Thunder drops preseason opener

Published on October 9, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Behind 26 saves from goaltender Timo Pielmeier, the Bakersfield Condors sent the Stockton Thunder to a 3-1 loss in the 2009-10 preseason opener at Stockton Arena on Thursday.

The Condors, who never trailed in the game, received a goal each from Sasha Pokulok, Bobby Bolt and Christer Andersson. The lone Thunder goal came from forward Stephen Slonina, who scored on a penalty shot in first period. Pielmeier's counterpart Bryan Pitton made 26 saves.

The Thunder battled early penalty box troubles and spotted Bakersfield the first goal of the game on Pokulok's slap shot from the high slot on a two-man advantage, putting the Thunder in a 1-0 hole with 2:23 into the game.

Slonina, who is with the team on a tryout contract, knotted the score at 1-1 when he beat Pielmeier with a wrist shot through the five-hole on a penalty shot with 5:16 elapsed in the period.

As momentum shifted between both ends of the ice, the Condors' Bobby Bolt scored through Pitton's five hole to put his team ahead, 2-1. Bolt capitalized after a Thunder turnover when he took Matthew Myers' feed in the slot and beat Pitton with a one-timer with 3:36 left.

After a scoreless second period, with the Thunder catching up with the Condors on shots on goal at a 10-9 pace in the second period, Bakersfield answered on the Andersson goal to take a two-goal lead. After Pitton stopped Pokulok's shot, Andersson took the rebound and put it under the crossbar with 8:56 left in regulation.

NOTES: With many of the team's first year players suiting up in the preseason opener, the Thunder scratched Matt O'Dette, Bryan Young, Kenny MacAulay, Oren Eizenman, Craig Valette, Jordan Bendfeld, Daryl Marcoux, James Bates, Kelly Czuy and Riley Emmerson ... the Thunder wore special preseason jerseys which were being auctioned off during the game ... the auction continues Sunday at the team's "FanFest" event at Stockton Arena ... Bakersfield participated in the game with no nameplates on the back of their traditional red-colored jerseys ... Thunder defenseman Bobby Davey and Bakersfield's Erick Lizon went toe-to-toe during pregame warm-ups and dropped the gloves at the 5:18 mark of the first period.

Stockton and Bakersfield square off in a rematch on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Rabobank Arena. The game can be heard exclusively online at www.stocktonthunder.com (courtesy of B2 Networks). The Thunder is scheduled to host "FanFest" on Sunday, Oct. 11 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Stockton Arena, where admission is free to the public.

The 2009-10 season, the Fifth Year Anniversary for the team, launches on Friday, Oct. 16 at Qwest Arena against the Idaho Steelheads at 6:10 p.m. and the Thunder home opener is Friday, Oct. 23 against the Ontario Reign at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

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