Thunder Take Another over Defending Champs

January 29, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Olivier Roy made 29 saves to headline a wire to wire effort by the Stockton Thunder (20-18-4, 44 points), who dispatched the Alaska Aces in a 4-1 victory before 7,613 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night.

The Thunder improved to 5-1-1 in the last seven home games and outshot Alaska, 39-30. Behind a balanced attack that featured ten different players registering points on the scoresheet, the Thunder has combined to score ten goals in the last two games against Alaska, who came into the game leading the ECHL in fewest goals allowed per game (2.1).

"We did a good job creating a lot offensively tonight," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas, who moved to within nine wins of 300 in his ECHL career. "Olivier answered the bell for us especially in the first period. Our goaltenders are pushing each other competitively and Olivier has been responding positively to some mentoring by Al (Stalock). We got better as the game went along."

Kevin Baker's third goal in the last two games opened the scoring with 12:01 left in the first period, on a quick redirection from the base of the last circle. Following a massive center ice hit by Cameron Brodie, he helped set the play with a long outlet to Chris D'Alvise, who set up Baker after taking the puck behind the net and moving Alaska goaltender Adam Courchaine off the blocker side post.

The Thunder stretched their lead to 2-0 just 68 seconds into the second period when Milan Kytnar finished off a lengthy saucer feed by Matt Reber from the right boards and stashed a wrist shot past Courchaine from the low slot.

Alaska cut the Thunder lead to a goal on Tyler Ruegsegger's 12th goal of the season with 15:51 left, when he completed Zach Harrison's pass from the left wing with a wrist shot at the inside of the right circle.

Matt Foy then set up Doyle's tenth goal of the year with 8:32 left on a one timer that beat Courchaine from between the hash marks.

The Thunder followed by staging a defensive stand in the final period that allowed only three shots to get to Roy on net, with the closest bid coming on a Wes Goldie attempt at the left goal line.

Nathan Deck put the game out of reach with an empty net and shorthanded goal with 1:28 remaining on his seventh goal of the year, coming off a flip just outside of the Thunder blueline.

Courchaine suffered his first set of back to back losses in regulation since January 2011 with 35 saves. The Thunder handed Alaska their first pair of consecutive losses in regulation since November.

NOTES: Scratched for the game were Jesse Fratkin (injured, day to day), Ryan Martindale (injured reserve), Tony DeHart (injured reserve), Gabriel Levesque (injured reserve), Jason Morgan (injured reserve), Sebastian Owuya (healthy) and Thomas Heemskerk (injured reserve) ... Foy's assist was his tenth point in the last eight games ... Deck's goal was his sixth point in the last seven games ... Stockton improved to 9-8-2 at home ... San Jose Sharks vice president and assistant general manager Wayne Thomas was in attendance.

The Thunder goes for the weekend and three game sweep tomorrow against Alaska, starting at 4:00 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The game will be carried on radio at 1280 KWSX and online coverage is available for viewing (pay-per-view video charge) and listening (free of charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth consecutive season in 2010-11. Season Tickets for 2011-12 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/ .

THREE STARS

1. STK - 31 Olivier Roy

2. STK - 19 Milan Kytnar

3. STK - 71 Kevin Baker



ECHL Stories from January 29, 2012


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