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Thunder Go for Four in Ontario

February 5, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder (21-16-0-5) continue a seven-game road trip tonight in Ontario when they take on the Pacific Division and Western Conference-leading Reign (29-9-2-3) at 7:00 p.m. PST. The Thunder are looking to snap a three-game losing streak while at the same time trying to earn their fourth straight win over Ontario on the Reign's home ice.

Thunder fans can catch tonight's game at the team's "home away from home" the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel where they can enjoy food and drink specials while watching the game on AmericaONE. Fans can also tune in for free live audio through Spreaker.com and StocktonThunder.com.

While the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel is the Thunder's official "home away from home," the next choice on the list would probably be Citizens Business Bank Arena where the Thunder have captured three straight victories and have earned at least one point during all five visits to the Reign's home rink this season. The Thunder claimed a 4-1 win in their last visit on January 24.

Overall, the Thunder have a 3-5-0-2 record against the Reign with their success against Ontario on the road being juxtaposed with their five regulation losses at home. Ontario picked up a win in the last meeting between the squads, a 5-2 triumph at Stockton Arena on January 26.

The Reign have a six point lead over the Alaska Aces in the Western Conference standings with 63 points on the year. They are also two points ahead of the South Carolina Stingrays for the best record in the ECHL. Meanwhile, the Thunder find themselves in fourth place in the Western Conference standings courtesy of a tiebreaker with the Idaho Steelheads and Utah Grizzlies, as all three squads have 47 points.

Captain Garet Hunt leads the charge against the Reign with the Thunder's leading goal scorer, with 14 tallies on the season, also leading the team in goals against Ontario with five. Coincidentally, the Thunder's second leading scorer, forward Greg Miller, has the second most goals against the Reign this season with three.

After being held three games without a point, Joey Martin has now posted assists in back-to-back contests. The Thunder's leader in assists and points set up the team's lone tally in their loss to Bakersfield last night, finding defenseman Mike Dalhuisen for a goal in the second period. It was Martin's 29th assist of the season, which puts him in a tie for the third most helpers in the ECHL.

On the other side, Ontario has undergone some major roster changes since the last time they faced the Thunder. The Reign have brought on four players from San Francisco after the Bulls ceased operations last week. Forwards Sebastian Stalberg and Riley Brace and defensemen Kyle Bigos and Steven Tarasuk have all been assigned from the Worcester Sharks of the AHL. To make room, seven players were either traded or released. In those trades, the Reign received three players in return with forward Brett Lyon arriving from Gwinnett and Jason Beatty and Dylan Hood coming over from Colorado in exchange for forward Kyle Kraemer.

The Reign are led by Mario Lamoureux who has 35 points on the season and is second on the team with eight points against the Thunder. Defenseman Jake Newton has the most points against the Thunder with nine on four goals and five assists. He is third on the team overall in points this season with 27. Ontario's league-leading pace has sputtered a bit in recent games as the team has gone just 5-4-1-0 in their last 10 outings.

After finishing off back-to-back road games in California tonight, the Thunder will hop on a plane to Alaska tomorrow for three games this weekend against the Aces. Friday's game on February 7, is part of the ECHL's Hockey Heritage weekend and will be televised locally and nationally. The game will be carried live in the Stockton market through Antenna TV (KTXL.2), FOX40's digital channel, and on tape-delay by Comcast Sportsnet California and NHL Network on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

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