Thunder Go 5-4-0 in 9-Game, 12-Day Stretch

Published on March 10, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THE WEEK AHEAD: (all times PT) The Stockton Thunder do not play until Wednesday, March 18, facing the Ontario Reign at 7:00 p.m. at Citizens Business Bank Arena (1420 KSTN / StocktonThunder.com).

1420 KSTN is the Thunder's flagship radio station 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.

Show someone you care with the Stockton Thunder and Edible Arrangements! This season during every Sunday home game one lucky fan will be awarded a beautiful and delicious fruit bouquet courtesy of Edible Arrangements. If you have a co-worker, friend, or family member you feel deserves special recognition, log on to www.StocktonThunder.com and nominate them for the Edible Arrangements Sentimental Moment!

PROMOTIONAL NEWS Saturday, March 21 vs. Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m. GARET HUNT BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT - The first 1,000 kids (ages 12 and under) in attendance will receive a collectible bobblehead doll of Thunder rookie agitator sensation Garet Hunt!

Friday, March 27, 2009 vs. Utah, 7:30 p.m. GROUP APPRECIATION NIGHT - Discounedt tickets for all groups who attended a Thunder game earlier this season (when purchased in advance)!

PLAYER POSTER GIVEAWAY (presented by KHOP 95.1 and In-Shape Health Clubs) - All fans in attendance will receive a collectible poster featuring Thunder players Mike Lalonde, Andrew Perugini and Craig Valette!

I AM HERE! NIGHT (presented by Chase Chevrolet and Food-4-Less) - Students who achieved school attendance goals for a recent grading period will receive free tickets for today's game!

Saturday, March 28 vs. Victoria, 7:30 p.m. EQUIPMENT BAG GIVEAWAY (presented by Comcast & 97.7/98.3 KWIN) - The first 2,000 kids (ages 17 and under) receive a free Thunder equipment bag!

NEVER-A-WASTED TICKET NIGHT

Sunday, March 29, 2009 vs. Victoria, 4:00 p.m. FAN APPRECIATION DAY - Special giveaways and surprises in-store to salute the most loyal fans in the ECHL!

FAMILY DAY (Presented by MetroPCS, 99.3 KJOY) - $34 family upper premium / end zone admission (four tickets, four hockey pucks) with coupon available by visiting participating MetroPCS locations.

TEAM LEADERS: Points - Ryan Huddy (63) Goals - Ryan Huddy (31) Assists - Ryan Huddy (32) Plus/Minus - Daryl Marcoux (+15) Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (230)

UPCOMING MILESTONES: o Ryan Huddy is 6 points away from breaking the Thunder single-season scoring record (68) o Matt O'Dette is 9 points away from 100 in his ECHL career o Damian Surma is 7 points away from 100 in his ECHL career o Cory Urquhart is 3 assists away from 100 in his ECHL career

TEAM NOTES: - Ryan Huddy leads the Thunder with a club-record 31 goals - Goaltender Andrew Perugini is 14-4-0 in his last 18 appearances - Huddy is six points away from surpassing Joel Irwin's Thunder record of 68 points in one season - Stockton leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,221 fans and drew over a combined 19,000 fans for three games last Friday, Saturday and Sunday - Stockton leads the ECHL with 1,410 penalty minutes - Stockton is 20-of-22 in its last four games in penalty killing

The team's upcoming schedule for the coming week is as follows: (subject to change, all times PT)

TUE. MARCH 10: Day off

WED. MARCH 11: Day off

THURS, MARCH 12: Day off

FRI, MARCH 13: 10:00 a.m. - Practice at Oak Park Ice Arena (Stockton Arena)

SAT, MARCH 14: 10:00 a.m. - Practice at Oak Park Ice Arena (Stockton Arena)

SUN. MARCH 15: 10:00 a.m. - Practice at Oak Park Ice Arena (Stockton Arena)

MON. MARCH 16: 10:00 a.m. - Practice at Oak Park Ice Arena (Stockton Arena)

WEEK IN REVIEW

3/8/08 - ONT 2 at STK 1: Rookie Bud Holloway broke a 1-1 tie with a game-winning goal at 9:33 of the third period and goaltender Jeff Zatkoff made 36 saves, helping the Pacific Division-leading Ontario Reign send the Stockton Thunder (29-29-5, 63 points) to a 2-1 defeat before 5,004 fans at Stockton Arena on Sunday. The Thunder, who now enter a nine-day layoff and finished 5-4-0 in a stretch of playing nine games in 12 days, received its only goal from Mark Adamek. Dale Reinhardt was also credited with a goal for Ontario, who beat the Thunder for the fourth time in as many games at Stockton Arena. Thunder rookie goaltender Andrew Perugini made 20 saves in the defeat.

