"Rough & Ready Islanders" Look to Avenge Loss

February 8, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder (22-17-0-5) look to bounce back from their loss against the Alaska Aces (28-11-2-1) last night, as the two teams square off again in Anchorage. The game gets underway at 8:15 p.m. PST. It's the second of three meetings between the teams this weekend and second of five straight games between the Thunder and Aces overall.

Thunder fans can head down to the team's "home away from home" the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel for a watch party while enjoying food and drink specials. The broadcast begins at 8:00 p.m. PST with the Black Oak Casino Resort pre-game show. Live video is available through AmericaONE sports while fans can listen to free live audio through Spreaker.com and StocktonThunder.com. Fans who missed the live coverage of last night's game on Antenna TV (KTXL.2) FOX40's digital channel, can see a replay of the contest today on Comcast Sportsnet California and tomorrow on NHL Network.

The Thunder will once again be playing tonight's game as the "Rough & Ready Islanders" wearing their special edition jerseys, similar to those of their NHL affiliate the New York Islanders, as part of the ECHL's Hockey Heritage weekend. It's the final time the team will be sporting the uniforms until their home game against Alaska on March 22, at Stockton Arena.

The Rough & Ready Islanders received goals from J.P. Burkemper and Joey Martin on Friday night. Burkemper opened the scoring 7:16 into the first period finishing off a rebound in front of the net for his fifth of the season. It was also the third goal in six games for the rookie forward.

Martin's goal came late in the third period with the team trailing the Aces 3-1. Martin fired a well-placed shot from behind the net that banked in off the back of Alaska goaltender Gerald Coleman. It was Martin's 12th goal of the season and added to his team-leading point total of 42 (12 goals, 30 assists). Martin remains 7th in the ECHL in total points.

However, Burkemper and Martin's tallies were not enough as the Rough & Ready Islanders failed to overcome a two-goal deficit. It was the team's 10th straight regular season loss to Alaska on the road. The last time the Stockton Thunder won a road game at Sullivan arena in the regular season was on February 13, 2011 when they bested the Aces 3-2. The Thunder still have four more tries to snap that streak as they play tonight, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Tonight, the Rough & Ready Islander's main focus will be on shutting down the Aces top line of forwards made up of Nick Mazzolini, Brendan Connolly and Peter Sivak who combined for all four goals and 10 points between the three of them on Friday. The only other Alaska player to register a point was Mathew Sisca who picked up an assist on Connolly's second goal of the game.

Those three players are also the Aces three top scorers. Sivak leads the team with 50 points on 15 goals and 35 assists. Mazzolini and Connolly are second and third with 38 and 33 points respectively.

Tonight's contest will be the Thunder/Rough & Ready Islander's fourth game in five days as this season-long, ten-day road trip continues. The Thunder next return home on February 15, when they host the Utah Grizzlies next Saturday for Star Wars night.



ECHL Stories from February 8, 2014


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