Thunder Rolls - Into Victoria

Published on December 14, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: (all times PT)

at Victoria Salmon Kings (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday - 7:05 p.m.) - 1420 KSTN, B2 Networks

The Thunder, on a season-high five-game winning streak, continues a seven-game road trip with three games against the Victoria Salmon Kings, beginning Wednesday at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre which is the third of 12 meetings between the teams this year. The Thunder is 13-16-4 lifetime against Victoria and is 2-0-0 this year in the head-to-head series. The last time both teams met, the Thunder defeated Victoria, 5-2 on Nov. 1. The Thunder will visit Victoria for five games this season.

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

Tuesday, Dec. 29 vs. Bakersfield Condors, 7:00 p.m.

KNIT CAP GIVEAWAY (presented by 97.7/98.3 KWIN and Comcast)

- The first 1,000 fans (ages 13 and over) will receive a free Thunder knit cap!

COMMUNITY UPDATE

Player Appearance, Midtown Sacramento Holiday Ice Rink

Wednesday, December 3rd, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Thunder players Chris D'Alvise, Justin Dacosta and Anthony Aiello visited Sacramento on Wednesday night to spread a little holiday cheer, at the Midtown Sacramento Holiday Ice Rink. The players were on the ice from 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm, to give some skating instruction, pose for pictures, and sign autographs.

The outdoor rink, presented by the Sacramento Midtown Association, is located at the corner of 20th Street and J Street, and will be in operation daily between the hours of 10:00 am and 10:00 pm until February 1st. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for kids, and skates can be rented for $2 a pair.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS FOR STOCKTON ARENA FAN ATTIC

The Stockton Arena "Fan Attic," the official team store of the Thunder, will open its doors for select holiday hours for that perfect hockey gift fans are searching for. The Fan Attic will be open from Noon-5:00 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday until Dec. 23.

"KINGS ROOM" PREGAME 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. For more information, call the Thunder at (209) 373-1500.

2009-10 TEAM LEADERS:

Points - Oren Eizenman (23)

Goals - Judd Blackwater (11)

Assists - Oren Eizenman (16)

Plus/Minus -Steve Vanoosten (+7)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (82)

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o Judd Blackwater is 8 games away from 100 in his professional career

o Kelly Czuy is 23 points away from 100 in his professional career

o Igor Gongalsky is 22 points away from 100 in his professional career

o Brett Hemingway is 1 point away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Matt Robinson is 4 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

TEAM NOTES

- Matt Robinson has seven points (6g-1a) in his last five games

- Oren Eizenman is on a five-game scoring streak with nine points (4g-5a)

- Judd Blackwater is tied for the ECHL lead with six power-play goals

- Stockton leads the ECHL with an average of 5,874 fans in attendance (12 home games)

- Stockton's power-play leads the ECHL at 24.2 percent (30-for-124)

- Stockton has scored 24 goals in the last five games

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

(subject to change, all times PT)

TUE, DEC. 15:

10:45 a.m. - Practice at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre (Victoria, B.C.)

WED, DEC. 16:

11:15 a.m. - Morning skate at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

7:05 p.m. - GAME AT VICTORIA (Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre)

1420 KSTN/StocktonThunder.com

THURS, DEC. 17:

Noon - Practice at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre (Victoria, B.C.)

FRI, DEC. 18:

11:15 a.m. - Morning skate at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

7:05 p.m. - GAME AT VICTORIA (Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre)

1420 KSTN/StocktonThunder.com

SAT, DEC. 19:

11:15 a.m. - Morning skate at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

7:05 p.m. - GAME AT VICTORIA (Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre)

1420 KSTN/StocktonThunder.com

SUN. DEC. 20:

Travel Stockton, Calif.

MON. DEC. 21:

Day off

***Thunder return to practice for morning skate on Saturday, Dec. 26 (9:00 a.m.)

WEEK IN REVIEW

STK 4 - AK 3 (12/13/09): Center Oren Eizenman's pair of goal and goaltender Andrew Perugini's 37 saves were enough to help the Thunder become the second team to sweep the Alaska Aces in a three-game series at Sullivan Arena in Alaska's ECHL history, winning 4-3 before 4,334 fans in Anchorage on Sunday. The Thunder, who received the game-winning goal and a two-point (1g-1a) effort from rookie defenseman Anthony Aiello, increased their winning streak to five straight games and improved to 8-2-1 in the last 11 all-time games at Sullivan Arena. Stockton moved to one point behind the Aces for fifth place in the National Conference.

STK 5 - AK 4 (12/12/09): Left winger Matt Robinson collected his second straight two-goal game against his former team and buried a game-winning goal with 5:25 left in regulation to help guide the Thunder to a 5-4 victory over the Alaska Aces before a crowd of 5,671 at Sullivan Arena on Saturday. Robinson, who scored his third and fourth goals while playing on Sullivan Arena ice for the first time since 2007-08, was spelled by Thunder goals from Judd Blackwater, Jamie Bates and J.F. Caudron. John Lammers picked up a hat trick for Alaska in the losing cause, as the Thunder improved to 3-0-1 in their last four lifetime games in Anchorage.

STK 6 - AK 4 (12/11/09): Former Alaska Aces forwards Brett Hemingway and Matt Robinson combined for five points (3g-2a) in their first return to Anchorage as opposing players to help lift the Thunder to their third straight win in a 6-4 victory over Alaska before 5,780 at Sullivan Arena on Friday. Hemingway, who was released by the Aces in November, led the Thunder offense with a goal and two assists and buried a go-ahead goal in the third period. Robinson, who returned to Anchorage for the first time since the 2008-09 season, scored two goals in the first period. Kelly Czuy scored the game-winning goal and Justin Dacosta scored his first ECHL goal.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

(courtesy of The Record)

"Obviously we needed (the win), and to come up here and do it against a good team, it was great,'' Thunder coach Matt Thomas said. "Our guys really wanted to turn around. It wasn't because we were a bad team, but we had to become a different team. They realized it's time to find a way to win.''

- Head Coach Mat t Thomas after a three-game road sweep of the Alaska Aces, The Record, 12/14/09

"When I got here, I did check out when we played Alaska, and I did circle it," Hemingway said. "I'm looking forward to it."

- Forward Brett Hemingway, an ex-Alaska Ace, on returning to play his former team (he scored three points in his return), The Record, 12/11/09

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 December 14, 2009


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