Thunder Face 10 Of Next 14 Home, Begins Wednesday

Published on March 1, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: (all times PT)

vs. Victoria Salmon Kings (Wednesday- 7:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday - 7:30 p.m.) - B2 Networks

The Thunder, 9-1-4 at home since Dec. 4, are seven points behind the first place Bakersfield Condors of the Pacific Division, return home to play 10 of the next 14 games at Stockton Arena this month which begins Wednesday against the Victoria Salmon Kings. Both teams meet for the ninth time this season . In the last head-to-head matchup, Victoria defeated Stockton, 1-0 in a 16-round shootout at Stockton Arena on Jan. 30. The Thunder is 15-19-5 lifetime against Victoria and is 4-3-1 this year in the head-to-head series.

1280 AM KWSX is the Thunder's flagship radio station on the road this year and all Thunder games can be heard live on the Internet (free-of-charge) and are available for viewing at a $7 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Radio broadcaster Mike Benton provides play-by-play commentary with the "Thunder Forecast" pre-game show starting 15 minutes before each broadcast.

PROMOTIONAL NEWS

Wednesday, March 3 vs. Victoria Salmon Kings, 7:00 p.m.

FAMILY NIGHT (99.3 KJOY and Metro PCS)

- $29 upper premium / end zone admission (four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks, coupon for $4 dollars off the Fan Attic) with coupon available by visiting participating MetroPCS locations. An $84 value.

THUNDER'S EASY BEING GREEN (presented by California Water Service Company,

Co-Sponsored by: Port of Stockton and Surtec, with Comcast, Kat Country 103, 99.3 KJOY, KHOP 95.1, AM 970 ESPN Radio, 104.1 The Hawk and 97.7/98.3 KWIN)

- Help the Thunder promote eco-friendly green awareness by joining local companies and non-profits for a two-day "green fair," held in the concourse before both Friday and Saturday games vs. Victoria. The first 2,000 fans (18 and over) will receive an eco-friendly Thunder Tote Bag and the first 1,000 kids (13 and under) get a green-themed Activity Book.

THUNDER IN THE COMMUNITY

Thursday, March 4

Fox Road Elementary (1:30 p.m.)

Thunder players Chris D'Alvise, Colin Hemingway and Brett Hemingway will be speaking to local school kids for an assembly fundraiser at local Fox Road Elementary School!

Thor's Kids Club Skate with the Team - Oak Park Ice Arena (6:00 p.m.)

Members of "Thor's Kids Club" are invited to skate with the entire Stockton Thunder team at Oak Park Ice Arena! Registrations are still available and can be reserved by contacting the Thunder at 209-373-1500.

Thursday, March 5

Borchardt Elementary (8:45 a.m.)

Thunder mascot "Thor" will represent the team at local Borchardt Elementary for promotion of a special "Jog-A-Thon" event!

Friday, March 5

Peyton Elementary (7:30 p.m.)

Thunder mascot "Thor" will continue his school trek for the day and represent the team at local Peyton Elementary in Stockton for a special assembly event!

Friday, March 5

Macaroni Grill (postgame)

Thunder players James Bates, Andrew Perugini, Justin DaCosta, Ryan Constant and Matt O'Dette are scheduled to appear at a special postgame "Meet & Greet" event following that night's game vs. Victoria with Thunder fans at Macaroni Grill in Stockton!

Saturday, March 6

Chinese New Year Celebration Festival and Parade (9:30 a.m.)

Select Thunder players, including captain Craig Valette, are scheduled to appear in the Chinese New Year Parade in downtown Stockton, co-hosted by the city of Stockton and the Chinese Cultural Society of Stockton!

Sunday, March 7

Henry's March - California State Stanislaus (9:00 a.m.)

Thunder mascot "Thor" is scheduled to be present at "Henry's March" 5K Race, benefiting Children's Craniofacial Association and hosted by California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock!

Sunday, March 7

Thunder Booster Club Wine Tasting - Van Ruiten Family Winery (6:00 a.m.)

The Thunder booster club and select players (scheduled as "celebrity pourers") are scheduled to appear and host a special wine tasting event at Van Ruiten Winery in Lodi. Tickets are available for only $20.

KINGS ROOM" PREGAME AND POSTGAME PARTIES FEATURING LIVE MUSIC

Back by popular demand, the Stockton Thunder is hosting pregame and postgame parties inside the new "Kings Room" of Stockton Arena, open before each home game and after each Friday and Saturday home game. A great gathering place for Thunder fans to rally before the game or celebrate a win after, select drink specials and a special food menu is included along with live music throughout the evening! For more information, call the Thunder at (209) 373-1500.

