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Olivier Roy earns second career shutout on 32 saves, Fratkin’s game winner

December 5, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


Rookie goaltender Olivier Roy earned his second shutout of the season and made 32 saves to help boost the Stockton Thunder (10-7-3, 23 points) to a 2-0 victory over the host Ontario Reign, before an announced crowd of 4,644 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Sunday.

Roy helped the Thunder turn the tables on the Reign, who put up a 4-0 shutout at Stockton Arena two days prior. The win was bolstered by two third period goals from Jesse Fratkin and Jordan Fulton, moving the Thunder to a 9-2-2 mark in Ontario since the 2009-10 season.

"A hard fought battle all the way through for us and we came through with a big third period," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "We've talked a lot about bearing down on those situations with a great rebound goal by Fratkin and a great play to Fulton for the final goal. Olivier really took over and was the difference maker. That's why we won."

Fratkin earned a goal and an assist to lead the offense and the Thunder jumped back into sole possession of second place in the Pacific Division.

Roy turned away nine shots in the first period and counterpart Chris Carrozzi stopped all 13 shots.

Ontario took the edge in shots for the second period, 11-7, but goaltenders continued to battle and kept the game scoreless. The Thunder's best chance in the period came on a Carrozzi save on Kevin Baker's bid from the mid slot and follow up stop on Ian O'Connor's rebound chance at the blocker side.

Roy opened the third period with a breakaway stop on Matt Tassone, who sprung out of the penalty box, took a stretch pass and was denied on the goaltender's poke check.

Soon after, Fratkin delivered his third goal of the season at 1:46 of the period to break the scoreless tie, stuffing a rebound past Carrozzi off an outnumbered attack after Cameron Abney was denied on a wrist shot at the left circle.

After Ontario pressed for much of the period, Fulton put the game away on a 3-on-1 break with 1:31 left in the game. He finished Matt Foy's cross-ice pass at the left post on a play originally set up on a Fratkin pass to Foy from the right circle.

Late in the game, tempers flared with 19 seconds left which involved an altercation between Garet Hunt and Ontario's Derek Couture. As Couture was ushered off the ice, a second altercation involving Bretton Cameron and the Reign bench included head coach Jason Christie, who was issued a game misconduct.

Eight penalties were dealt to both teams as a result of the altercation, including a physical abuse of officials infraction to Ontario.

NOTES: Scratched for the game were Colten Hayes (healthy), Gabriel Levesque (injured reserve), Jason Morgan (injured reserve) and Brock Matheson (injured reserve) ... the Thunder blanked Ontario on five power play chances ... Stockton improved to 4-3-1 this season against the Reign ... Fratkin's goal broke a Thunder scoring drought of 130:06, extending to the second period of Wednesday night's 4-3 shootout win at Ontario ... both teams will not play in Ontario again until Mar. 21.

The Thunder continues the three game road trip on Tuesday at Orleans Arena, visiting the Las Vegas Wranglers at 9:05 p.m. Radio coverage of the game will be available at 1280 KWSX (potentially joined in progress). Online coverage is available for viewing (pay-per-view video charge) and listening (free of charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth consecutive season in 2010-11. Season Tickets for 2011-12 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

THREE STARS

1. STK - 31 Olivier Roy

2. STK - 18 Jordan Fulton

3. ONT - 6 Mike Montgomery

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