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Thunder Winter Youth Hockey Clinic Returns

January 4, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, a two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," is scheduled to host its second annual Winter Youth Hockey Clinic on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 21-22 at Stockton Arena.

The clinic provides a chance for youth hockey players to take to the Thunder's home ice at Stockton Arena and receive training from head coach Matt Thomas and select Thunder players.

Part one of the clinic will start at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and part two will continue at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday. Check-in will start at 12:00pm on Saturday.

Registration for the two day clinic is $99 and includes "pro style" on-ice and off-ice training sessions, classroom video sessions and two free tickets to the Thunder game at Stockton Arena on Sunday, Jan. 22 against the Las Vegas Wranglers at 4:00 p.m. Registration for teams of 10 or more players is reduced to $75 for each participant.

An awards presentation will be conducted at the conclusion of the two-day event, honoring the "Hardest Working" and "Most Improved" players.

Thomas is currently in his fourth season as head coach for the Thunder and eighth in the ECHL, holds a record of 284-179-70 and a winning percentage of .598 in 533 games with the Thunder, Fresno and Atlantic City.

Under his guidance, the Thunder earned its first trip to the Conference Final, coming within six wins of a Kelly Cup championship in 2009-10 and finished tied for first place in the Pacific Division with the Bakersfield Condors last season.

Thomas served as assistant coach for Head Coach Mike Haviland (currently an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL) when the two helped guide the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies to a Kelly Cup Championship in 2002-03. He has served behind the bench in two ECHL All-Star Games (2005 - American Conference, 2009 - National Conference), including his first year as head coach for Atlantic City.

The Mississauga, Ontario native spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the national-power University of Maine (NCAA) and helped guide the Black Bears to the NCAA Championship Game in 2001-02.

Registration is open on a first come, first serve basis, and can be submitted by calling the Thunder office at (209) 373-1501.

For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Thunder at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.



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