Thunder's Judd Blackwater Headed To 2010 ECHL All-Star Game

Published on December 30, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, has announced in conjunction with the ECHL that left winger Judd Blackwater has been named to the National Conference roster for the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game in Ontario, Calif.

Blackwater, 22, leads the Thunder with a career-high 13 goals and is tied for the team lead in scoring with 27 points (13g-14a) while skating in 29 games and collecting 42 penalty minutes.

The second-year forward is tied for the ECHL lead with seven power-play goals.

The 6-foot, 193-pound left winger has suited up in 99 career games in the ECHL with Stockton and Fresno and in the AHL with Rockford and Rochester, scoring 54 points (24g-30a) and amassing 108 penalty minutes.

Blackwater helped guide the Thunder to within one win of reaching the National Conference Finals last year as a rookie, collecting eight assists in 10 Kelly Cup Playoff games.

The Lethbridge, Alberta native previously skated in 171 career junior games throughout three seasons (2005-08) with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, scoring 114 points (50g-64a) and posting 253 penalty minutes. In his final year during 2007-08, Blackwater achieved career-highs in goals (31) and points (60) in 71 games while guiding Spokane to their first Memorial Cup championship in 17 seasons with 18 points (10g-8a) in 21 postseason games.

ABOUT THE 2010 ECHL ALL-STAR GAME

The 2010 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Reebok Hockey and brought to you by Toyota and the City of Ontario will be hosted by the Ontario Reign at Citizens Business Bank Arena and played on Jan. 20, 2010 while the 2010 ECHL All-Star Skills Competition will be held on Jan. 19, 2010.

There are 11 rookies on the National Conference and 18 of the 21 players are making their first appearance in an ECHL All-Star Game.

There have been 58 players from the All-Star Game who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 33 since 2002 when the lineups began having players who coaches felt were prospects to move up to a higher level.

The starting lineups are determined in voting by National Conference coaches, team captains, media directors, broadcasters and media members. Coaches also submitted the top prospects from within their conference to determine the final roster with each of the nine teams having a representative.

The third class will be inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame on Jan. 20, 2010 during a luncheon ceremony at the Hilton Ontario Airport, the official host hotel of the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Reebok Hockey and brought to you by Toyota and the City of Ontario. The featured speaker at the ECHL Hall of Fame luncheon will be Hockey Hall of Fame member and Los Angeles Kings President of Business Operations Luc Robitaille.

TICKET INFORMATION FOR THE 2010 ECHL ALL-STAR GAME

Tickets for the luncheon are $40 each or a table with seven tickets can be purchased for $250. The Ontario Reign is offering a special ticket package that includes a tickets to the ECHL Hall of Fame luncheon, the All-Star Skills Competition, the Fan Fest at Dave & Busters and the ECHL All-Star Game for only $75. To purchase tickets visit OntarioReign.com/team/allstar/ or telephone the Ontario Reign at (909) 941-7825.

The proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League and Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

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