Thunder Finish off Weekend Sweep

Published on November 7, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltenders Tyson Sexsmith and Bryan Pitton combined to stop all 19 shots faced, to help the Stockton Thunder (5-1-2, 12 points) sweep the Bakersfield Condors in a three-game series during "Thunder Goes Pink V," in a 4-0 victory before 5,021 fans at Stockton Arena.

Sexsmith, who left the game with 4:36 left in the third period after knocking out counterpart Josh Tordjman in a fight between both goaltenders, improved to 3-1-2 in the season with 16 saves. The Thunder improved to 5-0-2 in the last seven games and drew over 20,000 fans during the three game benefit series at Stockton Arena, to raise funds for breast cancer awareness.

"It's a tough thing to do in getting a sweep on any team, home or road, playing three games in three days," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "We had good habits and limited mistakes in the first period and played as dominating of a game as we've done all year in the second. Tyson was tough in net and there's almost nothing satisfying like a guy instigating a fight on our goaltender and us coming out with the emotional and physical edge."

The Thunder went 3-for-8 on the power-play and Steve Vanoosten, Ryan Constant, Aaron Clarke and Anthony Aiello all scored for the Thunder.

Both teams battled through a scoreless tie in the first period and the Thunder outshot Bakersfield, 12-7 and fired the first five shots of the game. Yet, a five-minute illegal check-to-the-head penalty to Jordan Bendfeld, and game misconduct, and a delay of game penalty to Chris D'Alvise gave the Condors a full five-minute power-play, including a two-man advantage for two minutes.

The Thunder penalty kill turned away all chances, including Sexsmith's stop on a wrist shot by Rylan Kaip off the shoulder, from the left circle.

Vanoosten finally helped the Thunder break through with a power-play goal, coming with 16:05 remaining in the second period for a 1-0 lead. He corralled a pass to the point from Anthony Aiello, and fired a shot from the high slot that deflected off traffic and through Josh Tordjman's five-hole.

Constant's second goal of the season provided some breathing room when he boosted the Thunder to a 2-0 lead with 3:10 gone in the final period, finishing Fraser Clair's post-to-post feed at the left side.

The lead was boosted to 3-0 when Aaron Clarke took Chris Lawrence's face-off win in the mid slot and ripped a wrist shot off Tordjman's right arm.

Following the line brawl and goaltending scrap, Aiello greeted replacement goaltender Peter Hirsch with a power-play goal, coming at 15:30 to close the scoring at 4-0. Aiello gathered Mark Arcobello's face-off win and blasted a shot from the blueline to the back of the net.

Bryan Pitton mopped up for Sexsmith and stopped the final three shots of the game by Bakersfield to close the shutout effort.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Trevor Hunt (injured reserve), Chase Ryan (injured reserve), Craig Valette (injured reserve) and Jordan Foreman (injured, day-to-day) ... Stockton improved to 3-0-1 this season against Bakersfield ... the Thunder outshot Bakersfield, 35-19 ... Arcobello recorded the first multi-point game of his career ... both teams combined for 95 minutes in penalties in a fight-marred game.

The Thunder returns to play on Wednesday, starting a three-game road trip against the Idaho Steelheads at 6:10 p.m. at Qwest Arena. The game can be heard on radio at 1280 AM KWSX and viewed live on the internet (pay-per-view 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 fifth consecutive season in 2009-10. Season Tickets, mini-plans and individual tickets for 2010-11 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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