder enters the contest at a 3-1-0 clip in its last four games and faces a Wranglers team reeling from a 1-3-1 stretch in its last five games.

vs. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (Sunday - 4:00 p.m.) - 1420 KSTN, B2 Networks

The Thunder and Bakersfield Condors face-off in a critical division game, marking the fifth meeting in nine games for the season series. The Thunder is 7-7-6 in the all-time series against Bakersfield and is searching for its first win in three tries at Stockton Arena against the Condors this year. Left wing Stephane Goulet (currently on recall to Springfield of the AHL) leads the Thunder in scoring for the series with six points (2g-4a) in just three games. Andrew Ianiero has paced Bakersfield with seven points (2g-5a) in four games.

1420 KSTN is the Thunder's flagship radio station and all 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. Radio broadcaster Mike Benton provides play-by-play commentary, with the "Thunder Forecast" pre-game show starting 15 minutes before each broadcast.

In addition, Valley Brew Family Restaurant is in its second season as official host of the Thunder Watch Party (via B2 Networks' "Bar and Pub Network") for all road games, featuring prizes and broadcast-interactive contests for all fans in attendance.

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 PROMOTIONS

SUNDAY, 1/6 vs. Bakersfield

- T-Shirt Night (presented by Comcast and AM 970 ESPN Radio)

First 2,000 kids (ages 12 and under) receive a free Thunder t-shirt

- Family Day (presented by Alpine Meats & 99.3 KJOY)

$34 family upper premium / end zone admission (four tickets, two hot dogs, two hockey pucks) with discount admission coupon available via Alpine Meats display at area grocery stores

SATURDAY, 1/19 vs. Las Vegas

- Teddy Bear Toss Night (presented by News10, Jackson Rancheria Water Service Company & KAT Country 103)

All fans in attendance are invited to bring a teddy bear or other stuffed animal and throw it onto the ice when the Thunder score its first goal of the game! All stuffed animals will be donated to the United Way of San Joaquin County

SUNDAY, 1/20 vs. Las Vegas

- Family Day (presented by Alpine Meats & 99.3 KJOY)

$34 family upper premium / end zone admission (four tickets, two hot dogs, two hockey pucks) with discount admission coupon available via Alpine Meats display at area grocery stores

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o Chris Cichocki is 4 wins shy of 200 in his ECHL coaching career

o Spencer Carbery is 12 games away from 100 in his professional career

o Andy Contois is 28 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Adam Huxley is 11 games away from 200 in his professional and ECHL career

TEAM NOTES:

o Andy Contois is on a five-game point-scoring streak and has scored six points (2g-4a) in that span

o Ryan MacMurchy is on a four-game point-scoring streak and has five points (3g-2a) in that span

o Rookie Tom Zanoski scored a goal in his professional debut with the Thunder last Saturday in a 5-4 win

o The Thunder has three selections to the National Conference roster for the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game: Center Ryan O'Marra, left wing Jacob Micflikier and defenseman Brad Farynuk

o Stockton leads the ECHL in attendance with 93,579 fans (6,684 average)

o Stockton has a power-play goal in nine consecutive games and is 14-for-50 in that span (.280)

WEEK IN REVIEW

Thursday, December 27 (Stockton 2 - Fresno 0)

Goaltender Tim Boron made 40 saves, including 17 each in the first and third periods to post the first shutout of his professional career and out duel counterpart Jake Moreland, helping lift the Thunder to a 2-0 victory over the Fresno Falcons before a crowd of 5,253 at Stockton Arena on Thursday night. Ryan MacMurchy scored the eventual game-winning goal with 2:46 left in the first period while Brandon Schwartz added an insurance goal with 7:42 left in regulation.

Friday, December 28 (Victoria 5 - Stockton 3)

Kevin Estrada scored two goals and Ryan Wade had three assists to help the Victoria Salmon Kings send the Thunder to a 5-3 loss before a crowd of 6,886 at Stockton Arena on Friday night. Left wing Andy Contois led the Thunder with two assists while David Rohlfs, Ryan MacMurchy and Brian Lee scored for the Thunder.

Saturday, December 29 (Stockton 5 - Bakersfield 4)

Rookie Tom Zanoski scored a goal in his professional debut to propel a two-goal third period for the Thunder and help sink the Bakersfield Condors in a 5-4 victory before a crowd of 5,517 at Rabobank Arena on Saturday night. The Thunder, who is 3-1-0 in its last four games, picked up its first win in the season series over Bakersfield.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

(courtesy of The Record)

"That's the way we've got to play to win minus our all-stars. Tim (Boron) played very well, and that epitomized a team win."

- Head Coach Chris Cichocki after last Thursday's 2-0 Thunder win vs. Fresno

"It hurts to lose three guys like that, but that means there's a lot of ice time to be had. It's a chance for guys to step up, like they did."

- Brandon Schwartz on the surging scoring production of Ryan MacMurchy, Andy Contois and Schwartz, a newly-formed first line with the absence of Jacob Micflikier and Ryan O'Marra, on recall to the AHL.

"It was tremendous. The defense was outstanding, and we had guys jumping in front of pucks. It was great to see."

- Goaltender Tim Boron on his 40-save shutout on Thursday vs. Fresno

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