Friday, Mar. 5: 209 All-Stars

Saturday, Jan. 30: Solidify

2009-10 TEAM LEADERS:

Points - James Bates (51)

Goals - Chris D'Alvise (23)

Assists - James Bates (32)

Plus/Minus - Daryl Marcoux (+16)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (135)

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o James Bates is 1 point away from 100 in his professional career

o Igor Gongalsky is 4 points away from 100 in his professional career

o Daryl Marcoux is 11 games away from 200 in his ECHL career

TEAM NOTES

- Andrew Perugini leads the ECHL with a .925 save percentage and is second with a 2.48 goals-against-average and three shutouts

- James Bates is on a three-game goal-scoring streak

- Chris D'Alvise is on a seven-game scoring streak with 10 points (6g-4a)

- Stockton is third in the ECHL with an average of 5,934 fans in attendance (24 home games)

- Stockton's power-play leads the ECHL at 22.4 percent (53-for-237)

- Stockton is 7-1-2 in its last ten games

The team's upcoming schedule for the coming week is as follows:

(subject to change, all times PT)

TUE, MAR. 2:

Noon - Practice at Stockton Arena

WED, MAR. 3:

10:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Stockton Arena

5:30 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends

7:00 p.m. - GAME VS. VICTORIA

StocktonThunder.com

THURS, MAR. 4:

10:00 a.m. - Practice at Stockton Arena

FRI. MAR. 5:

10:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Stockton Arena

6:00 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends

7:30 p.m. - GAME VS. VICTORIA

StocktonThunder.com

SAT. MAR. 6:

10:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Stockton Arena

6:30 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends

8:00 p.m. - GAME VS. VICTORIA

StocktonThunder.com

SUN. MAR. 7:

Day off

MON. MAR. 8:

Day off

WEEK IN REVIEW

LV 6 - STK 3 (2/28/10): Alex Bourret collected his second hat trick of the season and the Las Vegas Wranglers denied two comeback attempts by the Thunder, en route to a 6-3 victory before 3,480 fans at Orleans Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Thunder, who finished a season-long eight-game road trip at 3-4-1 record, have a four point lead ahead of Las Vegas for second place in the Pacific Division and return home to Stockton Arena for ten of the next 14 games, where the Thunder are 9-1-4 since December 4 and are third in league attendance with 5,934 fans per game. Nearly erasing 3-0 and 4-2 deficits in the second and third period, the Thunder got goal-scoring support from Anthony Aiello, James Bates and Colin Hemingway. Joel Gistedt, making his first start since Feb. 12, picked up the win in net with 24 saves.

STK 6 - LV 4 (2/27/10): Veteran J.F. Caudron scored three points (1g-2a) and his linemates Oren Eizenman (1g-1a) and Colin Hemingway (1g-1a) combined for seven points to help the Thunder end a three-game losing streak in a 6-4 road victory over the Las Vegas Wranglers before 4,923 fans at Orleans Arena on Saturday. Head coach Matt Thomas, earning his win against former assistant and current Las Vegas head coach Ryan Mougenel, helped the Thunder snap a lifetime 11-game winless skid at Orleans Arena in the regular season (dating back to 2005-06). Stockton shattered a 0-for-20 drought on the power-play with a 3-for-7 effort while receiving aid on Matt Robinson's pair of goals and one from Anthony Aiello.

LV 5 - STK 2 (2/26/10): Alex Bourret scored a goal and added two assists to help the Las Vegas Wranglers snap a 2-2 tie after the first period with a three-goal second period outburst and send the Stockton Thunder (24-21-8, 56 points) to a 5-2 loss before 4,124 fans at Orleans Arena on Friday night. The loss, capping a game that pitted Thunder head coach Matt Thomas against his former assistant and current Las Vegas head coach, Ryan Mougenel, marked the first time the Thunder had dropped three straight games in regulation since Dec. 16-19 (at Victoria). Oren Eizenman and Matt Robinson each scored for Stockton and Josh Prudden, Jeff Hazelwood, Jerry Pollastrone and Adam Miller also chipped in with a goal for Las Vegas.

UTA 7 - STK 1 (2/24/10): Veteran Lance Galbraith had a hat trick and three assists to tie a single-game Utah Grizzlies record with six points, helping send the Thunder to a 7-1 defeat before 2,348 fans at The E-Center on Wednesday. The Thunder, who dropped the second straight loss in regulation for the first time since Dec. 18-19 (at Victoria), received its only goal of the game from Matt Robinson. Vladimir Nikiforov, Tony Romano, A.J. Perry and Tom May also scored for Utah.

UTA 5 - STK 4 (2/23/10): Veteran Lance Galbraith's power-play goal erased a 4-4 tie and helped the Utah Grizzlies send the Thunder to only their second regulation loss in 11 games, 5-4, before a crowd of 1,962 at The E-Center on Tuesday evening. Utah rode an offensive wave of their top line, as James Sixsmith (1g-3a), Ryan Kinasewich (1g-2a) and A.J. Perry (two assists) combined for nine points between the trio. The Thunder each received a goal from J.F. Caudron, Justin DaCosta, Matt Robinson and Daryl Marcoux.

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