Thunder Lead ECHL Attendance, Back Home Friday

Published on November 9, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THUNDER OVERALL RECORD: 4-4-2, 10 points

LAST WEEK: 1-0-2

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: (all times PT)

at Bakersfield Condors (Tuesday - 7:00 p.m.) - 1420 KSTN, B2 Networks

The Thunder faces the Bakersfield Condors in the first meeting of the season between both teams at Rabobank Arena. It is the first of 12 games against the Condors for the 2009-10 season and in the last meeting, the Condors defeated the Thunder 4-3 in overtime at Stockton Arena on Mar. 21, 2009. Stockton carries at lifetime record of 11-13-8 against Bakersfield and went 1-1-0 at Rabobank Arena last year. The Thunder are playing in Bakersfield for the first time since Dec. 26, 2008. The Thunder is two points behind the Condors for first place in the Pacific Division at 4-4-2 (10 points).

vs. Idaho Steelheads (Friday, Saturday - 7:30 p.m., Sunday - 4:00 p.m.) - B2 Networks

The Thunder hosts the Idaho Steelheads beginning Friday for three games in three days to finish off a stretch of five games in six at Stockton Arena. Through 36 games in the lifetime series, the Thunder is 16-18-2 against Idaho and began the year 0-3-0 against the Steelheads this year in Boise. Friday's game marks the first return of former Thunder forwards Adam Huxley (2006-09) and Tyler Spurgeon (2006-07) to Stockton Arena since they suited up in a Thunder uniform. Both teams will face each other 12 times in the first 32 games with Friday's game beginning a stretch of six games in the next nine against the Steelheads.

1420 KSTN is the Thunder's flagship radio station and all Thunder games can be heard live on the Internet (free-of-charge) and are available for viewing at a $7 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Radio broadcaster Mike Benton provides play-by-play commentary with the "Thunder Forecast" pre-game show starting 15 minutes before each broadcast.

PROMOTIONAL NEWS

Friday, Nov. 13 vs. Idaho Steelheads, 7:30 p.m.

THUNDER TEAM PHOTO GIVEAWAY (presented by Guaranty Bank, The Record and AM 970 ESPN Radio)

- All fans in attendance receive a commemorative Thunder team photo!

Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Idaho Steelheads, 7:30 p.m.

PUCK GIVEAWAY (presented by KAT Country 103) - The first 1,000 fans (ages 17 and under) in attendance will receive a collectible Thunder hockey puck!

Sunday, Nov. 15 vs. Idaho Steelheads, 4:00 p.m.

COATS FOR KIDS DAY (presented by News10 and KAT Country 103)

- Fans in who donate a new or gently used coat will receive free admission to Sunday's game via the coat drive beginning at Noon.

FAMILY DAY (99.3 KJOY and Metro PCS)

- $29 upper premium / end zone admission (four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks, coupon for $4 dollars off the Fan Attic) with coupon available by visiting participating MetroPCS locations. An $84 value.

WEBKINS GIVEAWAY (presented by 99.3 KJOY)

- The first 500 fans (ages 12 and under) in attendance will receive a collectible Webkinz plush doll.

COMMUNITY UPDATE

Thunder Goes Pink IV

(Friday, November 6 & Saturday, November 7)

This past weekend, the Stockton Thunder was proud to host "Thunder Goes Pink 4," presented by St. Joseph's Medical Center in association with Food-4-Less / Rancho San Miguel and Antonini Freight Express, Inc. The two-day breast cancer awareness event is a hallmark of the Thunder's community outreach efforts, and has quickly become a fan favorite. Thunder fans were out in force once again, as the two games drew over 16,000 fans, including a standing-room-only sellout (9,392) on Saturday night.

As in the past, Stockton players adorned pink-accented jerseys and skated on pink ice, while the Stockton Arena concourse was fully decked out with pink-themed giveaways and messages of hope from survivors. The festivities also included a live "Pink Jersey" auction after Saturday's contest, with proceeds to be donated to the event beneficiaries, St. Joseph's Medical Center - Breast Cancer Services and American Cancer Society - Stockton Field Office.

California Hockey Day

(Saturday, November 7, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm)

On Saturday afternoon, Stockton Arena played host to the first ever "California Hockey Day." The promotion, created by USA Hockey, gave children ages 4 through 9 the opportunity to try out ice hockey for the first time, for free. All told, thirty-eight youngsters participated, as Thunder players Matt O'Dette, Luis Tremblay, Bobby Davey, Mike Bayrack and Igor Gongalsky gave the kids a taste of the coolest game around. Fifteen other rinks throughout the state also took part in what is certain to become an annual event.

