Thunder weekly

November 15, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: (all times PT)

at VICTORIA SALMON KINGS (Thur. 11/16, Fri. 11/17 * 7:05 p.m.)

The season-long six-game road trip wraps-up with a two-game series against the Victoria Salmon Kings, an ECHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. This week's series is the first of two times this season the Thunder branches into Canada, making their first appearance to the island since last November, when Stockton went 1-2-0 in the first three games at the new Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Thunder is off to its best start in the team's two-year history in Stockton at 7-1-1, and is 2-1-1 on the current road trip. Last season, the Thunder went 2-3-0 against the Salmon Kings.

vs. UTAH GRIZZLIES (Sunday 11/19 * 4:00 p.m.)

The Thunder returns home for the first time since November 4 with a season-long nine-game homestand, and the first of seven matchups this season against the Utah Grizzlies, who took four of five games from the Thunder last season. Stockton posted a 1-4-0 record in 2005-06 against Utah, with the last meeting at Stockton Arena resulting in a 4-3 Thunder overtime win on February 1. The Thunder has posted a perfect 3-0-0 home record this season going into Sunday's contest, while the Grizzlies are looking to move out of the West Division basement with a 3-7-2 record.

Thunder 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 B2 Networks. Thunder broadcaster Mike Benton will provide play-by-play commentary, with the pre-game show beginning 6:50 p.m. on Thursday (audio only) and Friday (audio only), and 3:45 p.m. on Sunday.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

SUNDAY, 11/19
o COATS FOR KIDS DAY (presented by News10, AAA, and KB Home)
- All fans in attendance will be granted free admission with a donated coat at the gate. Coats are donated to the Salvation Army.

o FAMILY DAY (presented by Alpine Meats, with Clearwire and 99.3 KJOY)
- 4 tickets, 2 hot dogs and 2 pucks available for only $34
- Discount admission coupon available via Alpine Meats display, at area grocery stores and Clearwire retail locations

*For the 11/19 game only, coupons will be available at the Stockton Arena Box Office. Fans are asked to request the special Family Day $34 package.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o Stephen Slonina is 2 games shy of 200 in his ECHL career

o Tim O'Connell is 11 games shy of 200 in his ECHL career, and is 15 points shy of 200 in his ECHL career

o Tim Verbeek is 7 assists shy of 100 in his professional career

o Tim Sestito is 9 games shy of 100 in his professional career

TEAM NOTES:

o Rookie center Tyler Spurgeon scored his first professional game-winning goal in Stockton's 4-3 overtime win at Idaho on November 10

o Defenseman Beau Geisler has scored four points (1g-3a) in his last three games, and leads Stockton in scoring with 9 points (2g-7a)

o Stockton's seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1), snapped last Saturday in a 6-1 loss at Idaho, was a Stockton team-record and helped the Thunder finish as the last remaining unbeaten team in North American professional hockey for 2006-07 (NHL, AHL, ECHL, UHL, CHL and SPHL)

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

Tuesday, November 7 PHOENIX 2 vs. Stockton 1 (SO)

The Thunder extended their all-time team-best unbeaten streak to six consecutive games in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Phoenix RoadRunners at U.S. Airways Center on last Tuesday, with center Nathan Martz scoring a game-tying goal with 46 seconds remaining in regulation and Stockton goaltender Cam Ellsworth pulled for an extra attacker. Ellsworth guided the Thunder's defensive efforts in net with 39 saves, while Phoenix counterpart Josh Tordjman stopped 36 shots. Phoenix forward Liam Lindstrom scored the shootout winner in the fifth round.

Friday, November 10 STOCKTON 4 vs. Idaho 3 (OT)

Tyler Spurgeon scored with 2:31 left in overtime to lift the Thunder to its first win against Idaho in team history in a 4-3 overtime victory at Qwest Arena last Friday, extending the Stockton team-best unbeaten streak to seven consecutive games. Stephane Goulet paced the Thunder offense with two goals, with Beau Geisler and Brendon Hodge adding two assists each. Stephen Slonina also scored for the Thunder, while goaltender Devan Dubnyk made 44 saves to improve to 5-0-0 in five games this season.

Saturday, November 11 IDAHO 6 vs. Stockton 1

The Thunder had its team record seven-game unbeaten streak snapped, as the last remaining unbeaten team in professional hockey dropped a 6-1 decision to Idaho before 4,427 at Qwest Arena. Idaho's Mike Gabinet and Lance Galbraith each scored a goal and had two assists, while veteran defenseman Tim O'Connell scored the Thunder's only goal of the game. Stockton finished 0-for-8 on the power play while Idaho posted a 3-for-9 effort on the man-advantage.

Sunday, November 12 STOCKTON 6 vs. Idaho 5 (SO)

Left wing Tim Sestito scored a game-tying, third period shorthanded goal and added the game-winning shootout goal in the fifth round, leading the Thunder to a come-from-behind 6-5 shootout win over the Idaho Steelheads before 3,229 at Qwest Arena on Sunday. Stockton scored two goals in the third period to battle back from a 5-3 deficit, taking two wins in three games against Idaho in the weekend series, who held the ECHL's best record heading into Sunday.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING (courtesy of The Record)

"It's a tough place to play. It showed a lot of character for our team not to get down, to tie it in the third and win in the shootout"

* Left wing Tim Sestito after the Thunder's come-from-behind 6-5 shootout win at Idaho, winning two of three games at Qwest Arena

"It was a really great game. The entire game had an intense feel, but we knew we were up against it the whole time.''

* Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki after Stockton's 4-3 overtime win at Idaho last Friday, snapping the Steelheads' season-starting three-game home winning streak

"I'm excited because there's a lot of good players in Stockton and the team has good chemistry. I just want to fit in and help out."

- Defenseman Jason Beckett, who returned to the Thunder on Monday from Grand Rapids of the AHL



ECHL Stories from November 15, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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