Reign power-play attack sends Thunder to fourth straight defeat

Published on October 24, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Adam Henrich and Tony Voce scored a pair of goals each while goaltender Curtis Darling made 30 saves to help the Ontario Reign send the Stockton Thunder (0-4-0, 0 points) to a 7-1 setback before 5,805 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night.

The loss sent the Thunder to a 3-2-0 lifetime record in home openers and featured the only Thunder goal of the game from Craig Valette's power-play goal in the second period. Ontario, who parlayed a dominant 5-fot-5 effort on the power-play,. received an additional offensive lift on goals from Jon Rheault, Greg Hogeboom and Andrew Martens.

Henrich, who tallied a four point effort (2g-2a), scored on the first shot of the game just 28 seconds after the opening faceoff, scoring from the rush on a wrist shot that beat starting Thunder goaltender Bryan Pitton under the crossbar. Martens' power-play goal put the Thunder in a 2-0 hiole with 4:08 left in the period, burying a one-timer from the mid slot.

Just 59 seconds later, Voce's first goal of the game lifted Ontario to a 3-0 cushion when he took Peter Lenes' feed at the right circle and snuck a backhander past Pitton's glove.

The fast start for Ontario forced the Thunder into a goaltending change to begin the second period. Andrew Perugini replaced Pitton, but Ontario kept the pressure on with Hogeboom's fourth goal of the year at the 1:40 mark of the second period, scoring a power-play goal on a one-timer from the deep slot.

Voce connected with the Reign's third man-advantage tally at 3:17 when his shot from sharp angle caught Perugini's right shoulder and caromed into the back of the net for his second goal of the game, putting the Reign up 5-0.

The Thunder finally broke through with 8:05 left in the period with Valette's first goal of the year on the power-play, converting Kelly Czuy's centering pass from the right corner with a one-timer through Darling's five-hole.

Any effort to build momentum was quickly stunted with a Reign power-play goal just 1:21 later on Henrich's second of the game, putting the Thunder in a 6-1 hole.

Rheault finished off the scoring and completed Ontario's flawless power-play effort with his second goal of the season at the 12:40 mark of the third period with a snap shot from the mid slot.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Matt O'Dette (injured reserve), Steve Vanoosten (injured reserve), Luis Tremblay (injured reserve), Chris Davis (healthy) and Colin Power (healthy) ... the Thunder outshot the Reign, 31-28 and buried a power-play goal for the fourth straight game ... Perugini made 10 saves after replacing Pitton in the second period ... tempers escalated with eight fighting majors dished out to both teams, combined, in the third period.

The Thunder return to play for a rematch with Ontario at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard on radio at 1420 KSTN and viewed online at www.stocktonthunder.com , courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 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/ .

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from October 24, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central