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Thunder Stay In First Place Race, Visit Utah

February 16, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: (all times PT)

vs. UTAH GRIZZLIES (Friday - 7:30 p.m.) - 1420 KSTN, B2 Networks

The Thunder visit the Utah Grizzlies for the final time this season, marking the fourth and fifth meetings between both teams on Friday and Saturday. Through 25 games in the lifetime series, the Thunder is 10-12-3 against Utah. The Thunder dropped two consecutive games to the Grizzlies on Dec. 12-13 in Salt Lake City and last time both clubs met, the Thunder defeated the Grizzlies 2-1 in a shootout at Stockton Arena.

**Saturday's broadcast potentially joined in progress

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.

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!

Go Green With the Thunder's "Recycle Wednesday" Campaign!

Join the Thunder "going green" in the Thunder's "Recycle Wednesday" on Feb. 25, when the Thunder hosts the Las Vegas Wranglers at 7:00 p.m.! All fans who exchange ten bottles or 20 cans to the Stockton Arena Ticket Office on the day of the game will receive a free coupon for that game, redeemable for $4 off the full admission price!

TEAM LEADERS:

Points - Ryan Huddy (51)

Goals - Ryan Huddy (27)

Assists - Ryan Huddy (24)

Plus/Minus - Daryl Marcoux (+17)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (210)

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o Matt O'Dette is 11 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Cory Urquhart is 9 points away from 200 in his ECHL career

o Craig Valette is 3 points away from 100 in his professional career

TEAM NOTES:

- Ryan Huddy leads the Thunder and is ninth in ECHL scoring with 51 points (27g-24a)

- Rookie Garet Hunt leads the ECHL with 210 penalty minutes

- Goaltender Andrew Perugini tied a Thunder record last week with nine consecutive victories in net (shared by Devan Dubnyk, 2006-07)

-

Huddy is three goals away from breaking Mike Lalonde's single-season Thunder record of 29 goals

- Stockton leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,269 fans (23 games)

- Stockton is third in the ECHL with 14 road victories

- Stockton is 14-6-1 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. 17:

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

WED. FEB. 18:

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

THURS, FEB. 19:

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

Travel to Salt Lake City, Utah immediately following

FRI, FEB. 20:

11:00 a.m. - Morning skate at The E-Center

6:05 p.m. - GAME at UTAH (The E-Center)

1420 KSTN / StocktonThunder.com

SAT, FEB. 21:

11:00 a.m. - Morning skate at The E-Center

6:05 p.m. - GAME at UTAH (The E-Center)

1420 KSTN / StocktonThunder.com

SUN. FEB. 22:

Travel to Stockton

MON. FEB. 23:

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

WEEK IN REVIEW

2/15/09 - ONT 3 at STK 2: P.J. Atherton's shorthanded goal with 12:12 left in regulation capped a three-goal comeback in the final 40 minutes for the Ontario Reign, who sent the Stockton Thunder to a 3-2 loss before a crowd of 5,008 at Stockton Arena on Sunday. The Thunder, who suffered their third loss in four games, slipped to five points behind the Reign for first place in the Pacific Division. Adam Huxley and Ryan Huddy each scored in the first period for Stockton, while Ontario received additional support on goals from Dale Reinhardt and Jon Francisco. Goaltender Kellen Briggs earned the win in net with 32 stops.

2/14/09 - BAK 5 at STK 4: The Bakersfield Condors scored five unanswered goals, including four in the final period of play to erase a 3-0 deficit and defeat the Stockton Thunder (24-22-5, 53 points), 5-4 before a crowd of 7,522 at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. Veteran Cory Urquhart scored twice and added two assists on the same night that he was honored with a bobblehead doll giveaway. Mike Lalonde and Ryan MacMurchy added first period goals, as the trio combined for 10 points on the Condors defense. Bakersfield was led by a three-point game (1g-2a) from Mike Wirll while Dave Bonk scored the eventual game-winner in the third period.

2/13/09 - UTA 1 at STK 2 (SO): The Stockton Thunder won their seventh home in the last 10 attempts while rookie goaltender Andrew Perugini tied a club record with his ninth straight victory in a 2-1 shootout win over the Utah Grizzlies before a crowd of 5,461 at Stockton Arena on Friday. The Thunder, who began a stretch of playing three games in three nights at home, beat Utah on their own home ice for the first time since Dec. 2, 2006. Perugini's record tied Devan Dubnyk's mark, set in 2006-07. Captain Matt O'Dette scored the only Thunder goal in regulation while Utah's only goal came from Tom May.

2/9/09 - IDA 6 at STK 1: Battling through their fourth game in six nights with a shorthanded roster, the Stockton Thunder (23-21-5, 51 points) had its five-game winning streak snapped by giving up six straight goals in a 6-1 loss to the Idaho Steelheads before 4,245 fans at Stockton Arena on Monday night. Kris Sparre led Idaho's offense with the first hat trick of his pro career, while veteran Marty Flichel registered three assists. Mike Lalonde scored the only Thunder goal while Idaho goaltender Matt Climie registered 17 saves.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

(courtesy of The Record)

"He does all the little things right; that's why so many teams looked at him and wanted him," Thomas said. "That's a stat (+13 rating since Dec. 31) that is pretty consistent with a players attention to detail defensively. And Daryl is a smart, hard-working player. He doesn't make many mistakes."

- Head Coach Matt Thomas on defenseman Daryl Marcoux, The Record, 2/13/09

"It's nice for the guys and coaches to have confidence in me, and that was a great win for us," O'Dette said. "We need all the wins we can get."

- Defenseman Matt O'Dette on a Thunder 2-1 shootout win vs. Utah, the same day he was named captain, The Record, 2/14/09

STOCKTON THUNDER STATISTICS (as of Feb. 16, 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 16, 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.

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