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Thunder fans treated to end-of-season victory, ECHL attendance title

April 14, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BACKTRACKING - THE FINAL WEEK IN REVIEW

Saturday, April 8

STOCKTON 4 vs. San Diego 2

The Stockton Thunder ended the 2005-06 season on a high note by clinching the 2005-06 ECHL attendance crown with a 4-2 victory over the San Diego Gulls in front of 9,275 at Stockton Arena last Saturday.

The crowd catapulted the Thunder to the ECHL attendance crown in its inaugural season, dethroning the five-time defending champion Florida Everblades with a season total of 228,364 fans (6,343 average).

The Thunder drew first blood only 2:27 into the game, as Ned Havern's pass from the right corner was deflected in off San Diego goaltender Kris Mayotte's right pad. San Diego shot back 22 seconds later on a breakaway goal by Steve Hildenbrand, beating Thunder netminder Jake Moreland to the high-stick side for a 1-1 tie.

After the Thunder let two five-on-three power plays go by the wayside, Bobby Cunningham put San Diego on top 2-1 with a deflection from five feet out at the 11:26 mark. Maris Ziedins retaliated for the Thunder with a power play goal only 2:16 later, pounding in a rebound from a stop on Aaron Foster.

Ziedins then clinched the game-winning goal only 41 seconds into the third period, converting a Havern centering feed in the slot for a shorthanded goal. Jake Moreland stoned all 19 San Diego shots in the third period, while Aaron Foster slammed the dagger into the Gulls with an empty-net goal with 52 seconds remaining. Moreland completed his 2005-06 season winning eight of his last 15 games (8-5-1), tallying 45 saves against the Gulls.

The Thunder closed out the 2005-06 campaign with a home record of 8-19-9, and a 3-3-1 season clip against San Diego.

Friday, April 7

BAKERSFIELD 5 vs. Stockton 3

The Thunder dropped its final game of the season series to the Bakersfield Condors in a 5-3 loss at Stockton Arena last Friday. Stockton nearly missed an incredibly-attempted four-goal comeback, trailing 4-0 through two periods before whittling the Condors lead to one with 2:43 to go in the game. Jeff Lang, Kevin Gardner and Maris Ziedins pumped in the Thunder goals, while Bakersfield's offense were led by three assists apiece from Scott Border and Scott Balan. The Thunder surrendered a four-goal second period before jump-starting the comeback.

Wednesday, April 5

ALASKA 7 vs. Stockton 5

The Thunder dropped its final game of the season series against the Alaska Aces in a 7-5 loss at Stockton Arena. The Thunder jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Mike Lalonde and Lance Monych, followed by Alaska's ripping off of five unanswered goals, including two by Mike Scott. Monych added a third period marker to go with two Joel Irwin goals to keep the game close, yet Alaska got help on a four-point night by center Alex Leavitt (2g-2a) to put the game out of reach.

MOVIN' ON UP

Thunder sends two to American Hockey League to finish 05-06 season Stockton Thunder goaltender Jake Moreland agreed to terms with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League, while left wing Ned Havern agreed to terms with the Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL), Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki announced on Tuesday.

"We finished the 2005-06 season very strong, and Jake and Ned were very instrumental in our quick turnaround," said Cichocki. "They fully deserve this honor and it's a pleasure to see our players develop into American Hockey League talent, where NHL scouts will be watching."

Moreland, 27, finished his first season with the Thunder with a 14-19-8 record, .919 save percentage and 3.14 goals against average, while posting an 8-5-1 mark over his last 15 appearances. A native of Grand Forks, N.D., Moreland collected an ECHL career-high 1,412 saves in 2005-06 while garnering Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors (week of January 23-29), which included his first trip to the ECHL All-Star Game for the National Conference.

Moreland, who has posted a three-year ECHL career 45-31-14 record and .922 save percentage, makes Milwaukee (AHL Nashville Predators affiliate) his second American Hockey League stop, previously earning a 1-1-0 mark in two games with the Worcester IceCats in 2003-04.

Havern, 23, finished his 2005-06 ECHL rookie season ranking third on the Thunder with 23 goals and fourth in scoring (48 points). Originally acquired from the Trenton Titans on February 20 in exchange for defenseman Dave McCulloch, Havern posted 24 points (12g-12a) in 47 games with the Titans while also appearing in one game this season with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL). His Trenton numbers placed him fourth on the Titans in scoring at the time of the transaction.

A ninth round pick by the Dallas Stars in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Havern previously compiled a stellar four-year college career at Boston College (NCAA), notching 57 points (28g-29a) in 151 career games with the Eagles, which included a 2004 NCAA Frozen Four appearance.

Havern's stop in Lowell (AHL Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes affiliate) is his second in the American Hockey League. Both players' agreements are based on 25-game tryout deals.

TOP-10 THUNDER HOME CROWDS:
1. 10,117 * vs. Phoenix (12/10/05 - W, 4-0) *
vs. Long Beach (1/28/06 * T, 1-2) *
vs. Fresno (2/11/06 * L, 3-5) *
vs. Victoria (3/24/06 * W, 4-2) *
5. 9,275 * vs. San Diego (4/8/06 * W, 4-2)
6. 8,923 * vs. Alaska (2/4/06 * L, 2-8) *
7. 8,675 * vs. Victoria (3/25/06 * L, 2-3)
8. 8,649 * vs. Dayton (3/4/06 * W, 5-2)
9. 8,259 * vs. Bakersfield (4/7/06 * L, 3-5)
10. 8,147 * vs. Bakersfield (2/25/06 * T, 2-3)
* Denotes sellout

THUNDER 05-06 MVP: JAKE MORELAND
(top season save performances)
1. 56 saves * vs. Fresno (2/18/06 * T, 2-3) *
2. 51 saves * vs. Long Beach (1/28/06 * T, 1-2)
3. 51 saves * vs. Dayton (3/5/06 * W, 4-2)
4. 46 saves * @ Bakersfield (12/9/05 * T, 2-3)
5. 46 saves * vs. Bakersfield (2/25/06 * T, 2-3)
6. 46 saves * @ Bakersfield (3/20/06 * T, 2-3)
* Denotes career-high

Thunder season tickets for the 2006-07 season 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.



ECHL Stories from April 14, 2006


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