Pope's hat trick sends Thunder to second straight loss

Published on October 23, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Rookie Matt Pope scored a hat trick and collected four points (3g-1a) in his second pro game to spark a five unanswered goal rally by the Bakersfield Condors, who sent the Stockton Thunder (0-2-0, 0 points) to a 7-4 loss before a crowd of 3,716 at Rabobank Arena on Wednesday.

The Thunder otushot the Condors 20-6 in the first period (37-26 for the game) and was led by Cory Urquhart's two-goal and three-point (2g-1a) effort while rookie Bryan Lerg registered three assists in his debut in a Thunder uniform. Bakersfield was aided by a two-goal game from Matt Caruana while Dave McKee made 33 saves.

Urquhart scored the first two goals of the game, starting at the 5:59 mark of the first period when he cleaned up a rebound from Mike Lalonde's wrist shot at the left circle. Just 3:21 later, Urquhart took a feed from Lerg off the rush and snuck in a wrap-around attempt past McKee's glove, putting the Thunder up 2-0.

The Condors folllowed by netting five unanswered goals, begnning with Caruana's second goal of the season with 3:11 left on a power-play when be beat Thunder goaltender Tim Boron with a snap shot from the right circle. Just 1:11 later, Pope's first goal of the game tied the score at 2-2 when he found a loose puck and the back of the net with a wirst shot from the slot.

Charlie Kronschnabel gave Bakersfield a 3-2 lead with a shorthanded goal 8:11 into the second period when he took a deflected pass at the right wing with a burst of speed and buried a snap shot under the crossbar.

Caruana's second goal of the game came 1:52 later when he gave Bakersfield a 4-2 cushion by converting a centering pass by Liam Huculak from behind the net. Pope hiked the Bakersfield lead to 5-2 with 3:19 left in the period when he re-directed a drive from the point by Sean Hurley past Boron while stationed at the top of the crease.

David Rohlfs helped the Thunder cut the deficit to 5-3 with 1:59 left when he took a rinkwide pass by Toby LaFrance on the rush and beat McKee with a snap shot from the right circle. But Pope answered just 20 seconds later for the hat trick and a 6-3 Bakersfield lead when he flicked a wrist shot from the base of the right circle that deflected off Boron's left pad and into the net, chasing Boron out of the game in favor of rookie Bryan Pitton.

Stockton and Bakersfield traded a goal each in the third period, beginning with LaFrance's first goal of the season to cut the Condors lead to 6-4 with 9:58 remaining. LaFrance re-directed a blast by Lerg from the rush and beat McKee over his glove. Chad Painchaud countered with an empty net goal from center ice with 1:59 left in the game.

NOTES: Scratched for the Thunder were Milan Maslonka (healthy), Mark Adamek (injured reserve) and Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve) ... the Thunder missed the services of four players due to pending immigration, including Adam Huxley, Craig Valette, Ryan MacMurchy and goaltender Andrew Perugini ... the Thunder dropped to 10-9-7 lifetime against Bakersfield ... Pitton made four saves in a relief effort of Boron.

The Thunder returns to play on Friday, October 24 against the Victoria Salmon Kings at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, beginning at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard live on radio at 1420-AM KSTN and on the Internet (video and audio available) at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season, group, individual tickets and mini plan packages 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.

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