Thunder Weekly: Closing February with 4-1-1 Home Mark

February 27, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


LAST WEEK: 1-2-0

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: (all times PT)

vs. Alaska Aces

Friday and Saturday**: 7:30 p.m.

Sunday: 4:00 p.m.

Radio: 1280 AM KWSX/ StocktonThunder.com

Coming off a 4-1-1 record at home in February, the Thunder hosts the defending Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces for a three game series starting Friday at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 24-24-14 all time against the Aces and Friday's game marks the eighth game of ten this season between the teams. In the last meeting, the Thunder defeated Alaska 2-1 at Stockton Arena on Jan. 29. The series will feature two of the league's top three goal scorers in the last five years - Kevin Baker (Stockton) and Wes Goldie (Alaska). Stockton has a magic number of 12 to clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff berth.

1280 AM KWSX is the Thunder's flagship radio station and all Thunder games can be heard live on the Internet (free-of-charge) and available for viewing at a "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne. Radio broadcaster Mike Benton provides play-by-play commentary with the "Thunder Forecast" pre-game show starting 15 minutes before each broadcast.

** Denotes Saturday's broadcast online only

The team's upcoming schedule for this week is as follows :

(subject to change, all times PT)

Tuesday, FEB. 28

6:00 p.m. - Practice at Stockton Arena

Wednesday, FEB. 29

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

Thursday, MAR. 1

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

Friday, MAR. 2

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

6:00 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends

7:30 p.m. - GAME vs. ALASKA

1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

Saturday, MAR. 3

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

6:00 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends

7:30 p.m. - GAME vs. ALASKA

StocktonThunder.com

Sunday, MAR. 4

No morning skate

2:30 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends

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

1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

Monday, MAR. 5

Travel day to Fort Collins, Colorado

COMMUNITY UPDATE

PLAYER APPEARANCE - THOR'S KIDS CLUB SKATE WITH THE TEAM

Wednesday, Feb. 29 - Oak Park Ice Arena - Stockton, CA. (6:00 p.m.)

- Members of Thor's Kids Club are invited to a special skate with Thunder players at Oak Park Ice Arena in Stockton!

PLAYER APPEARANCE - THUNDER "˜S ANNUAL TEXAS HOLD "˜EM POKER TOURNAMENT

Thursday, Mar. 1 - Stockton Arena (6:00 p.m.)

- Thunder players will be participating in the third annual Thunder Texas Hold "˜Em Poker Tournament at Stockton Arena and will be available for autographs and photos with tournament participants. Register at www.stocktonthunder.com!

PLAYER APPEARANCE - BINGO FOR BOOKS

Thursday, Mar. 1 - John R. Williams Elementary School - Stockton, CA. (6:00 p.m.)

- Select Thunder players will be on hand to mingle with local school kids of John. R. Williams Elementary School in support of its reading program.

SEASON TICKET HOLDER ITEM OF THE WEEK

Thunder Season Ticket Holders can take advantage of the Item of the Week and discounts on green St. Patrick's Day apparel. St. Patrick's Tees, Hats and Sweatshirts will be $5 off and St. Patrick's Jerseys will be available for $10 off. This offer is good on Sunday's home game against Alaska and is available in person at the Stockton Arena Fan Attic.

PROMOTIONAL NEWS

Friday, March 2 vs. Alaska Aces, 7:30 p.m.

MATT FOY PLAYER POSTER GIVEAWAY ( presented by In-Shape Health Clubs)

- All fans will receive a collectible Matt Foy player poster, perfect for the kids bedroom, office den, game room or anywhere where else you like!

Saturday, March 3 vs. Alaska Aces, 7:30 p.m.

ADULT GOLD REPLICA JERSEY GIVEAWAY ( presented by Jackson Rancheria, Financial Center Credit Union, 97.7/98.3 KWIN and Ray Morgan Company)

- The first 2,000 fans (ages 13 and over) will receive an adult sized gold Thunder jersey, similar to the third jersey worn by the team each Sunday home game.

Sunday, March 4 vs. Alaska Aces, 4:00 p.m.

FAMILY DAY (presented by Sutter Gould Medical Foundation and 99.3 KJOY)

- Fans can pick up four tickets, hot dogs and soft drinks for the game, for just $34. Buy online at StocktonThunder.com, select "Thunder Pride Pack" and receive a free Thunder hat!

WEEK IN REVIEW:

BAK 5 - STK 2 (2/26/12): Ian McKenzie scored a goal and added an assist to lead another four unanswered goal rally by the Bakersfield Condors, who sent the Stockton Thunder (27-23-5, 59 points) to a 5-2 defeat before a crowd of 6,323 at Stockton Arena on Sunday. Bakersfield, entering the game with the worst record in the ECHL, authored its victory in the same fashion as Saturday night with four goals after the Thunder assumed a 1-0 lead in the first period. Stockton benefited from goals by Chris Doyle and Jordan Fulton and fell to 7-4-0 in the head to head series against its Pacific Division rival.

BAK 4 - STK 1 (2/25/12): Parker Stanfield scored one goal and added an assist, helping build a rally of four unanswered goals by the Bakersfield Condors, who sent the Stockton Thunder (27-22-5, 59 points) to a 4-1 defeat before 6,092 fans at Rabobank Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who absorbed only their third loss in ten games this season to the Condors and saw a four game winning streak snapped, earned its only goal on a first period power play marker by Matt Reber. Bakersfield goaltender Bryan Pitton earned his first win since Jan. 20 with 27 saves in net.

STK 4 - BAK 3 (SO) (2/24/12): Goaltender Thomas Heemskerk made 34 saves and Kevin Baker scored a goal in the fifth round of the shootout to lift the Stockton Thunder (27-21-5, 59 points) to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Bakersfield Condors before 5,926 fans at Rabobank Arena on Friday. Aiding from an offensive effort that included goal scoring contributions from Matt Foy, Colten Hayes and Ian O'Connor, the Thunder moved back to four points behind Colorado for fourth place in the Western Conference and reduced its magic number to 12 to clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff berth.

2011-12 TEAM LEADERS:

Points - Kevin Baker (46)

Goals - Kevin Baker (22)

Assists - Matt Foy (30)

Plus/Minus - Mike Little (+16)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (198)

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Matt Thomas is 2 wins away from 300 in his professional coaching career

- Kevin Baker is 16 goals away from 200 in his professional career

- Jody Pederson is 5 games away from 100 in his professional career

- Jordan Fulton is 5 games away from 100 in his Thunder career

TEAM NOTES

- Kevin Baker is third in ECHL all time goal scoring (172 goals) since 2006-07

- Mike Little is tied for second among rookies in plus-minus at +16.

- Chris Doyle is tied for the ECHL lead among rookies with seven power play goals

- Stockton has scored a power play goal in five of the last six games

- Stockton is 9-2-1 in the last 12 home games

- Stockton is third in ECHL attendance with an average of 5,746 fans per game

The Thunder Season Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (209) 373-1500 or by visiting www.stocktonthunder.com. Thunder Season Ticket Holders enjoy the highest-demanded seating locations in Stockton Arena, benefits including admission to Season Ticket Holder-only events, discount opportunities on Thunder merchandise, a free e-newsletter, an exclusive gift, admission to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and more.

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 February 27, 2012


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