Stockton Coaches Cichocki, Carlson Riding In Independence Day Parade

Published on July 3, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Stockton Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki is scheduled to participate and join Chad Carlson, Interim Head Coach of the arenafootball2 league's Stockton Lightning in the Stockton Independence Day Parade presented by The Coalition of Stockton Veterans Organizations, taking place in Downtown Stockton on July 4.

The parade, starting at 10:00 a.m. at Woodruff Regional Occupational Center (302 W. Weber Avenue, Stockton), covers Downtown Stockton and will head eastbound on Weber Avenue, northbound on El Dorado Street, westbound on Fremont Street and then southbound on Center Street. Parade participants will lineup with an 8:30 a.m. assembly call time.

Cichocki, entering his fourth season as Head Coach of the Thunder, is scheduled to ride in a black-colored Plymouth Prowler while Carlson, currently in his first season as Lightning interim head coach, will mount a black-colored Chevrolet Corvette, courtesy of Chase Chevrolet of Stockton.

Cichocki, a native of Detroit, Mich., has guided the Thunder to back-to-back appearances in the Kelly Cup Playoffs and carries a lifetime coaching record of 210-226-68 in seven ECHL seasons with the Thunder, Arkansas RiverBlades and Cincinnati Cyclones. Cichocki has served as a Coach in the ECHL All-Star Game three times (tying a league record shared with Davis Payne, Jeff Pyle of Gwinnett and Glen Gulutzan of Las Vegas) and spent 68 games of his 13-year professional playing career in the NHL as a forward for the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils, scoring 23 points (11g-12a).

Carlson, a native of Portland, Ore., was named to the Lightning top post on an interim basis on May 27, 2008 and is in his third af2 head coaching venture after serving as General Manager/Head Coach for the Hawaiian Islanders (2002) and Head Coach of the Bossier City Battle Wings (2003). Following two separate stints in the Canadian Football League with the Edmonton Eskimos (1994) and Ottawa Rough Riders (1996), the Portland, Oregon native spent the 1997 season with the AFL's Portland Forest Dragons and previously was a standout All-American wide receiver at Lewis & Clark College (NCAA), leading the nation in yards per catch during his senior season after his conversion from the quarterback position.

The parade, taking a theme of honoring Vietnam War Veterans, will feature Grand Marshall Ray Bael, MgySgt/USMC (Ret) a decorated Vietnam Veteran.

The Lightning return to play the final road game of the regular season this Saturday - a Week 15 matchup against the Central Valley Coyotes, beginning at 7:00 from Selland Arena on Saturday, July 5 The game be heard on radio (potentially joined in progress) at 1420-AM KSTN and viewed online, free-of-charge, through www.stocktonlightning.com (courtesy of NifTy Online TV). The Thunder opens the 2008-09 regular season at home on Saturday, October 18 against the local rival Fresno Falcons at Stockton Arena, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

A proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, the Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season tickets for 2008-09 are now on sale and begin at just $335. A deposit of just $50 reserves your seat for the 2008-09 season! For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com. Group tickets and individual tickets for the 2008 Lightning regular season are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, merchandise, or other information, please call the Lightning at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonlightning.com.

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