Thunder weekly

Published on February 21, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THUNDER OVERALL RECORD: 8-31-9 (25 points)

LAST WEEK: 0-3-1

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

Wednesday, February 22: vs. Bakersfield Condors (7 p.m. PT) Saturday, February 25: vs. Bakersfield Condors (7:30 p.m. PT) The Thunder looks to snap a season-high 11-game winless skid with a pair of matchups against the Bakersfield Condors, the last meeting a 4-2 Stockton setback on February 5. Goaltender Jake Moreland has appeared in three games against the Condors, tallying a 3.19 GAA with an outstanding .922 save percentage. Sean Venedam leads Bakersfield in scoring against the Thunder with five points (4g-1a) in three games.

Sunday, February 26: vs. San Diego Gulls (4 p.m. PT) The Thunder and San Diego (ECHL Colorado Avalanche affiliate) meet for the first time at Stockton Arena, with Stockton attempting to build on a 2-1-0 record against San Diego. Both wins have come in overtime with goaltender Jake Moreland in net, with Moreland compiling a 2.47 GAA and an eye-popping .941 save percentage combined in both contests. Nathan Martz leads the Thunder in scoring against San Diego with six points (2g-4a) in three games.

The Thunder leads the ECHL in per-game attendance (6,102 average), and another large crowd is expected at Saturday's game, with the first 6,000 fans in attendance receiving a pair of commemorative Stockton Thunder "Thundersticks" (presented by The Record, Bank of Agriculture & Commerce, and KWIN-FM). Thunder players will adorn special Team U.S.A. "Miracle On Ice" jerseys for Saturday and Sunday's game. All fans in attendance will have a chance to bid for the game-worn jerseys after Sunday's game against San Diego via a live auction, with the proceeds given to the Muscular Distrophy Association. A Thunder authentic jersey will also be given away during Saturday's jersey raffle. Two lucky fans in attendance will also be awarded a free Thunder jersey during Sunday's game.

"Family Day" (presented by Alpine Meats & KJOY) also headlines Sunday's game, with four upper premium/end zone tickets, two hot dogs and two hockey pucks available in a package for $34. Vouchers validating a Family Day purchase can be picked up at over 300 participating Central Valley grocery stores.

Local San Joaquin Valley-area students who received honor roll status for the recent grading period will receive complimentary tickets to Sunday's game, part of Academic All-Stars Day (presented by California Welding Supply and Guaranty Bank).

All games can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and are available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" fare at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B-2 Networks. Thunder broadcaster Mike Benton will provide play-by-play commentary, with the pre-game show beginning 6:45 p.m. PT Wednesday, 7:15 p.m. PT Saturday, and 3:45 p.m. PT Sunday.

Stockton Thunder Weekly Schedule: Feb. 21 - 27

(subject to change; all times Pacific)

Tuesday, February 21

10 a.m.: Practice at Stockton Arena

Wednesday, February 22

10:15 a.m.: Morning skate at Stockton Arena

7 p.m.: Game vs. Bakersfield Condors (Stockton Arena)

Thursday, February 23

10 a.m.: Practice at Oak Park Rink

Friday, February 24

10 a.m.: Practice at Oak Park Rink

Saturday, February 25

10:15 a.m.: Morning skate at Stockton Arena

7:30 p.m.: Game vs. Bakersfield Condors (Stockton Arena)

Sunday, February 26

- No morning skate-

4 p.m.: Game vs. San Diego Gulls (Stockton Arena)

Monday, February 27

TBA

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o Dean Stork is six assists away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Nathan Martz is 13 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Aaron Foster is 20 points away from 100 in his ECHL career

WEEK IN REVIEW

MARIS' OLYMPIC GLORY The Stockton Thunder missed center Maris Ziedins from the lineup, but with good reason, representing Team Latvia in the 2006 Winter Olympic hockey tournament in Torino, Italy. Through five games, Ziedins tallied one goal, scoring Latvia's only goal in a 6-1 preliminary round loss to Sweden, notching a third period goal on goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers).

Ziedins is slated to return to the Thunder as probable for Saturday's home game against Bakersfield.

MOVING WEEK

In a span of a week, the Stockton Thunder announced a flurry of moves to hike the roster's offense, headlined by the arrival of right wing Lance Monych, sent to Stockton on re-assignment from AHL affiliate San Antonio.

Monych, 21, scored four points (3g-1a) with the Thunder last week after appearing in 36 games for the San Antonio Rampage, Stockton's American Hockey League affiliate. A fourth round draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2002, Monych built a storied junior career with the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), posting 236 career points (110g-126a) in 319 career games through 2004-05.

He guided the Wheat Kings to a 2005 WHL Eastern Conference Championship, while finishing fourth on Brandon in scoring (66 points) and third in goals (30) in 64 games during the 2004-05 campaign.

