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Thunder Host Bulls for Sunday Matinee

January 19, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


No rest for the Thunder after the team's 4-3 shootout victory over Bakersfield during last night's Teddy Bear Toss as the team hits Stockton Arena ice against the San Francisco Bulls at 4:00 p.m. today.

Fans who cannot attend in person can enjoy watching the game on AmericaONE or listening to free live audio of the broadcast, which is available on Spreaker.com and StocktonThunder.com. Free audio is now also available from AmericaOne on your computer, on iOS devices, and android devices.

Season Ticket Holders only are invited to come down for Coach Kromm's "Chalk Talk" prior to the game today at 2:30. Season Ticket Holders can enter through the side entrance with Coach taking questions from the fans beginning shortly after 2:40. In addition, Season Ticket Holders can begin to pick up their gift from the team at the Thunder Information Booth starting today.

Today's Family Day features a ticket package designed for an entire family to come out to the game. For just $38, you get four tickets in the Upper End Zone, four hot dogs, and four sodas. Order online and receive a hat for no extra charge.

The Thunder are riding a two-game win streak after they outplayed the Ontario Reign in Southern California on Wednesday, and took down the Bakersfield Condors on home ice yesterday.

It was nearly a packed house last night as over 8,000 fans attended the team's Teddy Bear Toss, and fans didn't have to wait long to chuck their bears over the glass and onto the ice.

Just 2:48 seconds in, breaking the old team record for fastest goal in the event set by Harrison Reed in last season's Teddy Bear Toss (5:14 into the game), Alex MacLeod would receive a pass from Sean Escobedo and go in on the former Thunder goaltender Tyler Bunz all alone and put one past the netminder to send fans into pandemonium.

The Thunder would hold onto that lead for nearly 10 minutes before Nicholas Tremblay would jump on a blocked shot and tie the game up. Bakersfield would get the lead in the second period but only hold that lead for about four minutes as Greg Miller would knot the game at two on the power play. Miller received a pass down low from Ryan Constant and walked to the front of the net uncontested and stuffed a puck past Bunz.

Just a minute into the third the Condors would once again take the lead when Erik Burgdoerfer danced around the Thunder in the slot and ripped a shot past Brian Foster. Not to be outdone the Thunder would come back yet again thanks to a beautiful no look pass from Miller to centerman Joey Martin. Martin blasted a shot that beat Bunz high glove-side.

The teams were held off the scoreboard in overtime but Bunz was unable to stop Mitch Bruijsten and Martin shots in the shootout to confirm the 4-3 shootout victory for the Thunder. Foster stopped four of five shooters in the skills competition.

The Thunder don't have long to celebrate as they are back in action against another Pacific Division rival, the San Francisco Bulls. The season series has been pretty even, as the Thunder are 4-3-0-1 against the Bulls in 8 previous meetings.

The teams have already met twice in 2014 with both teams getting a victory. San Francisco got 2014 off with a win on the Thunder's "We Paint the Ice Night", but lost the following night to the Thunder 5-0 at the Cow Palace.

Leading the way for the Thunder against the Bulls is Martin, who has scored nearly 30% of his 37 points against San Francisco. His linemate, Miller, is right behind him with 9 points against the Bulls.

As for San Francisco, they are without Tyler Gron, who has been loaned to the Worcester Sharks of the AHL. Gron came over in a trade from Idaho on November 25th, and in 18 games with the Bulls, the forward picked up 14 goals and 10 assists.

However Gron is not the team leader in points as that honor goes to Dean Ouellet and Brett Findlay, who are tied with 29 points apiece.

The Bulls also got a new face into the lineup as an early week trade sent Collin Bowman's rights to the Bakersfield Condors in exchange for Ryan Garlock. Garlock has played in two games with the Bulls and has picked up a goal and an assist with his new team.

In net it's been Tyler Beskorowany's show as he's played the last 6 games for the Bulls and has gone 2-3-1-0 in that time. Beskorowany also leads the ECHL in saves with 848.

The Thunder will be wearing limited edition Rough & Ready Islanders jerseys on February 7th, 8th and March 22nd as a part of the ECHL's Hockey Heritage Weekend. Fans can preorder these jerseys on the Stockton Fan Attic's website until 5PM on January 23rd. The authentic jerseys are $209 and pay tribute to both the team's NHL affiliate, the New York Islanders, and the city's rich history with Rough & Ready Island. The long time U.S. Naval base, supply depot, and communications station now serves as a hub for economic development and growth for the city.

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