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Thunder Needs One Point to Clinch

March 12, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


2011-12 THUNDER OVERALL RECORD: 30-27-5, 65 points (3rd, Pacific -5th, Western Conference)

LAST WEEK: 1-3-0

PLAYOFF SCENARIO

The Thunder can clinch a playoff berth on Wednesday if:

- The Thunder wins (OR)

- The Thunder loses in overtime or a shootout (OR)

- The Bakersfield Condors lose

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: (all times PT)

vs. Idaho Steelheads

Wednesday: 7:00 p.m.

Radio: 1280 AM KWSX/ StocktonThunder.com

The Stockton Thunder, who needs just one point to clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff berth, hosts the Idaho Steelheads for the ninth meeting of the season at Stockton Arena on Wednesday. The Thunder owns a record of 4-3-1 against Idaho this season and defeated the Steelheads 3-2 in the last meeting on Feb. 17 at Stockton Arena. In the all time series, the Thunder record is 28-29-7 against Idaho. Wednesday's game will start a stretch of four games in five days for Stockton.

vs. Las Vegas Wranglers

Friday: 7:30 p.m.

Radio: 1280 AM KWSX/ StocktonThunder.com

The Stockton Thunder hosts the Las Vegas Wranglers in the final matchup of the season between both teams on Friday at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 16-29-3 in the lifetime series and last faced the Wranglers on Jan. 22 in a 4-2 win at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 4-4-1 this season against Las Vegas.

vs. Utah Grizzlies

Saturday: 7:30 p.m.

Sunday: 4:00 p.m.

Radio: 1280 AM KWSX/ StocktonThunder.com

The Stockton Thunder hosts the Utah Grizzlies to conclude a stretch of four games in five days at Stockton Arena, wrapping up the head to head series between both teams. In the last meeting, the Thunder was defeated by Utah 4-3 at Maverik Center on Mar. 10. The Thunder is 1-2-1 against Utah this season and will host the Grizzlies for the first time at Stockton Arena since Nov. 5, which was a 3-2 Thunder win. They carry a lifetime record of 23-25-6 vs. Utah.

1280 AM KWSX is the Thunder's flagship radio station and all Thunder games can be heard live on the Internet (free-of-charge) and available for viewing at a "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne. Radio broadcaster Mike Benton provides play-by-play commentary with the "Thunder Forecast" pre-game show starting 15 minutes before each broadcast.

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

(subject to change, all times PT)

Tuesday, MAR. 13

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

Wednesday, MAR. 14

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

5:30 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends

7:00 p.m. - GAME vs. IDAHO

1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

Thursday, MAR. 15

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

Friday, MAR. 16

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

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

7:30 p.m. - GAME vs. LAS VEGAS

1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

Saturday, MAR. 17

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

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

7:30 p.m. - GAME vs. UTAH

1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

Sunday, MAR. 18

No morning skate

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

4:00 p.m. - GAME vs. UTAH

1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

Monday, MAR. 19

Day off

COMMUNITY UPDATE

PLAYER/THOR APPEARANCE - TREE PLANTING FOR "EASY BEING GREEN"

Thursday, Mar. 15 - Port of Stockton - Stockton, CA. (2:00 p.m.)

- To kick off the fourth annual Thunder's "Easy Being Green," students from the Delta College Horticulture program will be planting trees at the Port of Stockton California with select Thunder players and mascot "Thor."

SEASON TICKET HOLDER ITEM OF THE WEEK

Thunder Season Ticket Holders can take advantage of the Item of the Week and get $10 off Thunder St. Patrick's Day replica jerseys. This offer lasts through Sunday's home game against Utah and is available in person at the Stockton Arena Fan Attic.

PROMOTIONAL NEWS

Wednesday, Mar. 14 vs. Idaho Steelheads, 7:00 p.m.

FAMILY DAY (presented by Sutter Gould Medical Foundation and 99.3 KJOY)

- Fans can pick up four tickets, hot dogs and soft drinks for the game for just $34. Buy online at StocktonThunder.com, select "Thunder Pride Pack" and receive a free Thunder hat!

Friday, Mar. 16 vs. Las Vegas Wranglers, 7:30 p.m.

THUNDER'S 4th ANNUAL EASY BEING GREEN

(presented by Port of Stockton California and co-sponsored by The Surtec System, Amtrak California, California Water Service Company, Miracle Mile Realty, PG&E, Clark/McCarthy, A Joint Venture, KAT Country 103, KHOP 95.1, 99.3 KJOY, AM 970 ESPN Radio, 97.7/98.3 KWIN and 104.1 The Hawk)

- In an annual event to showcase "green" initiatives in the Central Valley, the first 2,000 families will receive an eco-friendly Thunder tote bag and the first 2,000 kids (ages 12 and under) will receive an Easy Being Green Activity Book! Each family will receive a complimentary tree sapling or plant as they leave at the end of the night, courtesy of the San Joaquin Delta College Horticulture Department.

