Stockton gets 3-2 win over Aces

Published on October 28, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - RW David Rohlfs scored the game-winning goal at the 2:04 mark of overtime, and goaltender Cam Ellsworth turned aside 34 shots to lead the Stockton Thunder (2-3-0, 4 pts) to a 3-2 win over the Alaska Aces (2-2-0, 4 pts) in front of 8,609 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night.

Thunder C Geoff Paukovich opened the scoring at the 18:59 mark of the first period, the recipient of a tape-to-tape pass from LW Andy Contois from behind the Alaska goal. Paukovich re-directed the feed past Aces goaltender Derek Gustafson blocker-side to give Stockton a 1-0 advantage. The tally was Paukovich's 1st career ECHL goal. The Thunder upped their lead to 2-0 with 20.8 seconds remaining in the period as RW Jesse Bennefield scored his 4th goal of the season, going one-on-one with Gustafson on a break-away. The Alaska netminder turned aside the initial shot, only to have several defenders crash the net, allowing the puck to cross the goal-line before the net was displaced. Ellsworth turned aside 11 Alaska shots in the frame, including a highlight-reel glove stop on Aces D Ryan Glenn's re-direct attempt point-blank with 2:22 to play in the stanza.

Alaska narrowed the Stockton lead to 2-1 in the waning moments of the second period as Aces F Bo Cheesman corralled a loose puck in the slot in front of Ellsworth, and proceeded to beat the Stockton goaltender with a slap-shot stick-side at the 19:43 mark of the frame. The goal, a power-play marker, was Cheesman's 2nd on the season. The Thunder had multiple quality scoring chances during the period as Stockton pressed to augment its lead. Gustafson, however, would deny Thunder C Brandon Schwartz on a strong individual effort up the right side, before stymieing C Ryan O'Marra on the tail-end of a 2-on-0 break with Schwartz to keep the Aces within striking distance.

Aces F Tomas Kana tied the score 2-2 at 13:03 of the third period, re-directing a Peter Metcalf shot from the right point past a sprawling Ellsworth stick-side. The goal, scored on a delayed penalty call, was Kana's 2nd on the season. Ellsworth preserved the draw in the final seconds of the period for the Thunder, denying a final Alaska flurry. The Thunder goaltender recorded 32 stops thru regulation time.

Rohlfs sealed the victory for Stockton in the overtime frame, converting a cross-crease feed from Contois at 2:04 of the extra period to give Stockton the 3-2 win. Rohlfs' marker was his 2nd on the season.

Contois leads the Thunder in scoring with 6 points (1g, 5a) thru 5 games played thus far this season, recording 2 assists on the night.

The Thunder returns to play after a five-day absence on Friday, November 2 against the Idaho Steeleheads, starting at 7:30 p.m. from Stockton Arena as part of "Thunder Goes Pink II." The game can be heard live on radio at 1420 KSTN and on the internet (video and audio available) at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

Host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game and festivities on Jan. 22 and 23, the Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets, group tickets and individual tickets for 2007-08 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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