3/7/09 - UTA 1 at STK 4: Rookie goaltender Andrew Perugini made 30 saves while Cory Urquhart posted two assists to help the Stockton Thunder (29-28-5, 63 points) sink the Utah Grizzlies in a 4-1 victory before 7,489 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday. With 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Thunder, who improved to 5-3-0 in a stretch of playing nine games in 12 days, benefited from a balanced scoring attack on goals each from Ryan MacMurchy, Craig Valette, James Bates and Ryan Huddy. Scott Thauwald netted the only goal for Utah. Perugini's win boosted his record to 14-3-0 in his last 17 appearances.

3/6/09 - BAK 6 at STK 3: Mike Wirll buried a pair of goals and added an assist while goaltender Dave McKee made 39 saves to help the Bakersfield Condors send the Stockton Thunder (28-28-5, 61 points) to a 6-3 defeat before 6,670 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. Thunder forward Ryan Huddy, who tallied three assists, help set up goals by James Bates, Cleve Kinley and Cory Urquhart. Matt Pope, Tylor Michel, Dave Bonk and Mark Derlago also scored a goal for Bakersfield, who won their fourth straight game and beat the Thunder for the fifth time in six head-to-head meetings this season.

3/4/09 - STK 5 at PHX 3: Rookie Ryan Huddy became the first player in Stockton Thunder (27-26-5, 61 points) history to hit the 30-goal plateau by scoring a pair of goals while veteran Cory Urquhart scored a goal and added two assists to help the Thunder rally with three goals in the third period and sink the Phoenix RoadRunners in a 5-3 victory, before 2,186 fans at U.S. Airways Center on Wednesday. The Thunder surpassed the idle Las Vegas Wranglers for second place in the Pacific Division and were aided by Andrew Perugini's 21 saves in net, improving to 13-2-0 in his last 15 appearances. The first line of Urquhart, Huddy and James Bates combined for a whopping seven points (3g-4a) and a +11 rating. Huddy's 30th goal broke the Thunder single season goal-scoring record, previously set by teammate Mike Lalonde (29) in 2005-06.

3/3/09 - STK 3 at PHX 5: Rookie Mark O'Leary totaled a career-high two goals and an assist while Kyle Jones made 35 saves to help the Phoenix RoadRunners send the Stockton Thunder (27-27-5, 59 points) to their third consecutive road defeat, 5-3 before 2,010 fans at U.S. Airways Center at Tuesday night. O'Leary helped Phoenix defeat the Thunder for the first time this season at U.S. Airways Center, which was only the second defeat for the Thunder in the last 10 games in Arizona. James McEwan, John McNabb and Matt Burke also scored for Phoenix. The Thunder received a pair of goals by Ryan MacMurchy and a power-play goal by Mike Lalonde.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING (courtesy of The Record)

"That's the type of game that we needed," Thomas said. "Three different lines scored, and our power play chipped in to win a hockey game. That's the way we have to play." - Head Coach Matt Thomas on last Saturday's 4-1 win vs. Utah, The Record, 3/8/09

"Obviously, you hope all the teams you aren't competing directly with for a spot win, and you hope you get some favors. But we can't control that," Thomas said. "All we can control is to use the time to reorganize and restructure for the stretch run, and to work to get better." - Head Coach Matt Thomas on the nine-day layoff, The Record, 3/10/09

STOCKTON THUNDER STATISTICS (as of Mar. 10, 2009)

The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season Ticket packages are on sale now for the 2009-10 season. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.StocktonThunder.com.

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ECHL Stories from March 10, 2009


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