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Thunder Take on Reign in Southern California

March 25, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder find themselves in Ontario, California for a game against the Reign tonight at 7:00 p.m.

Arena: Citizens Business Bank Arena

Date: Wednesday, March 25

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Broadcast: ECHL.TV and Spreaker beginning at 6:45 p.m. PST

This Year's Record: Stockton is 0-6-0-0 vs. Ontario

Follow the Thunder Facebook Page for occasional updates or follow @StocktonThunder on Twitter for the play-by-play tweeting!

Heat Rises in Fall 2015

During the first intermission of the March 12th watch party, Team President Dave Piecuch and Mayor Anthony Silva revealed that the Stockton AHL team will be known as the Stockton Heat.

The Heat name was selected over the Blaze, Scorch, Inferno and Fire after fans stuffed the boxes with names related to the parent club in Calgary.

Season tickets are on sale now for the first year of Heat hockey! For just $50 per seat, you can reserve your spot as the new team kicks off play for the 2015-16 AHL season. Call 209-373-1500 or visitStocktonThunder.com/ahl!

Shattock is on Fire

Tyler Shattock has been one of the best players in the ECHL over the last two months.

Shattock has scored 11 goals and added 13 assists in 20 games thus far since February began. Of the 20games, Shattock has points in 16 of 20 games.

His 53 points this season has obliterated his previous pro high of 20 points that he picked up while playing for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL last season. Shattock also has points in his last five-straight which ties him for his season high. The other five-game point streak Shattock picked up occurred from February 6 through February 13 where he scored 2 goals and added 6 assists for 8 points while this streak he has 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points.

Last Time vs. Ontario

Exactly two weeks ago the Thunder were back in Southern California looking to take down the rival Ontario Reign but before the game even started, the Thunder knew the game was going to be difficult.

Despite signing defenseman Mike Busillo that day, the Thunder would enter the game down two bodies after injuries and call-ups ravaged the Thunder's lineup. Moments in it'd be Derek Couture who'd once again find the back of the net as a wristshot found its way back behind Cody Reichard. Later in the period, it'd be an Ontario newcomer Garry Nunn who would put the Reign up two.

Less than two minutes later John Ryder made a beautiful breakout pass to spring Tyler Shattock and Jack Combs with Combs ultimately finding the back of the net to cut the deficit.

With less than a minute to go the Reign worked an offensive zone draw to Matt Register who placed a shot just out of the reach of Reichard to restore the two goal advantage. Seconds later a scrum in front of the Thunder net left Garet Hunt furious at Matt White. The Thunder captain picked up 17 minutes of penalties to White's 2 minutes, giving the Reign a lengthy power play and leaving the Thunder down three men.

The Thunder would get one back while shorthanded with Brad Stebner working a two-on-one with Combs, and once again Combs would find the back of the cage. Just after the successful kill, J.T. Barnett scored against his former team and tied the game at three. It would stay that way until late in the period when Judd Blackwater put the Reign back on top. Ontario increased their lead in the third and added an empty netter to come away with the 6-3 win.

Tonight

While the Thunder have beaten every other team in the Pacific Division, the Ontario Reign (which the Thunder have only faced six times this season and a total of eight times this year) have been able to hold the Thunder out of the win column.

While the Thunder should have the bodies available, it will still prove to be a tough game against a competitive side still fighting for playoff positioning.

Who to Watch

It's difficult to be the new guy in any workplace scenario, but we don't envy the position that Andrew Walsh is in tonight.

The newest member of the Thunder out of Bemidji State University will get his first ever pro start tonight with Cody Reichard placed on the 21-day injured reserve and Lucas Gore on bereavement leave.

While the pressure will be on the four-year NCAA goalie, the excitement should also be there as well.

Walsh posted great statistical numbers in his four years in the NCAA with his save-percentage never dipping below .902 and never posting higher than a 3.04 goals-against-average. There is no doubt that we'll all be watching Walsh very closely to see how he manages Derek Couture and company.

Speaking of Derek

Despite missing the last three games for the Ontario Reign against the Alaska Aces, Thunder fans may have to pay attention to Derek Couture should he be in the lineup tonight. In 6 games against the Thunder this year, Couture has scored 8 goals and added 3 assists for 11 points.

That means the Ontario captain has scored 47% of his 17 goals and has registered 34% of his 32 points against Stockton.

All-Time Watch

The scoring situation between Garet Hunt, Ryan Constant and Mike Lalonde is in danger of falling to one of the Thunder's star players very soon.

Lalonde's 156 career Thunder points is in jeopardy as Garet Hunt tied Lalonde's mark with his 156th point while Ryan Constant sits right behind them both at 151.

Both Hunt and Constant have missed time due to injuries this season as Hunt missed 11 games while Constant was placed on Injured Reserve on December 14.

Hunt is the only one close to Lalonde's all-time record of 72 goals with his 62 markers, putting the Thunder captain 10 shy of tying the record.

Interesting Fact

The Thunder have gone 16-10-2-3 in 31 games at Citizens Business Bank Arena in the last five years of regular season play while at Stockton Arena, the Thunder have posted just a 8-14-2-1 record against the Reign. The Thunder have two games remaining against Ontario this season including tonight and both come on the road.

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