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Thunder 3-1-0 In Last 4, Host "Easy Being Green"

March 2, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: (all times PT)

at PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS (Tuesday and Wednesday - 6:05 p.m.) - 1420 KSTN, B2 Networks

The Thunder faces the Phoenix RoadRunners for the sixth and seventh times this season and the final time the teams meet this season at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 17-6-1 lifetime against Phoenix and is 3-2-0 against the RoadRunners this season. The last time the teams met, the Thunder defeated the RoadRunners 3-1 on Jan. 31 at Stockton Arena. Heading into the week, the Thunder is 3-1-0 in its last four games and is one point behind the Las Vegas Wranglers for second place in the Pacific Division.

vs. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (Friday - 7:30 p.m.) - 1420 KSTN, B2 Networks

The Thunder continues a stretch of playing nine games in 11 days with a Friday contest against the Bakersfield Condors, starting a three-game homestand. It will be the third meeting at Stockton Arena between both teams this season. It is the sixth of seven games against the Condors for the 2008-09 season and in the last meeting, the Condors defeated the Thunder 5-4 on Feb. 14 at Rabobank Arena. Stockton carries at lifetime record of 11-12-7 against Bakersfield and is 1-4-0 against the Condors this year. Friday's game starts the Thunder's "Easy Being Green" campaign, presented by Port of Stockton California which includes a host of eco-friendly events and promotions surrounding home games on Friday and Saturday.

vs. UTAH GRIZZLIES (Saturday - 7:30 p.m.) - B2 Networks**

The Thunder host the Utah Grizzlies on Saturday, continuing a stretch of three games in three nights. Saturday's game marks the sixth meeting between both teams. Through 26 games in the lifetime series, the Thunder is 10-15-3 against Utah. The Thunder dropped two consecutive games to the Grizzlies on Feb. 20-21 in Salt Lake City and last time both clubs met, the Grizzlies defeated the Thunder 2-1 at The E-Center.

**Saturday's broadcast heard exclusively online at www.StocktonThunder.com.

vs. ONTARIO REIGN (Sunday - 4:00 p.m.) - 1420 KSTN, B2 Networks

The Thunder faces the Ontario Reign in the ninth matchup of the year between both clubs and the final time both teams meet at Stockton Arena for the regular season. The game finishes a stretch of three games in three nights for the Thunder at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 3-4-1 vs. Ontario this year. The teams last met on Feb. 15 in Ontario when the Reign defeated the Thunder 3-2. Today's game concludes a stretch of nine games in 11 days for Stockton, who have the following nine days off and resume play at Ontario on March 18.

1420 KSTN is the Thunder's flagship radio station and all Thunder games can be heard live on the Internet (free-of-charge) and are available for viewing at a $7 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Radio broadcaster Mike Benton provides play-by-play commentary, with the "Thunder Forecast" pre-game show starting 15 minutes before each broadcast.

Show someone you care with the Stockton Thunder and Edible Arrangements!

This season during every Sunday home game one lucky fan will be awarded a beautiful and delicious fruit bouquet courtesy of Edible Arrangements. If you have a co-worker, friend, or family member you feel deserves special recognition, log on to www.StocktonThunder.com and nominate them for the Edible Arrangements Sentimental Moment.

PROMOTIONAL NEWS

Friday, March 6, 2009 vs. Idaho, 7:30 p.m.

EASY BEING GREEN (presented by Port of Stockton California, co-sponsored by California Water Service Company with KAT Country 103, 99.3 KJOY, AM 970 ESPN Radio, KHOP 95.1, 97.7 & 98.3 KWIN, 104.1 The Hawk, Radio Disney and News10)

- The first 2,000 "family" groups will receive an environment- friendly Thunder tote bag made of recycled materials!

- The first 2,000 kids (ages 12 and under) receive an activity book and tree sapling!

NEVER A WASTED TICKET NIGHT

Saturday, March 7, 2009 vs. Idaho, 7:30 p.m.

EASY BEING GREEN (presented by Port of Stockton California, co-sponsored by California Water Service Company with KAT Country 103, 99.3 KJOY, AM 970 ESPN Radio, KHOP 95.1, 97.7 & 98.3 KWIN, 104.1 The Hawk, Radio Disney and News10)

- The first 2,000 "family" groups will receive an environment- friendly Thunder tote bag made of recycled materials!

- The first 2,000 kids (ages 12 and under) receive an activity book and tree sapling!

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS NIGHT (presented by California Welding Supply & Guaranty Bank)

- Students who earned the top grade percentage in their local school for a recent grading period will receive free tickets for today's game!

Sunday, March 8, 2009 vs. Idaho, 4:00 p.m.

ADULT CAP DAY (presented by Jackson Rancheria, Comcast and 104.1 The Hawk)

- The first 2,000 adult fans (ages 18 and up) receive a free Thunder cap, perfect for the upcoming spring season!

FAMILY DAY (Presented by MetroPCS, 99.3 KJOY)

- $34 family upper premium / end zone admission (four tickets, four hockey pucks) with coupon available by visiting participating MetroPCS locations.

ACADEMIC ALL-STARS DAY (presented by California Welding Supply & Guaranty Bank)

- Students who earned the top grade percentage in their local school for a recent grading period will receive free tickets for today's game!

