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Thunder Opens First Round of Playoffs

April 2, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON VS. COLORADO - WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS (all times listed PT)

Game 1: Colorado at Stockton - Tuesday, April 3 - 7:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena)

Game 2: Colorado at Stockton - Wednesday, April 4 - 7:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena)

Game 3: Stockton at Colorado - Friday, April 6 - 6:05 p.m. (Budweiser Events Center)

Game 4: Stockton at Colorado - Saturday, April 7 - 6:05 p.m. (Budweiser Events Center) *

Game 5: Stockton at Colorado - Monday, April 9 - 6:05 p.m. (Budweiser Events Center) *

*If necessary

SERIES PREVIEW:

The fifth seeded Thunder will open the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the fourth seeded Colorado Eagles, a best of five series that follows a "2-3" format. The matchup is the first time the Thunder and Eagles will meet in the playoffs. The Thunder advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the sixth straight year this season and it will also mark the first year of ECHL play for Colorado. The Thunder finished 4-5-0 this season against Colorado.

1280 AM KWSX is the Thunder's flagship radio station on the road this year and all Thunder games can be heard live on the Internet (free-of-charge) and are available for viewing at a "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. Select games will air on 1360 AM KFIV if there are programming conflicts.

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

(subject to change, all times PT)

Tuesday, APR. 3

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

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

7:00 p.m. - GAME 1 vs. COLORADO

StocktonThunder.com

Wednesday, APR. 4

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

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

7:00 p.m. - GAME 2 vs. COLORADO

1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

Thursday, APR. 5

Travel day to Colorado

Friday, APR. 6

10:15 a.m. - Morning skate at Budweiser Events Center

6:05 p.m. - GAME 3 at COLORADO

1360 KFIV/StocktonThunder.com

Saturday, APR. 7 (if game 4 necessary)

10:15 a.m. - Morning skate at Budweiser Events Center

6:05 p.m. - GAME 4 at COLORADO

1360 KFIV/StocktonThunder.com

Sunday, APR. 8

Day off

Monday, APR. 9 (if game 5 necessary)

10:15 a.m. - Morning skate at Budweiser Events Center

6:05 p.m. - GAME 5 at COLORADO

1360 KFIV/StocktonThunder.com

Note: The Thunder will travel back to Stockton the day after the conclusion of the series

SEASON SERIES IN REVIEW:

The Thunder finished 4-5-0 against Colorado this season and won three of the last four games ... Colorado opened the series with a 5-2 win on Opening Night at Stockton Arena on Oct. 14 - Chad Costello scored twice for Colorado ... the two teams split a two game series, Oct. 21-22 in Colorado and the Thunder defeated the Eagles, 5-4 on Oct. 22 for its first win of the season - Matt Foy paced the Thunder offense with two goals and an assist ... Colorado swept the Thunder in a two game series from Feb. 10-11 in Loveland and the Thunder responded with a two game sweep in Stockton from Feb. 18-19 - Olivier Roy combined a 67 save total in the two wins ... the two teams split the final two games in Colorado on Mar. 6-7 ... Colorado clinched a berth in the playoffs in a 5-4 win on Mar. 6 and the Thunder closed the season series with a 6-2 victory the next night, paced by Gabriel Levesque's goal and three assists.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder: 4-5-0)

Fri. Oct. 14 Colorado 5 at Stockton 2

Fri. Oct. 21 Stockton 1 at Colorado 3

Sat. Oct. 22 Stockton 5 at Colorado 4

Fri. Feb. 10 Stockton 2 at Colorado 5

Sat. Feb. 11 Stockton 1 at Colorado 4

Sat. Feb. 18 Colorado 2 at Stockton 4

Sun. Feb. 19 Colorado 1 at Stockton 3

Tue. Mar. 6 Stockton 4 at Colorado 5

Wed. Mar. 7 Stockton 6 at Colorado 2

KELLY CUP PLAYOFF TICKET INFORMATION

Kelly Cup Playoff tickets start as low as $7 per seat and range to $28 (glass seats and club) and are available by calling (209) 373-1700 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Current Thunder Season Ticket Holders receive tickets to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs in their ticket package. Fans wishing to get priority seating on playoff tickets can do so by placing a deposit on Thunder Season Tickets for the 2012-13 season or by purchasing Kelly Cup Playoff ticket strips.

"FATS GRILL" ROAD GAMES: PLAYOFF WATCH PARTIES

The Thunder is hosting Kelly Cup Playoff Watch Parties from Fat's Grill and Bar, located in Stockton, for all Thunder playoff road games. Fans can enjoy the game on several television monitors which will carry playoff game coverage through AmericaOne, "the official Broadband Broadcast Provider of the ECHL." Admission is free to all fans, who can enjoy drink specials throughout each game night.

THUNDER FANS KEEP CROWDING OUT: OVER 200,000 AT STOCKTON ARENA: 7TH STRAIGHT YEAR

The Thunder completed the regular season third in ECHL attendance and for the seventh straight season totaled over 200,000 fans at Stockton Arena. Stockton has 17 sellouts in the team's franchise history. They welcomed 12 crowds of 7,000 or more at Stockton Arena last season and had its highest attendance since 2007-08, a six percent increase from 2009-10. This season, the Thunder welcomed 18 crowds of 6,000 or more to Stockton Arena and drew a season high 9,398 fans on Mar. 3 vs. Alaska.

2011-12 TEAM LEADERS:

Points - Kevin Baker (56)

Goals - Kevin Baker (27)

Assists - Matt Foy (36)

Plus/Minus - Mike Little (+21) (led ECHL defensemen, rookies)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (255)

TEAM NOTES

- Mike Little led the ECHL (rookies and defensemen) with a +21 rating

- Kevin Baker led the ECHL with 293 shots

- Olivier Roy was fourth in the ECHL with a .925 save percentage

- Stockton finished third in ECHL attendance with an average of 5,916 fans per game

- Stockton is was 16-11-5 in one-goal games

- Stockton was 14-7-1 in the last 22 home games

SEASON TICKET HOLDER ITEM OF THE WEEK

Thunder Season Ticket Holders can take advantage of the Items of the Week for the Kelly Cup Playoffs and get $4 off Thunder playoff shirts, made specifically for the first round vs. Colorado and $2 off "Playoff Beards." This offer lasts through Wednesday's Game 2 against Colorado and is available in person at the Stockton Arena Fan Attic.

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 April 2, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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