Thunder Renew Rivalry with Ontario

March 29, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder (29-28-0-6) take on the Ontario Reign tonight (41-17-3-4) on the road at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m. PST. Tonight is game number 13 of 16 meetings between the Thunder and Reign this season.

Thunder fans catch the game at the team's "home away from home" the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel, where they can enjoy Thunder food and drink specials while watching the game. Fans who can't make it out can watch live, streaming video through AmericaONE Sports or listen to free live audio through Spreaker.com and StocktonThunder.com. The broadcast starts at 5:45 p.m. PST with the Black Oak Casino Resort Pre-Game Show.

The Thunder look to snap their three game losing streak against their Pacific Division rivals. The Thunder have beaten the Ontario Reign four straight times on the road and in five of their last six meetings overall, regardless of venue.

However, the Thunder have struggled as of late and are coming off three losses at Stockton Arena, including a 4-1 defeat to the Idaho Steelheads last night. The Thunder gave up two goals late in the first period, but managed to cut the deficit to one in the second, as Ryan Hayes scored his 12th goal of the season.

Goaltender Parker Milner stopped two breakaways, but a powerplay and shorthanded goal from Jason Bast sealed the victory for the Steelheads. It marked the second straight game where Hayes was the only Thunder player to score a goal.

The Thunder are led by Joey Martin who continues to pace the team in points, goals and assists. He currently sits 11th in the ECHL this season with 55 points. The Thunder have also gotten some help offensively from two forwards sent down from their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Alan Quine and Joey Diamond have each been point-per-game players for the Thunder, each with 5 points in five games.

Captain Garet Hunt has the most points against Ontario this season for the Thunder with 10 points on 5 goals and 5 assists, that point total is matched by both James Henry and Matt Bergland. Rookie forward Mathieu Gagnon has played the role of the enforcer with 38 penalty minutes against Ontario.

On the Reign side of things, Derek Couture, Matt White and Matt Register all have six points against the Thunder this season to lead the team among players currently on the roster. They will have some new look goaltenders for the Thunder this time around, with Mathias Niederberger and J.P. Anderson on the roster.

Niederberger has played two games against the Thunder this year, posting a 1-1-0 record while Anderson has played the Thunder five times, but only as a member of the San Francisco Bulls, going 0-2-1. Neither goalie has faced Stockton since mid-January.

After tonight's game, the Thunder return to Stockton to resume their weekend set with the Idaho Steelheads on Sunday. It will be the Thunder's second-to-last Family Day game this season, presented by Sutter Gould Medical Foundation and 99.3 FM KJOY. Fans can purchase four Upper End Zone tickets and receive vouchers for four hot dogs and four sodas for just $38. If fans purchase the deal online they will receive a free Thunder hat. Sunday's game gets underway at 4:00 p.m. PST. For more information, visit StocktonThunder.com.



ECHL Stories from March 29, 2014


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