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Six Thunder Players Tendered Qualifying Offers

July 2, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, announced six players have been issued qualifying offers for the upcoming 2012-13 season.

Players who had already signed a contract by July 1 did not need to receive a qualifying offer. Each team was entitled to reserve the rights to a maximum of eight qualified players. Players issued a qualifying offer by the Thunder are:

(D) Cameron Brodie

(LW) Jordan Fulton

(LW) Garet Hunt

(D) Brock Matheson

(D) Sebastian Owuya

(D) Dan Ringwald

Brodie, who turned 24 yesterday, totaled seven assists and 68 penalty minutes in 52 games last season with the Thunder. He also suited up in eight Kelly Cup Playoff games, collecting one assist and eight penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1 and 210 pound defenseman made his American Hockey League debut with the Texas Stars in 2011-12, skating in three games.

Fulton, 24, notched a career high 47 points (17g-30a) and +15 rating in 70 games last season with the Thunder, additionally collecting 111 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1 and 195 pound forward scored a goal in a total of eight Kelly Cup Playoff games.

Hunt, 24, ranked second in the ECHL with 255 penalty minutes last season and scored 19 points (7g-12a) in 69 regular season games. The 5-foot-8 and 190 pound forward was named recipient of the Thunder "Fan Favorite" Award for the fourth consecutive season and is the club's all time leader in games played (244).

Matheson, 25, skated in 45 games with the Thunder as a rookie in 2011-12, collecting two assists and 27 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1 and 190 pound defenseman also has appeared in five games with Binghamton and Rochester of the American Hockey League, notching one assist and six penalty minutes in two seasons.

Owuya, 20, suited up in 35 games with the Thunder as a rookie last season, racking up eight assists and 41 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-4 and 205 pound blueliner was selected in the sixth round (169th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. He also appeared in two games and was +1 with the Winnipeg Jets in the 2011 Vancouver Canucks YoungStars Tournament.

Ringwald, 25, skated in 12 games with the Thunder last season and notched eight points (2g-6a). The 6-foot-1 and 205 pound defenseman also made his AHL debut in 2011-12 with the Oklahoma City Barons and scored seven points (1g-6a) in 31 games. He was a part of the club's appearance in the Western Conference Final and collected four assists in 14 Calder Cup Playoff games.

INFORMATION ON QUALIFYING OFFERS, FREE AGENCY

Of the qualified players, no more than four could be veterans (260 regular season professional hockey games played as of the start of the upcoming 2012-13 season). Players on open qualifying offers cannot be traded.

The qualifying offer must remain open for acceptance until Aug. 1 at which time the qualifying offer becomes null and void and the team may sign the qualified player to any salary or may elect to take no further action. Teams that extend a valid qualifying offer to a non-veteran player shall retain the rights to that qualified player for one playing season.

A team that extends a valid qualifying offer to a veteran player will retain the rights to that veteran until Aug. 1. After Aug. 1, if the veteran player is not signed to a contract by the team, the veteran shall be deemed a restricted free agent and shall be entitled to seek and secure offers of employment from other ECHL teams. Restricted free agents may not be traded.

When a restricted free agent receives a contract offer from a team other than the team with the player's rights and the restricted free agent wishes to accept the contract offer, the restricted free agent and the offering member must, within 24 hours, notify the ECHL, the team with the player's rights and the Professional Hockey Players' Association. The member with the player's rights shall have seven days after the date it is notified to exercise its right to match the contract offer.

If a restricted free agent is not signed to either an offer sheet or a contract by an ECHL team by Aug. 31, the player shall be deemed an unrestricted free agent.

OPENING NIGHT AND TICKET INFORMATION

Opening Night is Friday, Oct. 12 when the Thunder launches the 2012-13 season and the ECHL's 25th Anniversary campaign at home against the Ontario Reign, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

The Thunder are freezing Season Ticket prices for the 2012-13 season, which are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (209) 373-1500 or by visiting www.stocktonthunder.com. Thunder Season Ticket Holders enjoy the highest-demanded seating locations in Stockton Arena, benefits including admission to Season Ticket Holder-only events, discount opportunities on Thunder merchandise, a free e-newsletter, an exclusive gift, admission to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and more.

A two time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," the Thunder led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the seventh consecutive season in 2011-12. Season Tickets for 2012-13 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/ .



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