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Thunder enjoys week off after two losses to Las Vegas

December 19, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, December 16

LAS VEGAS 5 vs. STOCKTON 3

STOCKTON, Calif. - Todd Alexander's three points paced a quick-striking Las Vegas offense in a 5-3 Thunder loss, before 4,252 at Stockton Arena. The Thunder fell into a 2-0 first period hole, before coming back in the second with two goals in the first 4:25, courtesy of Casey Bartzen and Dominic Soucy, who both scored their first professional goals. Chris Stanley picked up the game-winning marker late in the second for Las Vegas, capping off a two-goal rally in 22 seconds for the Wranglers.

Saturday, December 17

LAS VEGAS 3 vs. STOCKTON 2

STOCKTON, Calif. - Tim Hambly's two goals for Las Vegas, including the game-winner with less than three minutes left, sent the Stockton Thunder to their third consecutive defeat with a 3-2 setback to the Wranglers, in front of 5,133 at Stockton Arena. Nathan Martz and Mike Lalonde contributed to the Thunder offense with a goal apiece.

SOUCY RETURNS

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder announced it activated right wing Dominic Soucy off the seven-day injured reserve list last Friday.

Soucy, 21, appeared in 12 games with the Thunder before his activation, going scoreless. He also appeared in two games in the 2005-06 season with the American Hockey League's Binghamton Senators, and achieved junior career scoring highs in 2004-05 with the Prince Edward Island Rocket (QMJHL), tallying 55 points (17g-38a).

The Thunder also announced it placed defenseman Likit Andersson on the seven-day injured reserve list with a lower back injury.

MacINNIS ARRIVES (CHRIS PRONGER NOT INCLUDED)

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder agreed to terms with defenseman Aaron MacInnis, Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki announced last Wednesday. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The deal solidified the Thunder's acquisition of MacInnis, who was originally acquired from the Victoria Salmon Kings on November 10, in exchange for future considerations.

"In acquiring Aaron's rights, I was confident we were getting another steady defenseman who could play in all situations," said Cichocki. "He possesses a hard shot like his uncle, and plays very well on both sides of the puck which thrills us to finally bring him on the roster." MacInnis, a nephew of former St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames (NHL) defenseman Al MacInnis, previously appeared in six games with the Salmon Kings (ECHL) in 2005-06, scoring three points (1g-2a) with four PIM's. He spent the previous two seasons with the Texas Wildcatters (ECHL), and also played for Cichocki with the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) in 2003-04, racking up three points (1g-2a) in 22 games with the Cyclones.

RETURN TO SENDER

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Thunder announced on last Tuesday that goaltender Jake Moreland finished runner-up for Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors, for Dec. 5-11.

Moreland, 26, finished the week with a 1-0-1 record, stopping 68 of 70 shots overall (.971 save percentage). The Thunder gained a point with a 3-2 shootout loss to Bakersfield on December 9, behind Moreland's 46-save performance. He then stopped all 22 shots faced in the Thunder's first shutout in team history a night later, in Stockton's 4-0 blanking of Phoenix during the Thunder's inaugural home opener at Stockton Arena.

Las Vegas Wranglers goaltender Marc Magliarditi took the league's top honors.

WEEK IN REVIEW NOTES:
- Stockton has gained four of its five wins outside of divisional play
- The Thunder has scored 26 goals in the third period or post-regulation, accounting for 47.2% of its total offense (55 team goals)
- Center Nathan Martz has recorded ten points (3g-7a) in his last ten games
- Left wing Mike Lalonde has notched five points (4g-1a) in his last five games, and is fourth in ECHL rookie goal-scoring with 13 goals
- Forwards Casey Bartzen and Dominic Soucy scored their first professional goals in last Friday's 5-3 loss to Las Vegas



ECHL Stories from December 19, 2005


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