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Thunder top Fresno, 3-1

December 16, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Rookie Ryan Huddy scored two goals and goaltender Bryan Pitton made 28 saves to lift the Stockton Thunder (9-12-4, 22 points) to a 3-1 victory over the Fresno Falcons before a crowd of 2,244 at Selland Arena on Tuesday night.

The Thunder, who captured their first win in the head-to-head season series and first ever at Selland Arena, were supported by a goal from veteran Craig Valette and went 1-for-5 on the power-play. It was the first victory for the Thunder on a season-long eight-game road trip.

Just 2:10 into the game, Ryan Huddy stretched his ECHL-high (current) goal-scoring streak to five games with his 12th marker of the season, lifting the Thunder to a 1-0 lead when his snap shot from the left circle beat Fresno netminder Michael Ouzas under the crossbar.

Craig Valette's third ECHL goal of the year put the Thunder ahead 2-0 just 46 seconds later when he converted Jeff Kyrzakos' centering pass and sniped a one-timer to the back of the net.

Thunder goaltender Bryan Pitton kept Fresno at bay through one period with seven saves.

Fresno's Jarrett Konkle cut the Thunder lead to 2-1 at 8:05 of the second period when he converted his 14th goal of the season on the rush, taking Kenny MacAulay's feed from the left wing and re-directing a backhander past the glove of Pitton from the top of the crease.

Huddy sealed the game with his second goal of the night for a power-play tally with 38 seconds left, converting a Cory Urquhart centering pass from beteween the hash marks for a 3-1 Thunder lead.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Ryan MacMurchy (injury, day-to-day) and Jordan Bendfeld (injured reserve), Toby LaFrance (healthy) and James Bates (healthy) ... the Thunder moved its record to 8-20-6 in the lifetime series ... Huddy's goals were his seventh and eighth in five games ... the Thunder outshot Fresno 35-29.

The Thunder return to play on Friday, Dec. 19 with a 7:35 p.m. road rematch against the Fresno Falcons at Selland Arena. The game is available on radio at 1420 KSTN and for viewing on the internet for a $7 charge at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ (courtesy of B2 Networks).

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 http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.



ECHL Stories from December 16, 2008


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