TEAM LEADERS:

Points - Ryan Huddy (51)

Goals - Ryan Huddy (27)

Assists - Ryan Huddy (24), Mike Lalonde (24)

Plus/Minus - Daryl Marcoux (+17)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (212)

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o Ryan Huddy is 3 goals away from breaking the Thunder single-season goal-scoring record (29)

o Matt O'Dette is 9 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Damian Surma is 7 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Cory Urquhart is 4 points away from 200 in his ECHL career

o Craig Valette is 1 point away from 100 in his professional career

TEAM NOTES:

o Ryan Huddy is tied for 6th in the ECHL with 28 goals

o Goaltender Andrew Perugini is 12-2-0 in his last 14 appearances

o Huddy is two goals away from breaking Mike Lalonde's single-season Thunder record of 29 goals

o Stockton leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,202 fans (27 games)

The team's upcoming schedule for the coming week is as follows:

(subject to change, all times PT)

TUE. FEB. 24:

10:15 a.m. - Morning skate at U.S. Airways Center

6:05 p.m. - GAME AT PHOENIX

1420 KSTN / StocktonThunder.com

WED. FEB. 25:

10:15 a.m. - Morning skate at U.S. Airways Center

6:05 p.m. - GAME AT PHOENIX

1420 KSTN / StocktonThunder.com

THURS, FEB. 26:

Travel to Stockton

FRI, FEB. 27:

10:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Stockton Arena

6:00 p.m. - Media availability ends

7:30 p.m. - GAME vs. BAKERSFIELD (Stockton Arena)

1420 KSTN / StocktonThunder.com

SAT, FEB. 28:

10:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Stockton Arena

6:00 p.m. - Media availability ends

7:30 p.m. - GAME vs. UTAH (Stockton Arena)

StocktonThunder.com

SUN. MARCH 1:

2:30 p.m. - Media availability ends

4:00 p.m. - GAME vs. ONTARIO (Stockton Arena)

1420 KSTN / StocktonThunder.com

MON. MARCH 2:

Day off

WEEK IN REVIEW

3/1/09 - IDA 1 at STK 2 (so): Goaltender Andrew Perugini won his 12th game in the last 14 appearances with a 39-save effort to guide the Stockton Thunder (27-26-5, 59 points) to a 2-1 comeback victory in a shootout over the Idaho Steelheads before 4,794 fans at Stockton Arena on Sunday. The Thunder went 3-1-0 on its four-game homestand and match last year's total of 59 points, who were aided by Ryan Huddy's power-play goal in the third period. Garrett Bembridge scored Idaho's only goal in regulation and netminder Rejean Beauchemin was held winless despite making 22 saves.

2/28/09 - IDA 3 at STK 1: Ben Nelson's goal with 9:44 left in the third period broke a 1-1 tie and helped the Idaho Steelheads send the Stockton Thunder (26-26-5, 57 points) to a 3-1 defeat before a crowd of 8,176 at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. The loss brought an end to the Thunder two-game winning streak, who was supported offensively by Cory Urquhart's 26th goal of the season. Goaltender Bryan Pitton labored through 32 saves, keeping the Thunder in the game despite suffering his seventh straight loss.

2/27/09 - IDA 2 at STK 3: Veteran Cory Urquhart buried a pair of goals and linemate Ryan Huddy notched a career-high three assists to lead the Stockton Thunder (26-25-5, 57 points) to a 3-2 victory over the Idaho Steelheads before a 6,661 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The game, which began a stretch of nine contests in 11 games for Stockton, featured a 24-save effort by goaltender Andrew Perugini, who won his 11th game in the last 13 decisions. Igor Gongalsky contributed with a power-play goal in the second period and Idaho was led by Mark Bomersback's pair of goals.

2/25/09 - LV 2 at STK 3: Rookie goaltender Andrew Perugini made 26 saves to help the Stockton Thunder break a four-game losing skid, defeating the Las Vegas Wranglers 3-2 before a crowd of 3,635 at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night. David Rohlfs, Damian Surma and Cory Urquhart each scored for the Thunder while Ryan MacMurchy paced the offense with two assists. In his first game back from the American Hockey League, Igor Gongalsky tallied an assist. Las Vegas was aided offensively by goals from veteran Peter Ferraro and Tim Spencer. Las Vegas goaltender Glenn Fisher, on loan from the AHL's Springfield Falcons and who was a Thunder goaltender in 2007-08, made his first return to Stockton Arena since March 2007 and took the loss with 33 saves.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

(courtesy of The Record)

"In the end, it came down to (goaltender Andrew Perugini)," Thunder coach Matt Thomas said. "He won us that game. We finally realized our goaltender was giving us a chance to win the game and started working hard."

- Head Coach Matt Thomas the Thunder 2-1 shootout win vs. Idaho, The Record, 3/2/09

"I think when you are playing the same team three games, both sides want to let them know you want to get ready for a war," Thunder coach Matt Thomas said. "I like the way we stepped out to the plate. We wanted to show that this was going to be a physical game, that you were going to get hit."

- Head Coach Matt Thomas on the Thunder 3-2 win vs. Idaho on 2/27, The Record, 2/28/09

STOCKTON THUNDER STATISTICS (as of Mar. 2, 2009)

The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season, group, individual tickets and mini plan packages 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.



ECHL Stories from March 2, 2009


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