Sports stats



Thunder Finish Season Series with Reign

April 9, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder (32-30-1-6) finish off their season series with the Ontario Reign (43-19-3-4) tonight at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. PST.

Thunder fans can check out the game at the team's "Home Away From Home" the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel, where they can watch the game while enjoying Thunder food and drink specials. The broadcast begins tonight at 6:45 p.m. with the Black Oak Casino Resort Pre-Game Show. Fans can watch live, online streaming video through AmericaONE Sports, or listen to free live audio through Spreaker.com and StocktonThunder.com.

It's the 16th meeting of the season between the teams, the most contests against any opponent on either team's schedule, with the Thunder owning a 6-6-1-2 record against their Pacific Division and in-state rivals. The Thunder will look to keep their strong play going on Ontario's home ice. In eight games this season at Citizens Business Bank Arena the Thunder have earned at least one point in every game except one, going 5-1-0-2. They had their four-game winning streak on the road against Ontario broken on March 29.

The Thunder picked up their fifth victory in southern California earlier this week with a 4-2 triumph on Sunday. Jeremy Langlois (named to the ECHL's All-Rookie Team earlier today), Matt Mangene and Joey Diamond all scored their first goals in a Thunder uniform. Defenseman Ryan Constant scored his first goal since his return from injury to help Stockton build a 4-0 lead they would not relinquish. Constant's tally was only the Thunder's eighth powerplay goal against Ontario this year and just the 15th combined between the two teams.

Langlois has been part of a line with Andrew Clark and Joey Martin that has combined for 15 points over the course of the Thunder's current three-game winning streak. Langlois has posted 1 goal and 3 assists, Martin has accounted for 2 goals and 3 assists and Clark has tallied 3 goals and 3 assists.

Despite the numerous games against each other, no players from either team have emerged as the go-to scoring threats when Stockton and Ontario are on the ice. Only the Thunder's Garet Hunt, Matt Bergland and James Henry and the Reign's Jake Newton, currently in the AHL, have recorded 10 points or more in the 15 games so far against the opposition.

Only three games remain on the Thunder's schedule as they take the ice tonight. With the Thunder currently in seventh place in the Western Conference standings, a couple of wins are necessary for the team to move up to at least the sixth spot ahead of the Bakersfield Condors. The Thunder could also potentially catch the Colorado Eagles in fifth if results go their way.

Ontario needs a win to try and catch the Alaska Aces in the battle for the number one seed in the Western Conference playoffs. An Alaska victory against Colorado coupled with an Ontario loss in regulation would clinch the top spot for the Aces.

Stockton goaltender Brian Foster looks to be in line to get the start tonight opposing either J.P. Anderson or Jussi Olkinuora, who are both options for Ontario. In nine games against the Reign, Foster has gone 3-3-3 with a .930 save percentage and a 2.29 goals against average. Foster has already set a new ECHL career-high with 22 wins this season, surpassing his old mark of 19 wins set with Cincinnati Cylones in 2012-13.

The Thunder continue their three-game road trip on Friday with their final match-up against Bakersfield, before returning home for their regular season finale against the Las Vegas Wranglers on Saturday, April 12. The first 1,500 fans at Stockton Arena will receive a free Thunder rally towel. It is also the Thunder's "Group Appreciation Night" with discounted tickets available for any group who had a night out at a Thunder game this season. Saturday's game starts at 7:30 p.m. PST. For more information, visit StocktonThunder.com.



ECHL Stories from April 9, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central