Thunder Begin Four-Game Road Trip in Colorado

Published on December 10, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder take on the Colorado Eagles in the first of four tonight at 6:05 p.m. PST

Arena: Budweiser Events Center

Date: Wednesday, December 10

Time: 6:05 p.m. PST

Broadcast: ECHL.TV and Spreaker beginning at 5:50 p.m. PST

Last Year's Record: Stockton went 4-3-0-0 against Colorado

Follow the Thunder Facebook Page for occasional updates or follow @StocktonThunder on Twitter for the play-by-play tweeting!

Kids Take Over Applications

The application process for Kids Take Over year number two has begun, as is the pre-registration for painting the ice. You MUST be a member of the Thunder Kids Club which is FREE to join for kids 12-years-old and younger. If you aren't a member yet, take a moment to sign up by clicking here.

Jobs available range from helping drive the Zamboni, to flexing your play-by-play skills on the broadcast! The team will make our "hires" during the week of December 15! Not only will you be applying for a job but the first 100 kids that are signed up will have a guaranteed spot to paint the ice on December 30! Apply now as we'll begin to make our hires next week!

Watch Party

Don't forget that the official home away from home is the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel. The hotel will have the games this week on for FREE. You can enjoy some delicious food and beverages while watching the Thunder among friends.

Last Time Out

The Thunder had one more opportunity to beat the Aces, something that hadn't been done since October 25 of this season. Kent Simpson got the nod in goal and right off the bat, received some offensive support as Austin Levi scored on the power play to give the Thunder the early lead, but moments later the Aces would get a goal of their own thanks again to Francis. Moments later the Aces took the lead with Archambault's 13th goal of the season.

The Thunder found themselves down after 20 minutes but came out firing in the second with Sivak's seventh of the season in the first minute of the period. Shawn Boutin would get a slick pass from J.T. Barnett and start a give-and-go with Hunt behind the net, resulting in the defenseman's third goal of the year. However the Aces took the wind out of the Thunder's sails again with a response 29 seconds later from Quinn Sproule.

With the teams deadlocked and the game nearing overtime, someone would have to provide a special spark and it happened to be Barnett, who stood up and fought Brad Richard after Richard's hit on Sutter from behind. The spark was just what the doctor ordered because less than a minute later, Sebastian Collberg's give-and-go with Keith Seabrook put the skilled Swede in a position to make an amazing deke around an Alaskan defender and put a puck upstairs on the goaltender to put the Thunder up with under three minutes left in the game.

Shattock added an empty netter and the Thunder finally beat the Alaska Aces on Hockey with Heart Night, 5-3.

About the Eagles

Colorado has had a great start to the season, going 11-7-0-0 and currently sitting fourth in the Pacific. Colorado, as you might remember, was supposed to be in the Central Division before the former Central Hockey League teams made up the new Central Division.

The Eagles have only played 18 games this season meaning they have games in hand on every single team in the Pacific, who have all played 20 games or more.

There are some big changes to the Eagles this season as last years leading goal scorer Kyle Ostrow is playing in the German second division. The team did retain the services of Trent Daavettila, a player who torched the Thunder last season, however he's off to a sluggish 4 points in 7 games start for the team.

Kyle Kraemer resigned with the team recently and has not gotten into a game yet. Kraemer was acquired from the Ontario Reign last year after the Reign signed him away from the St. Charles Chill. He has played 241 games in the ECHL with the Reign, Eagles, and Kalamazoo Wings and has registered 208 points.

Perhaps the biggest change to the Eagles is the loss of captain and 11-year player Riley Nelson. Nelson is the team's all-time leader in goals (303), assists (489) and points (792). Nelson now serves as the Eagles Video Coach and Special Consultant.

Tonight

The Thunder begin a four-game road trip in Colorado, taking on the Eagles for the first time this season. If you're a big believer in history repeating itself, the series against the Eagles should be split about even this season. The Thunder play the Eagles 12 times this year with the first six coming at the Budweiser Events Center before the following six will occur at Stockton Arena.

The Thunder have split the 22 games they've played against the Eagles since the team moved into the ECHL with an 11-11-0 record. Last year the Thunder ended up with one more win over the Eagles.

