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Thunder ends three game road trip on high note with win over division rival

December 9, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


Matt Foy and Jordan Foreman each collected two assists and goaltender Thomas Heemskerk made 31 saves to help the Stockton Thunder (11-8-3, 23 points) knock off the Bakersfield Condors in a 3-1 victory at Rabobank Arena on Friday.

The Thunder, who scored three unanswered goals and ended a three game road trip at 2-1-0, helped head coach Matt Thomas earn his second consecutive win over his counterpart and former assistant coach, Matt O'Dette.

Thomas Heemskerk and Bakersfield's Matt Keetley matched each other save for save in a scoreless first period. Mike Little had the Thunder's best chance when he fired a rebound off Keetley from the right circle and off the post.

Sebastian Owuya dropped the gloves with Bakersfield enforcer Hans Benson after Owuya leveled Benson with a check into the left boards. Owuya was given a five minute major boarding penalty for the hit and Benson earned an instigator penalty for initiating the fight.

Robbie Dee's power play goal off the major penalty gave Bakersfield a 1-0 lead just 52 seconds into the second period on a wrist shot from the right circle. The Thunder immediately responded 20 seconds later on Bretton Cameron's shorthanded goal, completing a feed at the front of the net from Jordan Foreman at the left boards.

After Bakersfield fell into penalty trouble, Kevin Baker capitalized with his ninth goal of the season at the top of the crease with 34.3 seconds left in the period when he stashed a loose puck past Keetley's blocker.

Ian O'Connor's fifth goal of the season gave the Thunder a 3-1 lead at 11:41 of the third period when he capitalized off a deflection at the front of the net off Mike Little's shot from the blueline.

NOTES: Scratched for the game were Colten Hayes (healthy), Gabriel Levesque (injured reserve), Jason Morgan (injured reserve) and Brock Matheson (injured reserve) ... before the game, both teams met at the red line and nearly engaged in a warmup brawl after Benson shot a puck at Jordan Foreman of the Thunder.

The Thunder returns home tomorrow, hosting the Condors at 7:30 p.m. Online coverage is available for viewing (pay-per-view video charge) and listening (free of charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth consecutive season in 2010-11. Season Tickets for 2011-12 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/.

THREE STARS

1. STK - M. Foy

2. STK - K. Baker

3. BAK - R. Dee



ECHL Stories from December 9, 2011


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