Thunder Announces 2012-13 Preseason Schedule

Published on May 16, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, has announced a three-game preseason schedule for 2013-13 which opens at the Cow Palace against the host San Francisco Bulls on Wednesday, Oct. 3 and includes a home game on Saturday, Oct. 6 against the Bakersfield Condors at 7:30 p.m.

A countdown to launching of the 2012-13 season, the Thunder will wrap up the preseason with the Pacific Division rival Condors in a two-day, "home and home" style of series, continuing a rivalry that orchestrated a tie between both teams for first place in the Pacific Division in 2010-11. The two teams also squared off in the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs, with the Thunder defeating Bakersfield, 4-1 in the best of seven National Conference Semifinal.

Both teams will first square off in Bakersfield at Rabobank Arena on Friday, Oct. 5.

A date with the San Francisco Bulls, who enter the ECHL for their first season of play as the Thunder's closest geographic rival, marks the opening of the preseason schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at the Cow Palace, the home of the Bulls which opened in 1941 and served as the San Jose Sharks' NHL home venue from 1991-93.

"The three preseason contests with Bakersfield and San Francisco should prepare our players quite well for what promises to be yet another competitive season in the Western Conference of the ECHL," said Thunder president Dan Chapman. "Bakersfield has long been a natural rival for the Thunder and with the addition of the San Francisco Bulls it will give our fans a good taste of what's to come this season."

STOCKTON THUNDER 2012-13 PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE (all times PT)

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME

WEDNESDAY Oct. 3 @ SAN FRANCISCO Cow Palace 7:00 p.m.

FRIDAY Oct. 5 @ BAKERSFIELD Rabobank Arena 7:00 p.m.

SATURDAY Oct. 6 BAKERSFIELD Stockton Arena 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the Oct. 6 home game can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by calling the Thunder at (209) 373-1500.

The Thunder swept Bakersfield in a two game series last preseason. The Condors' head coach is Matt O'Dette, a former captain of the Thunder who suited up as a defenseman from 2009-11 and served the Thunder as assistant coach for the 2011-12 season under head coach Matt Thomas.

A proud affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, the Thunder led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the seventh consecutive season in 2011-12. Season Tickets for 2012-13 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ .

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