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Thunder Host Condors on Star Wars Night

November 22, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Force will have to be strong with the Thunder tonight at 7:30 p.m. as the team hosts the Bakersfield Condors to begin their seven-game homestand.

Arena: Stockton Arena

Date: Saturday, November 22

Time: 7:30 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m.

Giveaway: Lightsaber Thundersticks to the first 500 kids 12-years and younger

Broadcast: ECHL.TV and Spreaker beginning at 7:15 p.m.

This Year's Record: Stockton is 3-1-0-0 vs. Bakersfield

Follow the Thunder Facebook Page for occasional updates or follow @StocktonThunder on Twitter for the play-by-play tweeting!

Special Broadcast at 1:30 p.m.

Today the Tri-Valley Demons and the In-House Bantams will play a game set to begin at 1:30 p.m. prior to the Thunder and Bakersfield game tonight. Tune in to Spreaker.com beginning at 1:15 p.m. to hear interns Richard Reyes and Patric Hiehle bring you the game live!

What a great way to get into the hockey mood for tonight!

May the Force be with You

Today's Star Wars night should be a very fun game to go to, not just because of the game on the ice, but all of the activities off of it. The 501st Legion will be in the building and we encourage all fans to dress up as their favorite Star Wars character and participate in our on-ice costume contest!

Nathaniel Atherstone had our favorite answer on Facebook when we asked who the best Star Wars character is.

"R2D2 is the best character," Atherstone says. "He performs under pressure, has a great sense of humor, and is consistently there when you need him. He was the perfect sidekick for both Anakin and Luke, and he survived it all from beginning to end."

Last Time Out

The Thunder got on the board early as Peter Sivak scored the fastest goal to start a game all season when he ripped a shot past Frans Tuohimaa just 30 seconds into the game. The Thunder then scored their third shorthanded goal of the season when Austin Levi won a puck battle and knocked it to James Henry who played pitch-and-catch with Tyler Shattock with the big power-forward knocking in the shorty.

Just 40 seconds later though, the Jones twins got the Condors on the board as they drew within one with Connor finding Kellen sneaking into the slot and Kellen putting one farside on Owen. Shattock scored another goal, his fourth of the season, on a deflection in the third period. Just as in the first period the Condors would be quick to answer with Josh Currie putting a shot past Shane Owen unassisted to again draw Bako within one.

However Owen slammed the door shut the rest of the way to help the Thunder snap their seven-game road losing streak and four-game losing streak in the 3-2 win.

Tonight

The Thunder are back in friendly territory as they begin a tied season-long seven-game homestand. So far this season, the Thunder are 3-2-0 in front of their fans with a single win over Bako, Alaska and Utah.

The team hosts Bakersfield two more times before welcoming in a new opponent during the homestand, including another game tomorrow evening.

Who to Watch

We said Peter Sivak the last time, and he'd certainly be a good one to watch, but after such a strong performance against the Condors on Thursday morning, how could anyone not say the player to keep an eye on tonight is Tyler Shattock.

Shattock scored a short-handed goal and the eventual game-winning goal in the game and continued to be a force both offensively and physically. The 6'3=1B$B!m=1B(B power-forward can offer so much to a team, and under the tutelage of Head Coach Rich Kromm, Shattock has 14 points in 13 career games with Kromm's Evansville IceMen and Thunder teams.

Welcome to the Thunderdome

The Thunder have welcomed two new members of the team including goaltender Kent Simpson who was reassigned to the Thunder from the New York Islanders. Simpson was acquired by the Islanders from the Chicago Blackhawks in the same trade that sent Nick Leddy to Long Island. He has played a total of 79 pro games with the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Rockford IceHogs (AHL), Toledo Walleye (ECHL) and Colorado Eagles (ECHL).

The second new face is former Colorado Eagle and Ontario Reign defenseman John Ryder, who was acquired by the Thunder from the Allen Americans in exchange for forward Jessey Astles. Ryder is a defensive defenseman who should help solidify the Thunder on the blueline, providing some toughness, grit and intelligence we've seen the defenseman exhibit against the Thunder in seasons past.

While he split last season with the Colorado Eagles and Ontario Reign (being acquired as the defenseman coming over from the Eagles to the Reign in the Kyle Kraemer deal), the defenseman was involved during the Idaho Steelheads run to the 2013 Western Conference Finals in which they lost to the Stockton Thunder. Ryder also played in three of the four games during the Thunder's sweep of the Ontario Reign in last season's quarterfinals.

Both could make their Stockton Thunder debuts tonight.

Let Me Go Home!!!!

After playing 10 of their first 15 games on the road the Thunder are at home for a tied season-long seven-game homestand. The Thunder will be at home from tonight's game through December 6th before heading to Colorado for the first time this season.

The Thunder have their second seven-game homestand in February from the 11th to February 22nd. While the Thunder's record on the road has been less than impressive, the team is 3-2-0-0 in front of you!

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