Oilers Prospect Sestito Assigned to Stockton

November 3, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, an ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers, has announced left wing/center Tim Sestito has been assigned to Stockton from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League.

The Thunder also announced left wing Cam Abbott has been activated off the three-day injured reserve list, right wing Tim Verbeek has been placed on the three-day injured reserve list, and center Nathan Martz has been placed on bereavement leave. Martz is scheduled to miss tonight's game against the Long Beach Ice Dogs, and is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against Phoenix on November 4.

Sestito, 22, has appeared in four games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and appeared in one game during the Oilers 2006-07 preseason training camp, scoring an assist and skating on the same line with current Thunder forwards Tyler Spurgeon and Troy Bodie in Edmonton's 3-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on September 19.

The Rome, New York native spent the 2005-06 season with the ECHL's Greenville Grrrowl, appearing in all 72 regular season games while scoring 44 points (21g-23a) with 127 penalty minutes, while helping guide Greenville to an American Conference division semifinal playoff berth and a 45-24-3 regular season record (93 points). In six Kelly Cup Playoff games, Sestito scored two goals and two assists.

The 6-foot, 195-pounder made his professional debut with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League in 2004-05, scoring three points (2g-1a) in nine games. In 85 career professional games, Sestito has scored 47 points (23g-24a) with 145 penalty minutes, while previously scoring 101 points (45g-56a) in 236 career junior games (2001-05) with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.

Sestito is re-united with goaltender Cam Ellsworth and center Stephen Slonina, who were teammates with Sestito in Greenville during 2005-06.

The Thunder continues its three-game homestand on Friday, November 3 against Long Beach at Stockton Arena, beginning at 7:30 p.m to start "Thunder Goes Pink" Weekend, presented by St. Joseph's Medical Center, along with Pacific Car Wash and Golden Bear Insurance Company. Additional sponsors also include: Port of Stockton California, Clearwire, EMMI, Delta St. Joseph's Women's Imaging Center, Service 1st Bank, City of Stockton, Rotary Club of Stockton, KAT Country 103, KHOP 95.1, AM-970 ESPN Radio, Comcast, 99.3 KJOY, and The Record.

The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" rate at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

The Thunder drew 228,364 fans to Stockton Arena in its inaugural season, the ECHL's best attendance mark for 2005-06. Thunder season tickets, mini-plans, and individual tickets for the 2006-07 season 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 November 3, 2006


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