Thunder Announces 2010-11 Season Schedule

Published on May 27, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, a two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," and the National Conference teams of the ECHL announced the 2010-11 regular season schedule today. The Thunder open the season in front of its home fans at Stockton Arena with a two game, back-to-back series on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 15-16 against the Ontario Reign, starting at 7:30 p.m. both nights.

The Thunder, a four-time leader in ECHL attendance, averaged over 6,000 fans per game and drew over 200,000 fans at the gate last season for the fifth straight year. Welcoming its one millionth fan through the turnstiles last season, the Thunder has drawn 14 sellouts in the team's franchise history and had five crowds of 8,000 fans or more in 2010-11.

Thunder home games will begin at 7:00 p.m. PT on Monday through Thursday, 7:30 p.m. PT on Friday and Saturday, and 4:00 p.m. PT on Sunday. The 72-game schedule (36 home, 36 away) ends with a two game road trip against the Las Vegas Wranglers on Apr. 1-2.

A total of 22 home games will be played on a Friday or Saturday while the home schedule features 29 weekend dates (11 Fridays, 11 Saturdays and 7 Sundays).

2010-11 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN For the 2010-11 regular season, the Thunder will continue to participate in a 72 game schedule that emphasizes rivalries against familiar National Conference foes from the 09-10 season.

The Thunder faces its 2009-10 Pacific Division rivals 28 times in 2010-11, including 11 games against the Bakersfield Condors, the closest division rival, geographically. Meeting the first time since the Thunder eliminated Bakersfield 4-1 in the second round of the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs (National Conference Semifinal), the first game of the head-to-head series is Oct. 29, 7:00 p.m. at Rabobank Arena.

The Thunder, who went 7-3-0 in ten games last season against the Ontario Reign, will face Ontario in ten games this season with the first three scheduled at Stockton Arena. The Thunder will travel to Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario for the first time of the season on Saturday, Oct. 23.

After splitting six games last season at 3-3-0 featuring head coach Matt Thomas and his former assistant and current Las Vegas head coach Ryan Mougenel, Stockton faces the Las Vegas Wranglers seven times in 2010-11. The last three games of last season's head-to-head series, all at Stockton Arena, were decided by a single goal and were capped by a 6-5 Thunder comeback win on Mar. 28 with 59.5 seconds left, after Stockton trailed in separate 3-0 and 4-1 deficits.

The first meeting of the regular season is at Stockton Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 7:00 p.m. and both teams will meet for the first time at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 7:05 p.m.

After being eliminated in six games during the 2010 National Conference Final by the Idaho Steelheads, the Thunder face their West Division rival 11 times in the regular season. The first rematch since the Conference Final is at Qwest Arena on Nov. 10 at 6:10 p.m. and the teams will battle for the first time at Stockton Arena on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 7:00 p.m.

PROMOTION AND EVENT HIGHLIGHTS "Thunder Goes Pink V," the flagship event of all Thunder fundraising outreach events during the hockey season, is scheduled for November 5-7 against the Bakersfield Condors. The wildly popular event, expanded in 2010-11 to three days, continued to help spotlight and raise funds to benefit local breast cancer treatment and prevention this past season, raising $32,480 in cash, tickets and memorabilia, split evenly between the event beneficiaries: American Cancer Society - Stockton Field Office and St. Joseph's Foundation - Breast Cancer Services. The Thunder has boosted its all-time, four-year total of funds raise through "Pink" to over $145,000.

"Teddy Bear Toss" is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 22 against the Ontario Reign at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The annual tradition invites fans to shower the ice surface with stuffed animals when the Thunder scores their first goal of the game. In 2010-11, the Thunder was able to collect a record 4,348 bears and other stuffed animals to donate to the United Way who in turn distributed them to local children's charities.

The third annual Thunder's "Easy Being Green" event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 25-26 at Stockton Arena against the Victoria Salmon Kings at 7:30 p.m. The two-day event, which drew over 13,500 fans last season, featured a pre-game "Green Fair" (before each game) featuring local eco-friendly businesses and organizations distributing information and green-themed giveaways.

More information on the upcoming season's promotion and giveaway schedule will be announced soon.

TICKET INFORMATION The Thunder are freezing Season Ticket prices for the 2010-11 season, which are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (209) 373-1500 or by visiting www.stocktonthunder.com. Thunder Season Ticket Holders enjoy the highest-demanded seating locations in Stockton Arena, preferred parking options, benefits including admission to Season Ticket Holder-only events, discount opportunities on Thunder merchandise, a free e-newsletter, an exclusive gift, admission to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and more.

New and renewing Season Ticket Holders Individual save ten percent off the Season Ticket price by taking advantage of an "Early Bird Special" and will save five percent off the Season Ticket price by investing in a special seven-month payment plan. Individual and mini-plan ticket information will be announced soon.

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