Stockton looks to break a nasty December slide with busy weekend schedule

Published on January 3, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

Friday, January 6: vs. Utah Grizzlies (7:30pm PT)

The Thunder and Grizzlies meet for the second time this season, with the Grizzlies taking a 5-4 win in the inaugural meeting on November 24 at The E-Center. Steve Slonina (two goals), Likit Andersson (two assists) and Joel Irwin (1g-1a) had two points apiece for Stockton. The Thunder may have their hands full defensively, as Utah's 119 goals rank third in the league, and carry the third best power play in the ECHL (23.9%).

Saturday, January 7: @ Las Vegas Wranglers (7:05pm PT)

Saturday's tilt is the fourth meeting between both teams, as the Thunder looks for its first win against the Wranglers in four tries (0-3-0 versus Las Vegas in 2005-06) and its first road victory since November 20. Stockton previously dropped 5-3 and 3-2 decisions to Las Vegas on December 16 and 17 at Stockton Arena. Joel Irwin (1g-2a), Mike Lalonde (2g-1a) and Nathan Martz (1g-2a) lead the Thunder with three points apiece against the Wranglers this season.

Sunday, January 8: @ Phoenix RoadRunners (4pm PT)

The Thunder will face Phoenix in its first appearance at U.S. Airways Center (formerly America West Arena), the former home of the National Hockey League's Phoenix Coyotes (current Thunder ECHL affiliate). Stockton previously split its first two meetings with the RoadRunners, winning 4-0 on Stockton Arena's December 10 opening night, and dropping a 4-3 loss the next afternoon. Mike Lalonde's three goals against Phoenix lead the Thunder in overall scoring against the RoadRunners.

Friday's game features a Mike Lalonde Poster giveaway night, free to all fans 12 and under in attendance. Fans who participated in the Thunder's "Name the Team" contest will also gain free admission to the game when redeeming their "Name the Team" voucher.

All three games can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and are available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" fare at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B-2 Networks. Thunder broadcaster Mike Benton will provide play-by-play commentary, with the pre-game show beginning at 7:15pm (PT) on Friday, 6:50 (PT) on Saturday and 3:45pm (PT) on Sunday.

STOCKTON THUNDER SCHEDULE: January 3 - 9 (Subject to change, all times Pacific)

Tuesday, January 3 10am: Morning skate at Stockton Arena

Wednesday, January 4 10am: Morning skate at Stockton Arena

Thursday, January 5 10am: Morning skate at Stockton Arena

Friday, January 6 10am: Morning skate at Stockton Arena 7:30pm: Game vs. Utah Grizzlies (Stockton Arena)

Saturday, January 7 7:05pm: Game at Las Vegas Wranglers (Orleans Arena)

Sunday, January 8 4pm: Game at Phoenix RoadRunners (U.S. Airways Center)

Monday, January 9 Day Off

UPCOMING MILESTONES:
- Dean Stork is two games away from 400 and nine assists away from 100 in his ECHL career
- Jason Kostadine is nine games away from 100 in his ECHL career
- Nathan Martz is nine games away from 100 in his ECHL career
- Dave McCulloch is eight games away from 100 in his ECHL career

WEEK IN REVIEW

CALLING ALL STARS *

Stockton Thunder left wing Mike Lalonde was selected to the National Conference All-Star team for the 2006 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Bud Light, the ECHL announced last Saturday.

Lalonde, 23, compiled 18 points (14g-4a) in 23 games previous to his selection, while leading the Thunder in goals and sitting fourth among ECHL rookies in goal-scoring. A native of Chetwynd, British Columbia, Lalonde is the Thunder's first-ever All-Star selection.

Lalonde joins the 21-man National Conference roster, which includes 10 rookies and 15 first-time selections.

Monday, December 26 Fresno 2 vs. STOCKTON 1

The Thunder dropped their fourth game in a row with a 2-1 setback to the Fresno Falcons, as Fresno goaltender Brett Jaeger stopped 34 Stockton shots, including 19 in the third period. Joel Irwin scored the lone Thunder goal with a power play marker late in the first period. The Thunder finished 1-for-8 on the power play, while goaltender Jeff Weber made 22 saves.

Tuesday, December 27 Reading 3 vs. STOCKTON 1

The Thunder dropped their fifth consecutive loss in a 3-1 decision against Reading, with Thunder goaltender Jake Moreland's 37 saves upstaged by Royals counterpart Yutaka Fukufuji's 34 stops. Mike Pandolfo scored the last two goals of the game for Reading, including the game-winner late in the second period. Dave McCulloch scored the only goal for the Thunder early in the first period.

Wednesday, December 28 Reading 6 vs. STOCKTON 4

The Thunder dropped a 6-4 loss to the Royals on Wednesday at Stockton Arena, which was paced by an offensively-loaded second and third period. Down by three goals twice in the game, Stockton rallied to within one at 3-2 and 5-4 deficits. Reading's Grant Jacobsen picked up two goals (including the game-winner), while Aaron Foster, Maris Ziedins and Steve Slonina collected two points apiece for the Thunder.

Friday, December 30 Reading 4 vs. STOCKTON 3 (SO)

Steve Slonina's two goals aided the Thunder's efforts in breaking a six-game losing streak, dropping a 4-3 shootout loss to the Reading Royals in front of 8,036 at Stockton Arena, the second largest home crowd for the Thunder in 2005-06. Aaron Foster put Stockton in front 1-0, finishing off an odd-man rush. Dany Roussin, T.J. Kemp and Larry Courville contributed with goals for Reading, while Jake Moreland stopped 38 shots for Stockton. Jon Francisco picked up the game-winning tally in the shootout.

Saturday, December 31 Bakersfield 3 vs. STOCKTON 1

Finishing off one of the most grueling weeks of the entire 2005-06 schedule, the Thunder succumbed to Condors goaltender Ryan Munce's 32 saves, in a 3-1 loss to Bakersfield before 5,098 at Rabobank Arena. Bakersfield cashed in on goals from Joel Irving, Dave Bonk and Dennis Shirayev, while Thunder forward Maris Ziedins broke Munce's shutout run with a goal less than four minutes left in the game. Thunder goaltender Jake Moreland finished with 32 saves.

THUNDER NOTES:
- Forward Steve Slonina led the Thunder in scoring for the month of December with nine points (6g-3a) in 11 games
- Center Maris Ziedins has recorded four points (2g-2a) in his first five games since returning from Europe, after earning a spot on the 2006 Latvian Olympic hockey team in a pre-Olympic tryout
- Stockton has gained four of its five wins outside of divisional play
- The Thunder has scored 30 goals in the third period or post-regulation, accounting for 46.1% of its total offense (65 team goals)

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