Thunder Salvage Point

January 10, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Mathieu Aubin scored a game-winning, power-play with 21 seconds elapsed into sudden death overtime to help the Bakersfield Condors complete a third period comeback and send the Stockton Thunder (14-16-4, 32 points) to a 5-4 overtime defeat before a crowd of 7,226 at Stockton Arena on Sunday afternoon.

The Thunder, who opened an all-time record 11-game homestand by salvaging a point against their first place, Pacific Division foes, moved to 4-2-1 this season against Bakersfield and were led by a pair of goals from rookie defenseman Anthony Aiello. Brett Hemingway and Steve Vanoosten also scored for the Thunder, while Stephane Goulet led the Bakersfield offense with a goal and two assists.

Goaltender Timo Pielmeier, who replaced Josh Johnson in the second period, picked up the win by stopping all 12 shots faced.

Bakersfield struck first on two goals in a 53 second span to assume a 2-0 lead, beginning with Mark Mitera's first goal of his pro career on a screen shot at the left point and followed up by Stephane Goulet's one-timer from between the circles at 9:57, after goaltender Aaron Sorochan denied Andrew Ianiero on a breakaway.

The Thunder struck back with two quick goals in a 31 second span to level the score at 2-2 in the first period. Aiello converted his third goal of the season when his wrist shot at the left circle slipped under the crossbar and Hemingway followed up with a sharp-angled shot at the left circle for his fifth goal of the season at 13:59.

Macenauer restored the Bakersfield lead to 3-2 with 6:32 left in the first period when he caught a piece of a bouncing puck at the net, capitalizing on a missing stick to defenseman Steve Vanoosten, giving his stick teammate Ryan Constant, who lost his on the play.

The Thunder roared back with two more goals and claimed their first lead of the game, 4-3 after two periods. Vanoosten tied the game just one second after a hooking penalty to Macenauer expired, when he re-directed Igor Gongalsky's cross-ice feed at the right point with a one-timer past Johnson's blocker with 10:05 left.

Aiello's second goal of the game lifted the Thunder to their first lead when he buried his fourth goal of the year from off the rush on a rebound of the left circle with 7:18 remaining, chasing Johnson in place of Timo Pielmeier.

The Thunder hung onto the lead and nearly missed on an insurance marker, but a turnover at their own blueline produced a shorthanded goal for Nick Kemp with 10:44 left in regulation, slipping a backhanded deke through Sorochan's five-hole.

After the Thunder fell short in converting on Sasha Pokuluk's delay of game penalty with 2:26 left in regulation with a Brett Hemingway double-minor, high-sticking penalty, Aubin capitalized on the 4-on-3 situation in overtime for the game winner.

After Sorochan's save on a Pokuluk one-timer at the high slot, Aubin negotiated his way through traffic to bury the rebound into a half open net from the base of the right circle.

Sorochan made 16 saves and his ECHL record moved to 0-1-1.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Matt O'Dette (injured reserve), Justin DaCosta (healthy), Garet Hunt (injured reserve), Craig Valette (injured reserve) and Bobby Davey (injured reserve)... the Thunder record in overtime moved to 3-2 this season and suffered their first loss after regulation since Nov. 13, a 2-1 shootout loss to the Idaho Steelheads... the Thunder outshot Bakersfield, 38-21... Hemingway chipped in with a two-point effort (1g-1a) for Stockton... Bakersfield improved to 8-6-2 on the road this season.

The Thunder returns to play next Friday, Jan. 15 to continue the homestand against the Utah Grizzlies, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard and viewed online at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

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/.



ECHL Stories from January 10, 2010


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.

OurSports Central