Stockton Thunder Face Off Against Ontario Saturday Night

Published on October 23, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


Stockton, Ca. - The Stockton Thunder plays tonight in their first road game of the season, visiting the Ontario Reign to complete a two-day, two-game "home-and-home" series. The Thunder is 1-1-1 against Ontario this season and in the last meeting, the Thunder defeated Ontario, 3-1 last night at Stockton Arena. Through 22 regular season games in the all-time series, the Thunder is 12-9-2 against Ontario. Stockton has combined for 10 goals in the first three games, led by Fraser Clair (3).

LAST THREE GAMES:

STK 3 - ONT 1 (10/22/10): Goaltender Tyson Sexsmith made 23 saves and the Stockton Thunder capitalized on three power play goals en route to a 3-1 victory over the Ontario Reign, before a crowd of 4,577 at Stockton Arena on Friday night. Chris Lawrence, Chris D'Alvise and A aron Clarke all scored and the Thunder, who earned its first win of the regular season, kept Ontario blanked through 40 minutes. The Thunder penalty kill also kept Ontario to a 1-for-9 clip as well.

ONT 5 - STK 4 (OT) (10/16/10): Chaz Johnson's snap shot goal with 1:07 remaining in sudden death overtime capped a stunning comeback by the Ontario Reign, who edged the Stockton Thunder (0-1-1, 1 point) in sudden death overtime, 5-4 before 5,769 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. The Thunder, who gained its first point of the season by forcing overtime with the help of Chris D'Alvise's two assists, had a pair of two goal leads disappear despite a 13-3 edge in shots on goal early in the game. Jeff Corey also chipped in for Ontario with a goal and an assist.

ONT 6 - STK 3 (10/15/10): Kellen Briggs made 24 saves and the Ontario Reign led wire-to-wire, capitalizing off five unanswered goa ls to send the Stockton Thunder to a 6-3 defeat on Opening Night, before 6,117 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The Thunder, who were led offensively by Fraser Clair with three points (2g-1a), dropped its fourth straight season opening defeat. Ontario's Tim Kraus, Jordan Morrison and rookie Aaron Lewadniuk each chipped in with two points.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 1-1-1)

Fri. Oct. 15 Ontario 6 at Stockton 3

Sat. Oct. 16 Ontario 5 at Stockton 4 (OT)

Fri. Oct. 22 Ontario 1 at Stockton 3

Sat. Oct. 23 at Ontario 7:00 p.m.

Fri. Jan. 21 Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 22 Ontario 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 23 at Ontario 5:00 p.m.

Wed. Feb. 9 at Ontario 7:00 p.m.

Wed. Feb. 16 at Ontario 7:00 p.m. Sun. Feb. 27 at Ontario 5:00 p.m.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

Chris Lawrence is 14 games away from 200 in his professional career

Scott Howes is 8 games away from 100 in his professional career

Aaron Clarke is 6 games away from 200 in his professional career

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

An exclusive club, the Thunder averaged over 6,000 fans per game and drew over 200,000 fans at the gate for the fifth straight year in 2009-10. The Thunder drew 217,098 fans (6,031 average) in 36 regular season games at Stockton Arena and ranked third overall this season in ECHL attendance, only surpassed by the second-year Ontario Reign (led ECHL with 232,223 fans) and the first-year Toledo Walleye (second with 226,575 fans). The Thunder has drawn 14 sellouts in the team's franchise history, welcomed its one millionth fan last season along with a draw of five crowds of 8,000 fans or more.

TOP FIVE HOME CROWDS IN 2009-10

OPPONENT DATE ATTENDANCE

1. Alaska 11/7/09 9,392*

2. Victoria 1/30/10 9,158

3. Utah 3/20/10 8,518

4. Las Vegas 3/27/10 8,053

5. Victoria 3/6/10 8,042

* Denotes sellout

HAIL TO THE CHIEF

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas is the third winningest coach in the last decade in the ECHL (among active coaches), entering the year with a lifetime .606 win percentage (234-143-54 record) in six seasons as a head coach for Stockton, Fresno and Atlantic City. Thomas also has never missed the playoffs, won a Kelly Cup championship in 2002-03 as an assistant coach with Atlantic City, has been named coach for the ECHL All-Star Game twice (2005, 2009) and has been behind the bench in a coaching role for teams that advanced to the Conf erence Finals three times.

ALL-TIME WINS, REGULAR SEASON (2000-2010)

COACH WINS

1. Jeff Pyle (Gwinnett, Mobile) * 347

2. Malcolm Cameron (four teams) * 296

3. Davis Payne (Alaska, Pee-Dee) 289

4. Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) 254

5. Matt Thomas (Stockton, Fre, A.C.) * 235

* Currently ECHL active

THIS IS THUNDER/SHARKS TERRITORY

This summer saw the Stockton Thunder announce an affiliation partnership in conjunction with the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. The Thunder, who is a dual affiliate of San Jose and the Edmonton Oilers, are separated by only 80 miles of geographic distance from San Jose. As hockey neighbors, both clubs also share similar honors in sports and entertainment. The Thunder is a two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," and the Sharks recently finished as the 12th best overall franchise in ESPN's "Ultimate Standings," ranking all major sports franchises according to how much they give back to fans for all of time, money and emotion invested by each fan (conducted by ESPN: The Magazine). Both Stockton and San Jose advanced to their respective league's Conference Final playoff round last season.

OILING UP THE SHIP AGAIN

The Thunder and Edmonton Oilers renewed an affiliation partnership for the fifth consecutive season, continuing a pipeline to the NHL that has seen seven former members of the Thunder make their NHL debut since beginning in the Oilers farm system. Right wing Troy Bodie, goaltender Devan Dubnyk, right wing Colin McDonald, center Ryan O'Marra, center Tim Sestito, left wing Liam Reddox and defenseman Bryan Young - have gone on to play in the NHL. The Oilers, a member of the NHL's Western Conference and Northwest Division, have been a member of the National Hockey League since the 1979-80 season and have captured five Stanley Cup championships.

ROSTER SERVES A TALL ORDER

Eleven players on the Thunder active roster measure at 6-foot-1 or taller: Anthony Aiello (6-1), Cameron Brodie (6-1), Jesse Gimblett (6-3), Matt Jones (6-4), Chris Lawrence (6-4), Jim McKenzie (6-2), Jason Pitton (6-2), Chase Ryan (6-2), Steve Vanoosten (6-1), Craig Valette (6-1) and Travis Yonkman (6-1).

WELCOME, YONKMAN

On Friday, the Thunder signed free agent goaltender Travis Yonkman, replacing emergency backup goaltender Jason Lindner, who was placed on waivers. Yon kman originally signed with the Alaska Aces but did not appear in a regular season game, after guiding the University of Alberta to the Cavendish University Cup title game last year with a 12-2-0 in 14 games. In four seasons, he was 70-49-10 in 147 career games in the Western Hockey League with the Swift Current Broncos.

STOCKTON THUNDER at ONTARIO REIGN

DATE: Saturday, October 23, 2010

TIME: 7:00 p.m.

SITE: Citizens Business Bank Arena

RADIO: 1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)

WATCH PARTY: Fat's Grill & Bar

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks

Ontario Reign: Los Angeles Kings

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, November 5 vs. Bakersfield Condors, 7:30 p.m.

ST. JOSEPH'S MEDICAL CENTER PRESENTS THUNDER GOES PINK V METRO PCS FREE FRIDAY

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