Training Camp Roster Announced, Melanson Dealt East

Published on October 5, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey Leaguefs Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey Leaguefs Springfield Falcons, has announced 2007-08 training camp has opened with 22 skaters and four goaltenders.

Additionally, the Thunder has acquired future considerations from the Florida Everblades in exchange for the rights to right wing Mathieu Melanson.

gMathieu expressed a desire to play closer to home, so wefre satisfied to grant his request,h said Cichocki. gWe wish him well in his continued development as a professional.h

The following players have been signed to a training camp tryout agreement:

œ Pat Conacher Jr. (G)

œ Steve Preite (RW)

ABOUT THE THUNDER TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

The Thunder training camp roster features 26 players, including goaltender Cam Ellsworth, defensemen Mark Adamek, Ryan Geris, Brian Lee, left wing Adam Huxley and right wing Tim Verbeek - all returnees from last seasonfs team that clinched its first Kelly Cup Playoff berth in Thunder history with a 38-24-10 record (86 points) and finished fifth in the National Conference.

Five players assigned to the Thunder from the Edmonton Oilersf AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, also dot the Thunder roster, including goaltender Glenn Fisher, a fifth round (148th overall) selection by the Oilers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and helped guide the University of Denver (NCAA) to two straight Frozen Four national championships in 2004 and 2005.

Center Jacob Micflikier scored three goals in nine AHL games last year with Springfield and previously averaged nearly a point-per-game in his four-year (2003-07) college career with national-power University of New Hampshire (NCAA), scoring 150 points (58g-92a) in 154 career games with the Wildcats and tallying 157 penalty minutes. Right wing David Rohlfs was a fifth round (154th overall) selection by the Oilers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and a University of Michigan (NCAA) product.

Defenseman Brad Farynuk, who signed an AHL contract with Springfield in the summer, helped guide the Dayton Bombers to the Kelly Cup Finals last season and tied for the ECHL scoring lead among defensemen with 16 points (4g-12a) in 22 Kelly Cup Playoff games. Left wing Adam Huxley parlayed a tryout with the Oilers into an AHL contract with Springfield and re-joins the Thunder roster after leading Stockton with a club single-season record 241 penalty minutes last season.

Left wing Andy Contois, who scored 19 goals as a rookie last season with the Gwinnett Gladiators, is joined among the forward corps with ECHL All-Stars Brandon Schwartz (2007), Jesse Bennefield (2006), and Luke Fulghum (2006), all who signed with the Thunder as free-agents during the off-season. Center Chris St. Jacques, formerly under an NHL contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, twice broke the 90-point scoring mark in his junior career with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League.

Stockton begins the preseason schedule on Wednesday, October 10 against the Fresno Falcons, starting at 7:00 p.m. from Save Mart Center. Both teams square-off in a 7:30 p.m. rematch at Stockton Arena on Saturday, October 13 at 7:30 p.m., proceding the morningfs gFanFest 2007h festivities (open to the public) at Stockton Arena, beginning at 9:00 a.m. General admission tickets for the Thunderfs only preseason home game can be purchased by calling the Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visiting www.stocktontickets.com.

STOCKTON THUNDER 2007-08 TRAINING CAMP SKATE TIMES (all times pacific) DATE LOCATION MORNING AFTERNOON

THURSDAY Oct. 4 Physicals and team dinner N/A N/A

FRIDAY Oct. 5 Stockton Arena 9:00 - 10:30am 4:00 - 5:00pm

SATURDAY Oct. 6 Stockton Arena 9:00 - 10:30am 4:00 - 5:00pm

SUNDAY Oct. 7 Oak Park Ice Arena 10:00 - Noon NONE

MONDAY Oct. 8 Stockton Arena 9:00 - 10:30am 4:00 - 5:00pm

TUESDAY Oct. 9 Stockton Arena TBA NONE

WEDNESDAY Oct. 10 Stockton Arena (morning) 9:00 - 10:30am TRAVEL/GAME

THURSDAY Oct. 11 Stockton Arena 10:00 - Noon NONE

FRIDAY Oct. 12 Oak Park Ice Arena 10:00 - Noon NONE

SATURDAY Oct. 13 Stockton Arena 9:00am (FanFest) GAME (home)

SUNDAY Oct. 14 DAY OFF N/A N/A

MONDAY Oct. 15 Stockton Arena 10:00 - Noon NONE

TUESDAY Oct. 16 Stockton Arena 10:00 - Noon NONE

WEDNESDAY Oct. 17 Stockton Arena 10:00 - Noon NONE

* Times and dates subject to change

The Thunder begins the 2007-08 ECHL season Friday, October 19 on the road against the Bakersfield Condors at 7:00 p.m. PT, and faces the Alaska Aces on Saturday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. PT in the home opener at Stockton Arena.

Host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game and festivities on Jan. 22 and 23, the Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets for 2007-08 are on sale now. 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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