Thunder Weekly: Thunder Continues First Place Chase

January 7, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: (all times PT)

at COLORADO EAGLES

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday** - 6:05 p.m.

Radio: 1280 AM KWSX/ StocktonThunder.com

The Thunder continues a four game series with the Colorado Eagles on Wednesday which shifts to the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. The Thunder is 2-1-0 against the Eagles this season and last faced them on Saturday in a 5-3 victory at Stockton Arena. At the end of the series on Saturday, the two teams will have completed the entire season series schedule. Wednesday's game is the first time the Thunder visits Colorado since sweeping the Eagles, 3-0 in the opening round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs last season.

** Denotes online coverage only for Saturday's game

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

(subject to change, all times PT)

Tuesday, JAN. 8

Travel day to Colorado

Wednesday, JAN. 9

10:15 a.m. - Morning skate at Budweiser Events Center

6:05 p.m. - GAME at COLORADO (Budweiser Events Center)

1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

Thursday, JAN. 10

Noon - Practice at Budweiser Events Center

Friday, JAN. 11

10:15 a.m. - Morning skate at Budweiser Events Center

6:05 p.m. - GAME at COLORADO (Budweiser Events Center)

1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

Saturday, JAN. 12

10:15 a.m. - Morning skate at Budweiser Events Center

6:05 p.m. - GAME at COLORADO (Budweiser Events Center)

StocktonThunder.com

Sunday, JAN. 13

Travel day back to Stockton, CA.

Monday, JAN. 14

Day off

2012-13 TEAM LEADERS:

Points - Toni Rajala (38) - T-10, ECHL

Goals - Toni Rajala (18) - T-6, ECHL

Assists - Yannick Riendeau (27) - T-6, ECHL

Plus/Minus - Eric Hunter (+15) - T-10, ECHL

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (167) - 1st, ECHL

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Ryan Constant is 3 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Yannick Riendeau is 6 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Mike Little is 1 game away from 100 in his Thunder career

TEAM NOTES

- Justin Maylan leads ECHL rookies with 32 points

- Garet Hunt leads the ECHL with 167 penalty minutes

- Yannick Riendeau's eight game assist streak at home, ending Dec. 29, is tied for the second longest streak this season in the league

- Through 37 games, the Thunder has averaged over nine points (goals and assists combined) recorded per game

- Stockton is second in ECHL power play percentage at 22.7%

- Stockton is 10-0-2 when leading after one period

WEEK IN REVIEW

STK 5 - COL 3 (1/5/13): Center Eric Hunter put forth a dominant performance-two goals and one assist-as the Stockton Thunder (19-11-7, 45 points) never trailed in a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Eagles (17-16-3, 37 points) in front of 5,322 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday. Forward Garet Hunt notched the game-winner with a shorthanded goal in the third period. Yannick Riendeau chipped in with two assists, while Thunder goaltender Tyler Bunz (11-8-3) and Colorado's Kyle Jones each stopped 35 shots.

AK 3 - STK 1 (1/4/13): Returning to Stockton Arena for the first time in 2013, the Stockton Thunder (18-11-7, 43 points) had a late rally stopped by the Alaska Aces (27-8-0, 54 points), who grabbed a 3-1 win in front of 4,207 fans on Friday. Center Ryan Martindale collected his first goal of the season for the Thunder after being reassigned from the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons last month. Goaltender Cody Reichard made 19 saves for the Thunder, while Alaska's Gerald Coleman stopped 37 shots.

STK 2 - UTA 1 (1/2/13): Goaltender Cody Reichard made 26 saves while the Stockton Thunder (18-10-7, 43 points) capitalized off two goals just 54 seconds apart in the second period, enough to sink the Utah Grizzlies in a 2-1 victory at Maverik Center on Wednesday. The Thunder, who split the two game series in Utah and improved to 3-1-0 in the head to head series, were led offensively with goals by Justin Maylan and Matt Bergland's eventual game winner. Andrew Engelage took the loss with 30 saves.

UTA 5 - STK 1 (12/31/12): Riley Armstrong scored a pair of shorthanded goals and added an assist to help the Utah Grizzlies send the Stockton Thunder (17-10-7, 41 points) to a 5-1 defeat before a crowd of 8,226 at Maverik Center on Monday. The Thunder, entering the game with the second best power play in the ECHL and allowing just two shorthanded goals this season, surrendered a team record three shorthanded tallies in the game. Utah held the Thunder to a 0-for-6 clip on the power play. Toni Rajala buried the lone Thunder in the game, a shorthanded breakaway in the third period.

PROMOTIONAL NEWS - UPCOMING HOME GAMES

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 18 vs. San Francisco Bulls (7:30 p.m.)

WHAT: INSULATED TUMBLER GIVEAWAY (presented by EZ Network Systems and 104.1 The Hawk)

The first 1,000 fans (ages 13 and over) in attendance will receive a free Thunder insulated tumbler, perfect for carrying the piping hot beverage in frigid mornings or the ice cold drink for the warmer months that lie ahead!

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 20 vs. San Francisco Bulls (4:00 p.m.)

WHAT: KIDS (GOLD) REPLICA JERSEY GIVEAWAY (presented by the Ray Morgan Company, Financial Center Credit Union and KAT Country 103)

The first 1,000 kids (ages 12 and under) will receive a free Thunder replica jersey similar to the gold threads worn for Sunday home games.

WHAT: FAMILY DAY (presented by Sutter Gould Medical Foundation with 99.3 KJOY)

Family Day offers four tickets, hot dogs and soft drinks for $34. A free Thunder cap is also included when purchasing at www.StocktonThunder.com.



ECHL Stories from January 7, 2013


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