Thunder blasts Condors in season debut on 42-save effort by Dubnyk

Published on October 21, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. * Stockton Thunder (1-0-0) goaltender and Edmonton Oilers prospect Devan Dubnyk made 45 saves in his professional debut, while six different scorers aided a Stockton 6-1 victory over the Bakersfield Condors in the 2006-07 ECHL season opener, before 6,440 at Rabobank Arena on Saturday.

Dubnyk, a first round, 2004 NHL Entry Draft pick of the Oilers, held Bakersfield scoreless on 25 shots through two periods, while the Thunder scored six unanswered goals to begin the game.

The Thunder scored the first goal of the new year off the stick of rookie left wing Troy Bodie, who fired a 25-foot slapshot from the right circle, beating Bakersfield goaltender Jamie Hodson for a 1-0 lead at the 5:12 mark of the first frame.

Stockton expanded the lead to 2-0 at the 11:13 mark on defenseman Tim O'Connell's blast from the high slot, set up by Bodie on an end-zone faceoff.

Left wing Mike Lalonde stretched the lead to 3-0 with 4:14 gone of the second period for a shorthanded tally, taking a Nathan Martz cross-ice feed at the left circle, followed by a one-timer that beat Hodson at his blocker side. Rookie center Tyler Spurgeon picked up his first professional goal on the power play to push the Stockton lead to four at 7:44, on a left-circle wrist shot that eluded Hodson through his five-hole with traffic in front of the net.

Hodson was pulled in favor of backup goaltender Danny Taylor, who surrendered the Thunder's second power play goal of the night with 3:25 gone in the third period, when Stephen Slonina slipped a quick wrist shot from the left circle, beating Taylor through the five-hole on a sharp angle bid for a 5-1 Thunder lead. Brendon Hodge wrapped up the scoring for the night on the Thunder's end just 2:15 later, burying an open-net rebound after Taylor stopped Liam Reddox's right circle bid.

Nicklas Lindberg got Bakersfield on the board with 9:21 elapsed, beating Dubnyk from the mid-slot on a one-timer from Sean Venedam for a power play goal. .

Both teams combined for 104 minutes in penalties in the contest, with the Thunder holding Bakersfield to a 1-for-19 mark on the man-advantage. The win gives the Thunder its first season-opening win in franchise history.

The Thunder resumes play on Friday, October 27 with a 7:30 p.m. game against the Long Beach Ice Dogs at Long Beach Arena. The game can be heard live (free-of-charge) and is viewable for a $6 "pay-per-view" rate on www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

The Thunder opens the 2006-07 home campaign on Saturday, October 28 against the Ice Dogs at Stockton Arena, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Thunder season tickets, mini-plans and individual tickets for the 2006-07 season 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.

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ECHL Stories from October 21, 2006


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