Thunder Welcomes Back All-Star Mike Lalonde

July 11, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers, has agreed to terms with left wing Mike Lalonde, Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Lalonde, 27, is the Thunder's all-time leader in goals (52) and ranks second on the club's all-time scoring chart with 105 points (52g-53a) in 120 games, spanning two seasons (2005-07) with the team. Lalonde returns from a one-year stint in Europe with the Tilburg Trappers of the Netherlands League, where he scored a league-leading 92 points (43g-49a) in just 34 games last year and helped guide Tilburg to the Dutch Championship.

"We missed Mike's offense last year and we're thrilled about his return to our club for this season," said Cichocki. "He's not afraid to shoot the puck and he'll certainly help boost our power-play. What I also like is that he's a complete, two-way player. He cares about his own zone and willing to do the little things for us to be successful."

Cichocki admitted that Lalonde's signing was part of a process in attempting to upgrade the team's offense.

"We certainly have to score more goals and the way we were built last year, injuries and call-ups forced us to rely on defense and goaltending to win games," said Cichocki. "Mike's signing is part of a transition we're taking with improving our club offensively and I'm looking for more of those players. It runs through the whole organization - from Edmonton down to Stockton - in trying to be more offensive-minded."

In three ECHL seasons (2004-07) with the Thunder and Las Vegas Wranglers, Lalonde has scored 106 points (52g-54a) in 125 career games while amassing 67 penalty minutes. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound forward scored a goal and added two assists for the National Conference at the 2006 ECHL All-Star Game in Fresno, Calif. and finished his 2005-06 rookie season as the Thunder leader in goals (29) while ranking third on the team with 52 points (29g-23a). Lalonde also led the club with 13 power-play goals and led the entire ECHL with 308 shots.

Lalonde, a member of the Thunder's inaugural opening night roster in 2005-06, has also registered three assists in four career Kelly Cup Playoff games.

"The biggest reason for coming back is how good Chris Cichocki and the rest of the Thunder organization have been to me - everyone is like family," said Lalonde. "Going to Europe for a year helped me realize how much more of a personal touch you receive in Stockton and that's more important than what you can attach to any dollar figure. The fans and organization are nothing but first-class and it's made me excited for this next season. You don't see it everywhere you go and it's truly respected."

Lalonde compiled a decorated four-year college hockey career at Michigan State University (NCAA). The Chetwynd, British Columbia native posted 101 career points (50g-51a) for the Spartans, including a 40-point campaign (22g-18a) as a 2003-04 junior where he led the program with 22 goals.

Lalonde's 17-point campaign (10g-7a) as a 2001-02 freshman helped guide the Spartans to an NCAA Frozen Four Tournament berth, a team that included current NHL veterans Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres) and John-Michael Liles (Colorado Avalanche).

Lalonde is the third player with experience in a Thunder uniform to agree to terms for next season, joining defenseman Mark Adamek and left wing Tom Zanoski.

ABOUT THE ECHL

Beginning in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier ‘AA' Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that will have 24 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 864 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Nineteen of the 24 teams have played at least five years in their current city. The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.

There have been 355 former ECHL players who have gone on to play in the NHL after playing in the ECHL, including 99 in the last three seasons. There have been 210 former ECHL players who have played their first game in the NHL in the past seven season.

The Thunder opens the 2008-09 regular season at home on Saturday, October 18 against the local rival Fresno Falcons at Stockton Arena, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thunder Season Ticket Holders enjoy the highest-demanded seating locations in Stockton Arena, preferred parking options, benefits including admission to Season Ticket Holder-only events, discount opportunities on Thunder merchandise, a free e-newsletter, admission to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and more. Details on Thunder promotional and giveaway nights will be announced soon.

The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season tickets for 2008-09 are now on sale and begin at just $335. A deposit of just $50 reserves your seat for the 2008-09 season! For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com.



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