Thunder Awarded San Joaquin Magazine's "Best Local Sports Team"
Published on July 1, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder has been selected by local readers as "Best Local Sports Team" by San Joaquin Magazine, in the publication's current edition that hits newsstands today.
The magazine's feature, titled "Best of San Joaquin - 2008," received votes from readers through mail and its website for the Stockton-area's finest restaurants, shops, entertainment, leisure attractions and more. The feature begins by exclaiming "there's no denying that hockey is a fan favorite in Stockton."
The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08, becoming the first team since 2004-05 (Florida EverBlades) to lead the league in attendance for three consecutive seasons.
It is the second straight year the Thunder has surpassed the mark of 230,000 fans for one season as four games featured standing-room-only crowds of 9,737, including a Nov. 3 home game against the Idaho Steelheads during "Thunder Goes Pink II," a two-game, pink-themed weekend event to celebrate and raise funds for breast cancer awareness. The event drew a two-game total of over 17,000 fans and raised $36,000 for the American Cancer Society - Stockton Field Office and the St. Joseph's Foundation - Breast Cancer Services.
The Thunder, who has drawn 12 sellouts in three seasons, has advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs in back-to-back seasons and hosted the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition on Jan. 22-23, as a crowd of 7,455 marked the fifth-highest attended contest in ECHL All-Star Game history during the league's 20th anniversary celebration.
San Joaquin Magazine, a lifestyle publication that highlights people, places and trends of the growing cosmopolitan population of the local area, serves the areas of Stockton, Lodi, Tracy, Manteca, Ripon and Mountain House. A digital version of the latest issue can be viewed by visiting www.sanjoaquinmagazine.com.
ECHL Stories from July 1, 2008
- Steelheads Extend Qualifying Offers To Seven Players - Idaho Steelheads
- Rays Extend Qualifying Offers to Five - South Carolina Stingrays
- Grizzlies Extend Eight Qualifying Offers - Utah Grizzlies
- Eizenman Participates in Rangers' Conditioning Camp - Fresno Falcons
- Checkers Extend Qualifying Offers to Eight - Charlotte Checkers
- Cyclones Submit Qualifying Offers on Eight - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Falcons Submit Qualifying Offers - Fresno Falcons
- Seven Thunder Players Tendered Qualifying Offers - Stockton Thunder
- Thunder Awarded San Joaquin Magazine's "Best Local Sports Team" - Stockton Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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