The season series from 2013-14 started with an opening night, 5-0 triumph by the Thunder before the teams split the next two games in Colorado. The Eagles then came back on last year's Hockey with Heart night to beat the Thunder 7-5 and would later that month extend their winning streak to two against the Thunder with a win at home. However, the Thunder would take the final two games in Loveland to finish the season 4-3-0 against Colorado. The Thunder did win two of their four games in overtime.

Who to Watch

There are a number of players worth watching tonight against the Eagles but after his display on Saturday to win the game for the Thunder, why not keep an eye on #23 Sebastian Collberg.

The Swedish dynamo has dazzled with brilliant moves, speed, and ability to create offense. After being placed on the third line in his first game with the team last week, Collberg has lined up with Jack MacLellan and Alex Mallet, meaning a lot of speed and creativity out on the ice at once.

There is of course a chance that Coach Kromm shuffles the lines up with a few players leaving and potentially coming in, but this trio has looked good in their limited time together. Expect them to line up together to at least start the night.

Ch-ch-changes

That last post segues beautifully to our conversation about roster changes as the Thunder will be without Peter Sivak as the Czech native, who is currently on an eight game point streak, was called back to Bridgeport ahead of the series against the Eagles. He is just two games back of playing 150 in his ECHL career.

There were also changes to the list of players on injured reserve as Mike Pereria comes off the list while defenseman Loic Leduc was added to the list. Tyler Maxwell still remains on the inactive injured list.

Pereria could play tonight but if he does suit up, you can expect a lighter load for the former UMass player. His last game was one in which he played against the Aces back on November 15 when he saw limited action from Coach Kromm due to the forward testing his injury.

All-Time Watch

We're monitoring the situation between Garet Hunt, Ryan Constant and Mike Lalonde as Lalonde's all-time lead in points could be in danger of falling to one of the Thunder's star players this season.

Lalonde's 156 career points is in jeopardy as Constant pulled ahead with 148 points with the Thunder while Hunt is right behind them both with 143.

That means Constant is just 8 points back of tying the record while Hunt is 13 points back of tying the record.

Hunt is the only one close to Lalonde's all-time record of 72 goals with his 52 markers, putting the Thunder captain 20 shy of tying the record.

A Couple of (former) Eagles

The Thunder have two players on their current roster who have suited up for the Eagles in the last season.

Defenseman John Ryder played 52 games for the Eagles last year before he was moved to the Ontario Reign in the trade that brought Kyle Kraemer to Colorado. Ryder wasn't the first player traded in that deal as the Eagles initially sent Jason Beatty to the Reign but was sent back to the Eagles due to a contingency in the trade agreement that left the first trade null and void. Ryder was the man who made his way from mountainous region to the Pacific Coast to complete the trade agreement.

Most recently however, Kent Simpson has donned a Colorado Eagles jersey. The Thunder goaltender has been with four teams already this season having been traded by the Chicago Blackhawks to the New York Islanders. Simpson began the year with Chicago's AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs and then was sent to Bridgeport where he was assigned to Colorado due to the Thunder having two goalies already. After a three game stint with the Eagles going 1-2-0, Simpson was recalled to Bridgeport where he was then assigned to the Thunder.

Tenth Anniversary Jersey

The Thunder unveiled their new Tenth Anniversary edition sweaters last week and the fan response was overwhelmingly positive. The Stockton Fan Attic saw replicas fly off the shelves as eager fans wanted to get their hands on the beautiful new jerseys as quickly as possible.

Thunder fans witnessed the first win with the jerseys on Saturday against Alaska and hope that the good luck with the jerseys continues as the Thunder will be representing their 10th Anniversary from the road by wearing the jerseys throughout this four-game series against Colorado. Those of you watching on ECHL.TV can enjoy!

Watch Party

Don't forget that the official home away from home is the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel. The hotel will have the games this week on for FREE. You can enjoy some delicious food and beverages while watching the Thunder among friends.

Streaks on the Line tonight

Jack MacLellan is on a five-game point streak (3G, 4A).

Tyler Shattock is on a four-game point streak (3G, 3A).

Ryan Constant is on a four-game point streak (1G, 4A).

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ECHL Stories from December 10, 2014


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