Turkey With a Side Of Puck

November 21, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


Thursday, November 24: @ Utah Grizzlies: 6:05pm (PT) - It may be the toughest test for the Stockton Thunder as of to date, taking on a team that is one point off the mark for the best record in the ECHL. Utah is currently paced by four scorers with 15 points each, including Louis Dumont (6g-9a), the ECHL's all-time leading scorer heading into the season. The power play unit also ranks as the league's best with a 28.8% clip. Alfie Michaud, who took Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors for November 7-13, leads the ECHL with seven wins in 2005-06, while netminder mate Justin Eddy's 2.18 goals-against-average ranks sixth in the league.

The E-Center will also be a landmark stop in two cases for the Thunder, as the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup trophy will make an appearance at Thursday night's Thanksgiving game, along with The E-Center once serving as the showcase hockey venue at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Friday, November 25: @ Las Vegas Wranglers, 7:05pm (PT) - After a year-off from head-to-head matchups in 2004-05, the Thunder (previously Atlantic City) and Wranglers renew acquaintances with the Thunder holding a 2-1-0 all-time series lead over Las Vegas. Chris Stanley leads Las Vegas in scoring with nine points (5g-4a), including a team-leading four power play points (tied).

Thunder rookie forward Mike Lalonde, who has racked up 10 points (7g-3a) on the year, returns to face his ex-teammates, previously making his professional debut with Las Vegas in 2004-05.

Saturday, November 26: @ San Diego Gulls, 7:05pm (PT) - In game one of a seven-game in-season matchup, Stockton took round one on November 5 with a 4-3 overtime victory over San Diego, the first win for the Thunder in the new era via Steve Slonina's power play goal 53 second into overtime.

San Diego has yet to lose at home (2-0-1), with Guillaume Fournier pacing the Gulls with 13 points (5g-8a), including nine points on the power play.

All games can be heard on the internet free of charge, with Friday and Saturday's games available for viewing for a $6 pay-per-view fare at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B-2 Networks. Thunder broadcaster Mike Benton will provide play-by-play commentary, with the pre-game show beginning at 5:50pm (PT) on Thursday, and 6:50pm (PT) on Friday and Saturday.

STOCKTON THUNDER SCHEDULE: November 21-27

(All times pacific, subject to change)

Monday, November 21 Day Off

Tuesday, November 22 10am: Practice at Oak Park Rink

Wednesday, November 23 Travel Day

Thursday, November 24 10:15am: Morning skate at E-Center 6:05pm: Game vs. Utah Grizzlies (E-Center) Friday, November 25 Morning skate TBA 7:05pm: Game vs. Las Vegas Wranglers (Orleans Arena)

Saturday, November 26 Morning skate TBA 7:05pm: Game vs. San Diego Gulls (iPayOne Center)

Sunday, November 27 Day Off

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

- Joel Irwin is four goals away from 100, and 8 games away from 300 in his ECHL career

- Chris Cichocki is two games away from 300 coached in his overall pro career

WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, November 18

STOCKTON 4 vs. TOLEDO 3 (shootout)

TOLEDO, OH - The Thunder continued their flair for the dramatic in a 4-3 shootout win over the Toledo Storm at Toledo Sports Arena. Stockton, who had clipped their first three of their regular season wins after regulation, pushed Toledo to a shootout, with Joel Irwin notching the game-winning tally in the fifth shootout round.

Steve Slonina, facing his ex-teammates, powered the Thunder offense with three points (2g-1a) on the night, including a shorthanded goal to spark a Thunder comeback from a 2-0 hole. Likit Andersson scored his third goal in two games with a power play goal in the third frame, setting up the Thunder's shootout heroics. Jake Moreland made 39 saves in the contest.

Saturday, November 19

DAYTON 4 vs. STOCKTON 3

DAYTON, OH - Jeff Szwez's game-winning power play marker with five minutes left in the second period capped off a four-goal Dayton Bombers rally in a Stockton Thunder 4-3 loss to Dayton, before a crowd of 3,280 at the Nutter Center on Saturday.

Stockton began with two first period power play goals for a quick 2-0 lead, via Derek Campbell and Steve Slonina. Dayton then kick-started its rally, racking up three goals in just under three minutes late in the period. The Thunder cut the lead to 4-3 on Nathan Martz's power play goal at the 17:41 clip, nearly tying the game while outshooting Dayton 17-2 in the final period.

Sunday, November 20

STOCKTON 4 vs. DAYTON 2

DAYTON, OH - Thunder forward Mike Lalonde pitched in with two goals, along with Thunder netminder Jeff Weber's 35 saves in boosting Stockton to a 4-2 victory over the Dayton Bombers before a crowd of 2,012 at the Nutter Center on Sunday afternoon.

Ending the Ohio roadswing with two wins in three games, the Thunder also received goals from Joel Irwin and an empty-net marker from Aaron Foster. Lalonde cashed in the game-winning marker with 1.1 seconds left in the second period, sniping a wrist shot from the right circle past Dayton goaltender Andrew Penner.

BOSTON-NATIVE BLUELINER IS BACK

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder announced it activated defenseman Tony Johnson off the seven-day injured reserve list on last Friday. Johnson, 25, has appeared in one game with the Thunder, going scoreless. He previously logged 64 games with the Pee Dee Pride (ECHL) in his 2004-05 rookie season, scoring nine points (2g-7a). The Thunder also announced it placed defenseman Brian Escobedo on waivers.

WEEK IN REVIEW NOTES:

- Likit Andersson has tallied four points (1g-3a) in the last three games

- Stockton has scored at least one power play goal in the first 10 games, scoring 18 power play goals total (for a 25.4% clip - 3rd in ECHL)

- The Thunder has scored 48% of the team's total goals (15 of 31) in the third period or post-regulation



ECHL Stories from November 21, 2005


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