PREGAME, POSTGAME PARTIES FEATURING LIVE MUSIC

Back by popular demand, the Stockton Thunder is hosting pregame and postgame parties inside the new "Kings Room" of Stockton Arena, open before each home game and after each Friday and Saturday home game. Discount on drink specials are available, in addition to special live music that will entertain Thunder fans before and after the upcoming games (subject to change):

Friday, Nov. 13: Ed and The Educators

Saturday, Nov. 14: Tequila Mockingbird

Friday, Nov. 27: To be announced

Saturday, Nov. 28: Solidify

2009-10 TEAM LEADERS:

Points - James Bates, Judd Blackwater, Kenny MacAulay (10)

Goals - James Bates, Judd Blackwater, Chris D'Alvise (6)

Assists - Kenny MacAulay (9)

Plus/Minus - Ryan Constant, Daryl Marcoux (+4)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (50)

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o Mike Bayrack is 32 points away from 400 in his ECHL career

o Judd Blackwater is 20 games away from 100 in his professional career

o Kelly Czuy is 25 points away from 100 in his professional career

o Oren Eizenman is 3 points away from 100 in his professional career

o Kenny MacAulay is 9 games away from 100 in his ECHL career

TEAM NOTES

- Judd Blackwater leads the ECHL with five power-play goals

- Colton Yellow Horn has scored five points (1g-4a) since being acquired by the Thunder from Elmira on Oct. 28

- Chris D'Alvise is fifth among ECHL rookies with six goals

- Stockton needs 35,978 fans to reach 1,000,000 in club history attendance through four seasons-plus

- Stockton leads the ECHL in attendance (7,096 average)

- Stockton ranks second in the ECHL with a 28.8 percentage on the power-play

The team's upcoming schedule for the coming week is as follows:

(subject to change, all times PT)

TUE, NOV. 10:10:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Stockton Arena

7:00 p.m. - GAME @ BAKERSFIELD (Rabobank Arena)

1420 KSTN/StocktonThunder.com

WED, NOV. 11:

To be announced

THURS, NOV. 12:

10:00 a.m. - Practice at Stockton Arena

FRI, NOV. 13:

10:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Stockton Arena

6:00 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends

7:30 p.m. - GAME VS. IDAHO (Stockton Arena)

StocktonThunder.com

SAT, NOV. 14:

10:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Stockton Arena

6:00 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends

7:30 p.m. - GAME VS. IDAHO (Stockton Arena)

StocktonThunder.com

SUN. NOV. 15:

No morning skate

2:30 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends

4:00 p.m. - GAME VS. IDAHO (Stockton Arena)StocktonThunder.com

MON. NOV. 16:

Day off

WEEK IN REVIEW

AK 5 - STK 4 (SO) (11/7/09): Nick Mazzolini's goal in the sixth round of a shootout was enough for the Alaska Aces to stymie a three-goal rally by the Thunder in a 5-4 shootout win for the Aces in front of a standing-room-only, sellout crowd of 9,392 at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. The Thunder moved their unbeaten streak in regulation to 4-0-2. Jason Pitton buried the game-tying goal at 1:52 of the third period, spelling Thunder goals from Craig Valette, Chris D'Alvise and Jamie Bates. Colin Hemingway collected a pair of goals for the Aces and Nick Tuzzolino and Alex Imbeault also scored. Alaska goaltender Scott Reid made 34 saves to take the win.

AK 4 - STK 3 (OT) (11/6/09): Ryan Turek's game-winning goal with one second left in sudden-death overtime denied a Thunder rally and attempt for a fifth straight win, helping the Alaska Aces send the Thunder to a 4-3 loss in overtime before 6,976 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday. The Thunder, who were playing on a pink-colored ice surface and wearing pink-accented jerseys for their annual "Thunder Goes Pink 4" event, extended their unbeaten streak in regulation to five straight games (4-0-1). Ryan Constant, Judd Blackwater and Oren Eizenman scored for Stockton, while Alaska was aided by a pair of goals from Matt Stefanishion and Alexandre Imbeault.

STK 3 - ONT 2 (11/4/09): Captain Craig Valette broke a 1-1 tie with a goal coming with 52.3 seconds left in regulation, lifting the Thunder to their fourth straight win and a 3-2 victory over the Ontario Reign before 4,503 fans at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Wednesday night. The Thunder, who finished a three-game road trip at a perfect 3-0-0 record, received additional goal-scoring support from Colton Yellow Horn (first in a Thunder uniform) and James Bates. Goaltender Bryan Pitton secured his first win of the year with 35 saves.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

(courtesy of The Record)

"I'm very proud of our guys for the way they came back," Thunder coach Matt Thomas said. "I think it shows what this team is made of."

- Head coach Matt Thomas after a 5-4 shootout loss (after trailing 4-1 in the game) to Alaska to extend a six-game streak to 4-0-2, The Record, 11/8/09

"At the beginning of the road trip we set out to get all six points, and everyone believed it," Pitton said.

- Goaltender Bryan Pitton after a 3-2 Thunder win to complete a 3-0-0 road trip, The Record, 11/5/09

THUNDER 2009-10 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS

The proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League and Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

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ECHL Stories from November 9, 2009


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