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Thunder in Utah to Kick off Road Trip

February 25, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


Arena: Maverik Center

Date: Wednesday, February 25

Time: 6:05 p.m. PST

Broadcast: ECHL.TV and Spreaker beginning at 5:50 p.m. PST

This Year's Record: Stockton is 2-6-0-0 vs. Utah

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

Bring in the Firepower

The Thunder are happy to have a man who was selected to be an ECHL All-Star starter this year. Jack Combs, who didn't suit up in the all-star game, was claimed off waivers from the Allen Americans. After notching 56 points in just 32 games (still ranking in the top-10 in the league in points despite not having played since 1-11-15), Combs went to Europe to play a few games in the Allsvenskan.

Well now he's back in North America and finds himself on the Stockton Thunder, and the team should be thrilled to have an offensive talent like Combs on the squad. He flew to Salt Lake City with the team yesterday and will participate in his first pregame skate with the team this morning before suiting up in his first game with the team tonight.

Last Time vs. Utah

After losing 11-straight games the Thunder finally got the win they had been searching for the last time the Thunder and Grizzlies met back on January 31.

While T.J. Syner got the Grizzlies on the board, Stockton would score two in the first to take the lead and add three in the third to seal the victory.

Jack MacLellan had three points along with Alex Mallet while Vinny Scarsella scored against his former team and finished the night +3.

Tonight

The Thunder will hope to snap a four-game losing streak as they begin their season high seven-game road trip that sees the team take on the Utah Grizzlies and Idaho Steelheads for three games each and ending the road trip in Ontario.

Who to Watch

While it's hard to argue watching Jack Combs make his debut for the Thunder, we'll stick with a tried and true pick since mid-January.

There is a reason why Vinny Scarsella has gelled with the team since he was acquired in a trade with the Grizzlies. He's fast, he's tenacious, and he's a solid two-way player.

While he had 18 points in 35 games with the Grizzlies this season, Scarsella has been near a point-per-game with the Thunder, recording 13 points in 14 games with Stockton.

More impressive then just his points is the fact that he has been +5 since coming to Stockton.

All-Time Watch

The scoring situation between Garet Hunt, Ryan Constant and Mike Lalonde is in danger of falling to one of the Thunder's star players very soon.

Lalonde's 156 career Thunder points is in jeopardy as Garet Hunt pulled within 2 points of the tying the record with 154 while Ryan Constant sits right behind him at 151.

Both Hunt and Constant have missed time due to injuries this season as Hunt missed 11 games while Constant was placed on Injured Reserve on December 14.

Hunt is the only one close to Lalonde's all-time record of 72 goals with his 60 markers, putting the Thunder captain 12 shy of tying the record.

Interesting Fact

Vinny Scarsella scored a goal and was +3 in the lone game against his former squad back on January 31.

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