Saturday, Mar. 17 vs. Utah Grizzlies, 7:30 p.m.

THUNDER'S 4th ANNUAL EASY BEING GREEN

(presented by Port of Stockton California and co-sponsored by The Surtec System, Amtrak California, California Water Service Company, Miracle Mile Realty, PG&E, Clark/McCarthy, A Joint Venture, KAT Country 103, KHOP 95.1, 99.3 KJOY, AM 970 ESPN Radio, 97.7/98.3 KWIN and 104.1 The Hawk)

- In an annual event to showcase "green" initiatives in the Central Valley, the first 2,000 families will receive an eco-friendly Thunder tote bag and the first 2,000 kids (ages 12 and under) will receive an Easy Being Green Activity Book! Each family will receive a complimentary tree sapling or plant as they leave at the end of the night, courtesy of the San Joaquin Delta College Horticulture Department.

Sunday, Mar. 18 vs. Utah Grizzlies, 4:00 p.m.

FAMILY DAY (presented by Sutter Gould Medical Foundation and 99.3 KJOY)

- Fans can pick up four tickets, hot dogs and soft drinks for the game for just $34. Buy online at StocktonThunder.com, select "Thunder Pride Pack" and receive a free Thunder hat!

WEEK IN REVIEW:

UTA 4 - STK 3 (3/10/12): Paul McIlveen scored two goals, added an assist and Andrew Engelage turned away 13 shots in the third period, part of a 31 save effort to help the Utah Grizzlies escape and defeat the Stockton Thunder (30-27-5, 65 points) 4-3 before 6,876 fans at Maverik Center on Saturday night. The Thunder, forced to wait one more game to clinch a playoff berth after Bakersfield defeated Idaho 6-5 in a shootout, outshot Utah 34-26, had two leads in the first period and were led by Jason Morgan and Max Campbell's one goal and one assist effort. Mike Little collected the other Thunder goal in the third period.

UTA 4 - STK 1 (3/9/12): Prospect Mitch Wahl scored one goal and added two assists to help the Utah Grizzlies defeat the Stockton Thunder (30-26-5, 65 points) 4-1, before 5,515 fans at Maverik Center on Friday night. The Thunder earned a tie for a Kelly Cup Playoff berth after Bakersfield lost in a shootout 2-1 at Idaho. The Thunder can seize an outright clinch tomorrow if they win, lose in overtime or in a shootout or if Bakersfield loses. Matt Reber had the only Thunder goal, scoring in his return to Maverik Center for the first time since he left Utah via a trade in January. Andrew Engelage earned the win with 30 saves.

STK 6 - COL 2 (3/7/12): Gabriel Levesque scored a goal and added three assists for a career high four points, helping engineer five unanswered goals by the Stockton Thunder (30-25-5, 65 points) in a 6-2 rout of the Colorado Eagles before 5,289 fans at Budweiser Events Center on Wednesday. The Thunder, who moved within two points of clinching their sixth consecutive Kelly Cup Playoff berth, buried ten goals over the last two games in Colorado and finished at 4-5-0 against the Eagles this season. They also moved to five points behind Colorado for fourth place in the Western Conference.

COL 5 - STK 4 (3/6/12): Chad Costello had a hat trick and added an assist to provide enough offense to help the Colorado Eagles escape a furious rally by the Stockton Thunder (29-25-5, 63 points) in a 5-4 Thunder loss at Budweiser Events Center on Tuesday. The Thunder was stuck at a magic number of six to clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff berth and nearly battled back four times from two goal deficits. Stockton outshot Colorado 38-32 and were aided offensively by goals from Jason Morgan, Max Campbell, Chris D'Alvise and Jordan Fulton.

2011-12 TEAM LEADERS:

Points - Kevin Baker (52)

Goals - Kevin Baker (25)

Assists - Matt Foy (31)

Plus/Minus - Mike Little (+18)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (227)

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Kevin Baker is 13 goals away from 200 in his professional career

- Kevin Baker is 6 games away from 400 in his professional career

- Matt Foy is 14 goals away from 100 in his professional career

TEAM NOTES

- Mike Little is second among ECHL rookies with a +18 rating

- Kevin Baker leads the ECHL with 266 shots

- Gabriel Levesque has scored seven points (1g-6a) in the last six games

- Stockton is 11-3-1 in the last 15 home games

- Stockton ranks third in ECHL attendance with an average of 5,832 fans per game

- Stockton is 17-1-1 when leading after one period

The Thunder Season Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (209) 373-1500 or by visiting www.stocktonthunder.com. Thunder Season Ticket Holders enjoy the highest-demanded seating locations in Stockton Arena, benefits including admission to Season Ticket Holder-only events, discount opportunities on Thunder merchandise, a free e-newsletter, an exclusive gift, admission to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and more.

For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.



ECHL Stories from March 12, 2012


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