AMAZIN' METZ

Before Stockton's Sunday game against Idaho, the club announced it had agreed to terms with forward Rae Metz.

A 27-year old native of Kent, Ohio, Metz tallied Stockton as his third ECHL stop, previously splitting his 2003-04 ECHL rookie campaign with the Greenville Grrrowl and Texas Wildcatters, posting 28 points (10g-18a) in 66 games between both clubs.

Metz spent four years in the college hockey program at Fairfield University (NCAA), building a storied career that included 134 total points (52g-82a) in 130 games with the Stags. He served as a three-year captain for the team, garnering second-team All-MAAC honors in his 2002-03 senior season.

He also earned MAAC All-Rookie honors for his 1999-00 freshman season, collecting a college career-high 40 points (17g-23a) in 34 games. Metz also set a conference single-game scoring record with seven points (2g-5a) against Holy Cross during the 99-00 campaign.

BUST A MOVE * OR THREE

While a majority of ECHL clubs took the President's Day holiday to rest and relax, the Thunder was hard at work tweaking the roster in preparation for the week's matchups against Bakersfield and San Diego.

Stockton added a highly-skilled playmaking winger and puck-rushing defenseman, acquiring forward Ned Havern from the Trenton Titans (in exchange for defenseman Dave McCulloch) and defenseman Jeff Lang from the Toledo Storm, landing Lang after acquiring the rights to defenseman Mike Knight from Greenville (in exchange for center Steve Slonina) and immediately swapping him for the Toledo blueliner.

Havern, a ninth round Dallas Stars pick in the 2002 NHL Draft, compiled a stellar four-year college career at Boston College (NCAA), notching 57 points (28g-29a) in 151 career games with the Eagles. His 2004-05 senior campaign produced a career-high 22 points (10g-12a) in 40 games, while garnering the 2005 Joe Tomasello Award, presented by the New England Hockey Writers Association to New England's Unsung Hero.

His four-year college career also included three appearances in the NCAA hockey tournament, along with an appearance in the 2004 NCAA Frozen Four.

Lang, 23, is currently in the middle of an admirable ECHL rookie campaign, tallying 25 points (3g-22a) in 44 games with the Storm, leaving Toledo ranked second on the team in scoring and assists among defenseman. His 12 power play assists ranked second among the Storm's defensemen, and has also appeared in one game with the American Hockey League's Cleveland Barons.

Wednesday, February 15

UTAH 4 vs. Stockton 2

The Thunder dropped a 4-2 decision to Utah at The E-Center, with Utah registering three power play goals in the contest. Newcomer Lance Monych scored his first goal in a Thunder uniform in the second period. Scott Basiuk, acquired by Utah in a three-way trade, did likewise for his Utah team, while the Grizzlies got additional goals from Ryan Kinasewich, Colt King and Treavor Peterson. Geno Parrish picked up a late third period power-play marker for the Thunder.

Friday, February 17

UTAH 5 vs. Stockton 2

Defensive miscues cost the Thunder for a chance to steal two points, in a 5-2 loss to the Utah Grizzlies at The E-Center. Utah scored three goals in the first period, followed by Aaron Foster's second period power-play goal to cut the deficit to two. Garrett Cameron (who posted two goals and an assist) and Ryan Kinasewich then hooked up for two goals in a 25-second span to blow the game open late, while Steve Slonina collected the game's final tally for Stockton.

Saturday, February 18

FRESNO 3 vs. Stockton 2 (OT)

Thunder goaltender Jake Moreland notched a career-high and new Thunder record 56 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Fresno Falcons at Stockton Arena. Moreland, making his first appearance in net since February 5, collected a whopping 39 saves through two periods and stoned Shawn Mather on a breakaway with no time left in regulation. Aaron Foster and Lance Monych posted Stockton's goals, while Fresno's Luke Curtin scored the game-winner 3:25 into overtime.

Sunday, February 19

IDAHO 6 vs. Stockton 2

Four first-period goals by Idaho were enough to send the Thunder to a 6-2 loss at Stockton Arena. The Steelheads shot out of the gates with four goals in the first 8:43 of the game and built a five-goal cushion before Nathan Martz and Lance Monych jump-started the Thunder offense with two third period goals. Tyler Kindle's two goals and assist led Idaho's offense.

THUNDER NOTES:

o Center Nathan Martz has scored five points (1g-4a) in his last four games

o Stockton has five of its eight wins registered in either overtime or a shootout

o The Thunder leads the ECHL in per-game attendance (6,102 average) and has drawn crowds of 8,000 or more six times this season at Stockton Arena (includes four sellouts)

o Stockton is 4-0-2 when leading after two periods

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