Thunder Host Bulls for First Time at 5PM

November 11, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder (@StocktonThunder), proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's New York Islanders and AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, returns home to host the San Francisco Bulls for the first time this season at 5 p.m. Since today is Veterans Day, the team will be hosting real American Heroes in the building as part of "Military Monday". Active Service men and women as well as Veterans get $5 off their ticket to today's game. Stockton Arena doors open at 4:00 p.m. with the puck dropping at 5:00 p.m. In addition, the first 5,000 fans receive an American themed Thunder player poster!

Fans who can't make it out to the game can watch and listen live online. Streaming video is available to fans through AmericaONE and live audio of the game is available through StocktonThunder.com or on Spreaker.com.

Stockton continues one of its busiest months of the season as they ready to play game 6 of 16 tonight. The Thunder have 3 road games and 7 home games remaining after tonight's tilt.

The Thunder currently sit second in the Pacific division, just a single point behind Ontario for the top spot, and fourth in the Western Conference. As for the Bulls they are behind the Thunder in the Pacific while they rank sixth in the conference.

After falling to the Eagles to start the 3-game road trip, the Thunder had regained their momentum having won their last two games. Head Coach Rich Kromm hasn't played the same goalie twice in a row until last night in Bakersfield when goaltender Brian Foster got his second straight start.

Foster played a massive part in the last two wins as he had stopped 56 of 59 shots in the victories. With the back to back, goaltender Parker Milner might be in line to see his fourth start of the season. Milner picked up his first win at home against Utah during "Thunder Goes Pink VIII" but has lost his two other starts, including at Colorado last Wednesday.

The Thunder are still led by Ryan Hayes in the points department as the right winger has a team high 11 points and 7 helpers. Hayes is tied with Russian Kirill Kabanov in goals with 4.

Corey Trivino and Joey Martin finally got on the board during the road trip as Trivino buried a centering feed from Kabanov against the Eagles on Friday and Martin netted the game winner against Bakersfield last night. It was the first goal in Thunder uniforms for the pair of forwards.

The Thunder returned to full strength on defense when Sean Escobedo returned on Friday but the weekend saw another casualty on defense, but a good one. Mike Dalhuisen earned a call up to the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers thanks to his steady play, his 3 goals and 2 assists. Stockton only has six defenseman on the roster right now with Escobedo, Ryan Constant, Nathan Deck, Shawn Boutin, Landon Oslanski, and Michal Spacek.

The team has been playing amazingly on special teams all season as their power play and penalty kill are tops in the ECHL. The power play has converted 25% of their chances and has an incredible 60% conversion rate at Stockton Arena. The top Penalty kill has killed off 96.7% of opposing power plays and has only allowed one goal.

As for the Bulls, they have struggled offensively to start the year, having scored a league low 13 goals. Goaltender Tyler Beskorowany has been counted on to play 7 of the 9 games for San Francisco this season, posting a 3-3-1-0 record, a 3.09 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.

Leading the Bulls offensively is veteran Mark Lee with 7 points (2-5-7). Lee signed as a free agent with the Bulls over the offseason after playing five seasons in Finland, but has played in 187 ECHL games while posting 66 goals, 132 assists, and 198 points. Among last season returners, Dean Ouellet led the team in points against the Thunder as he had scored 7 goals and added 3 assists.

The Thunder won the season series last year, having went 7-5-1-0 against the inaugural San Francisco Bulls.

San Francisco started this season off with a big 2-1 win over the Alaska Aces. After dropping their next two, the Bulls picked up a shootout win against Utah on October 25 but then dropped 4 straight decisions. The Bulls last game on Friday was their first home game of the year as they had a season long 9 game road trip. That home matchup was a win over the Bakersfield Condors by a 2-1 final.

After tonight's game the Thunder head back to Bakersfield for an odd 10:30 a.m. start on Thursday. No rest for the team turns back home to play game 8 of 16 on Friday on home ice against the Ontario Reign. The team will be collecting gently used and new winter coats, blankets, and new packs of socks from fans to be handed out to people in need. Fans that donate will receive a $5 off voucher good for any seating location.



ECHL Stories from November 11, 2013


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