Thunder draws sellout of 9,737, MacMurchy scores lone Stockton goal

Published on November 9, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Todd Ford made 24 saves to help the Victoria Salmon Kings send the Stockton Thunder (4-5-0, 8 points) to a 3-1 loss before a sellout crowd of 9,737 at Stockton Arena on Saturday night.

"Thunder Goes Pink III" ended with both teams splitting the two-game series and the Thunder lifetime record in the series moved to 5-1-0. The Thunder drew a combined 17,764 fans for the two games, which were played on a pink-tinted ice surface. For each night, $2 sold to each ticket benefited American Cancer Society - Stockton Field Office and the St. Joseph's Foundation - Breast Cancer Services.

Ryan MacMurchy scored his second goal in as many games for Stockton while Victoria countered with goal each from Olivier Filion, Curtis Billsten and Shawn Landolt.

Both teams played through a scoreless first period as rookie Bryan Pitton stopped 10 shots for the Thunder and Ford denied six for Victoria. Filion opened the scoring with 14:51 left in the second period for his first goal of the year when he received Scott Howes' centering pass and found the back of the net with a wrist shot that glanced off Pitton's arm.

Billsten's second goal of the season at 12:10 of the period boosted Victoria's lead to 2-0 on a slapshot from the right circle. Veteran Tim Wedderburn picked up the lone assist.

The Thunder steered momentum in their direction with MacMurchy's second goal of the season on a 5-on-3 power-play with 2:33 left in the period, cutting the deficit to 2-1. MacMurchy helped set a screen in front of the goal and re-directed Neil Petruic's one-timer past Ford.

Wedderburn's delay-of-game penalty with 1:49 left in regulation gave the Thunder a 6-on-4 skating advantage with Pitton pulled from his net. After a barrage of close-range chances, Shawn Landolt jumped on a loose puck at center ice and sealed the game with an empty net goal for Victoria at 19:57.

Pitton made 24 saves in the losing cause.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Milan Maslonka (injured reserve) and Cory Urquhart (injury, day-to-day)... the Thunder is now 10-12-3 against Victoria all-time and 3-2-0 in the season series ... the Thunder combined to blank Victoria's power-play at an 0-for-14 clip in the two games ... Stockton finished 1-for-8 on the power-play on Saturday.

The Thunder return to play on Wednesday, Nov. 12 against the Ontario Reign, the first all-time matchup between both teams which starts at 7:00 p.m. from Citizens Business Bank Arena. The game can be heard on radio at 1420 KSTN and is available for viewing on the internet for a $7 charge at www.StocktonThunder.com (courtesy of B2 Networks).

The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season, group, individual tickets and mini plan packages 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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