Thunder, Comcast Hometown Network Announce Television Coverage Partnership

Published on February 24, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, a two-time recipient of the ECHL ‚¬Å“Award of Excellence, ‚¬Â and Comcast Hometown Network (Channel 104) today announced an agreement for the Northern California and Central Valley-based television channel to televise select home games of Thunder hockey for the remainder of the 2010-11 season.

As part of the agreement, the Thunder are scheduled to appear live on Comcast Hometown Network (Channel 104) three times in the month of March, with the Kelly Cup Playoffs right around the corner and starting in April:

* Sunday, Mar. 6 vs. Alaska (4:00 p.m.)

* Friday, Mar. 18 vs. Idaho (7:30 p.m.)

* Wednesday, Mar. 30 vs. Las Vegas (7:00 p.m.)

"The Stockton Thunder are very much looking forward to this partnership with Comcast Hometown Network," said Thunder president Dan Chapman. "With their feed reaching nearly two million homes, this will give the Thunder a wonderful opportunity to capture an expanded viewing audience throughout Northern California and help to create an even larger fan base."

"Stockton Thunder telecasts will be a key ingredient for Comcast Hometown Network as we continue to provide compelling, community-based regional programming," said Jeff Giles, Director of Comcast Hometown Network. ‚¬Å“This is exactly why we created the network and the Comcast Hometown Sports programming block. Not only can Comcast viewers observe the hockey stars of tomorrow, but they can watch and be a part of an appealing professional team from their local area. ‚¬Â

Veteran Thunder broadcaster Mike Benton will handle play-by-play duties for Comcast Hometown Network telecasts. Benton, 30, in his sixth year with the Thunder in the radio play-by-play position, has handled the call of three ECHL All-Star broadcasts (2007, 2008, 2010) on NHL Radio and all but one game in Thunder history, spanning over 400 in total. He also contributes with feature reports on the Edmonton Oilers official website and served in color commentator and host roles for webcast coverage of the 2010 Vancouver Canucks YoungStars Tournament.

Joining Benton is color commentator Derek Eisler, who has served as a member of the Thunder broadcast team since 2005-06. Eisler has 18 years of experience on his resume as a coach or scout in the NHL, college and junior level and was an assistant coach for the San Jose Sharks from 1994-96. Most recently, he served as head coach of the China Sharks from 2007-09, an Asian League owned-and-operated subsidiary of San Jose.

Filling in for radio play-by-play duties for the three games will be veteran broadcaster Roxy Bernstein, currently serving as the radio voice of California Golden Bears men's basketball and in television play-by-play roles for ESPN's college football and basketball coverage. Carrying three years of on-air experience in Major League Baseball with the Florida Marlins and a role in 2003 with the San Francisco Giants, his hockey resume includes radio play-by-play roles with the San Jose Sharks and NHL Radio on Westwood One.

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