Thunder Stands Five Points Out of First Pla

February 2, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: (all times PT)

vs. ALASKA ACES (Wednesday - 7:00 p.m. and Sunday - 4:00 p.m.) - 1420 KSTN, B2 Networks**

The Stockton Thunder finishes the head-to-head season season series with the Alaska Aces this Wednesday and Sunday at Stockton Arena, marking the sixth and seventh overall meetings between both clubs this year, respectively. The Thunder is 11-13-5 in the lifetime matchup vs. Alaska with five wins coming in sudden-death overtime in the last two seasons. The teams last met on Jan. 24 with the Thunder defeating the Aces 5-4 in a shootout at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 4-0-1 against Alaska this season is guaranteed a series victory in 2008-09.

at ONTARIO REIGN (Friday - 7:05 p.m.) - 1420 KSTN, B2 Networks

The Thunder faces the Ontario Reign in the seventh matchup of the year between both the clubs, with developing first place implications riding the game. Entering the week, the Thunder stands five points behind the Reign for the top spot in the Pacific Division. The teams face each other eight times in the regular season and the Thunder is 2-3-1 vs. Ontario this year. The teams last met on Dec. 21 in Ontario when the Reign defeated the Thunder 6-2.

**Sunday's broadcast carried via internet only at www.StocktonThunder.com

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

Wednesday, February 4, 2009 vs. Alaska, 7:00 p.m.

RECYCLE WEDNESDAYS

- Bring 10 bottles or 20 cans to the Stockton Arena Ticket Office and receive a $4 discount off admission to tonight's game!

BE A WINNER! NIGHT (presented by Chase Chevrolet of Stockton)

- Students who earned honor roll status for a recent grading period will receive free tickets for today's game!

Sunday, February 8, 2009 vs. Alaska, 4:00 p.m.

MIKE LALONDE T-SHIRT NIGHT (presented by Guaranty Bank, California Welding Supply & Company and AM 970 ESPN Radio)

- The first 2,000 kids (ages 12 and under in attendance) receive a free t-shirt of Mike Lalonde, the Thunder's all-time leading scorer!

BE A WINNER! NIGHT (presented by Chase Chevrolet of Stockton)

- Students who earned honor roll status for a recent grading period will receive free tickets for today's game!

FAMILY DAY (presented by MetroPCS, 99.3 KJOY)

- $34 family upper premium / end zone admission (four tickets, four hockey pucks) with coupon available by visiting participating MetroPCS locations

Monday, February 9, 2009 vs. Idaho, 7:00 p.m.

MORE FOR YOUR MONEY MONDAY

- Join the Thunder on a rare Monday night contest where individual tickets are half off while you can find deep discounts on food, beverages and merchandise!

PLAYER POSTER NIGHT (presented by KHOP 95.1 and In-Shape Health Clubs) (1 of 4)

- All fans in attendance will receive a commemorative poster featuring new Thunder players Judd Blackwater, Igor Gongalsky, Daryl Marcoux and Matt O'Dette!

BE A WINNER! NIGHT (presented by Chase Chevrolet of Stockton)

- Students who earned honor roll status for a recent grading period will receive free tickets for tonight's game!

Show someone you care with the Stockton Thunder and Edible Arrangements!

This season during every Sunday home game one lucky fan will be awarded a beautiful and delicious fruit bouquet courtesy of Edible Arrangements. If you have a co-worker, friend, or family member you feel deserves special recognition, log on to www.StocktonThunder.com and nominate them for the Edible Arrangements Sentimental Moment!

TEAM LEADERS:

Points - Ryan Huddy (45)

Goals - Ryan Huddy (23)

Assists - Ryan Huddy (22)

Plus/Minus - Daryl Marcoux (+15)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (186)

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o Ryan MacMurchy is 1 game away from 100 in his professional career

o Matt O'Dette is 13 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Damian Surma is 4 assists away from 100 in his pro career

TEAM NOTES:

- Ryan Huddy leads the Thunder and is third among ECHL rookies with 45 points (23g-22a)

- Rookie Garet Hunt leads the ECHL with 186 penalty minutes

- Goaltender Andrew Perugini is 5-0-0 in his last five appearances

- Stockton leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,638 fans (17 games)

- Stockton went 10-3-0 in the month of January

- Stockton is 10-3-1 under head coach Matt Thomas

The team's upcoming schedule for the coming week is as follows: (subject to change, all times PT)

TUE. FEB. 3:

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

WED. FEB. 4:

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

5:30 p.m. - Media availability ends

7:00 p.m. - GAME VS. ALASKA

1420 KSTN / StocktonThunder.com

THURS, FEB. 5:

10:00 a.m. - Practice at Oak Park Ice Arena (Stockton)

Travel to Ontario afterward

FRI, FEB. 6:

11:00 a.m. - Morning skate at Citizens Business Bank Arena

7:05 p.m. - GAME AT ONTARIO

1420 KSTN / StocktonThunder.com

Travel to Stockton immediately following game

SAT, FEB. 7:

TBD - Practice at Stockton Arena

SUN. FEB. 8:

No morning skate

2:30 p.m. - Media availability ends

4:00 p.m. - GAME VS. ALASKA

StocktonThunder.com

MON. FEB. 9:

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

5:30 p.m. - Media availability ends

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

1420 KSTN / StocktonThunder.com

WEEK IN REVIEW

1/31/09 - PHX 1 at STK 3: Goaltender Andrew Perugini made 32 saves for his fifth consecutive victory in net and veteran Cory Urquhart scored the eventual game-winning goal at 2:20 of the third period to guide the Stockton Thunder (20-20-5, 45 points) to a 3-1 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 6,610 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday. The Thunder closed out January with a monthly record of 10-3-0 to reach the .500 mark and climbed to within five points of the Ontario Reign for first place in the Pacific Division, who lost 2-0 to the Alaska Aces tonight. The Thunder received additional goal-scoring support from defenseman Daryl Marcoux and Damian Surma. Forward Mark O'Leary tallied the only Phoenix goal in the third period, snapping Perugini's shutout streak of 110:25.

1/28/09 - STK 2 at VIC 0: Goaltender Andrew Perugini made 38 saves for the first shutout of his professional career and Geoff Paukovich and Mike Lalonde each scored a goal to lift the Stockton Thunder (19-20-2, 43 points) to a 2-0 victory over the Victoria Salmon Kings before 5,102 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Wednesday. The win capped a grueling schedule for the Thunder, who had just four available defensemen in the lineup, played five games in six days and went 2-3-0 in the stretch. In the process, the Thunder snapped Victoria's club-record tying 12-game winning streak at home, leaving the Salmon Kings winless on their own home ice for the first time since Nov. 22 (4-3 OT loss vs. Alaska).

1/27/09 - STK 3 at VIC 7: Wes Goldie and Scott Howes netted a pair of goals and the Victoria Salmon Kings parlayed a wire-to-wire lead, sending the Stockton Thunder (18-20-5, 41 points) to a 7-3 loss in front of 5,073 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Tuesday. The Thunder suffered their second straight defeat and received a goal each from Damian Surma, Sebastien Bisaillon and Mike Lalonde. Victoria goaltender Todd Ford improved to 10-0-1 in his last 11 games with the victory in net, making 27 saves.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

(courtesy of The Record)

"Rohlfs and (Adam Huxley) really stepped up, and everyone played hard," Perugini said. "It was nice to get it. But you never want to get too high or get too low. Hockey is one of those games where you can be on top of the world one day and the bottom the other."

- Thunder goaltender Andrew Perugini after the Thunder beat Victoria 2-0, The Record, 1/31/09

"It wasn't a shutout, but I think the wins are on par, and in some ways this was a better performance," Thomas said. "Mostly because of the late pressure. Genie just played great, and he had a lot of excellent stops."

- Head Coach Matt Thomas on goaltender Andrew Perugini, The Record, 2/1/09

STOCKTON THUNDER STATISTICS (as of Feb. 2, 2009)

The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season, group, individual tickets and mini plan packages are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.StocktonThunder.com.



ECHL Stories from February 2, 2009


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