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Urquhart Assigned, MacAulay Loaned to AHL

January 20, 2009 - 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, announced veteran center Cory Urquhart (URK-hart) has been assigned to the Thunder from Springfield and defenseman Kenny MacAulay (MICK-all-ee) has been loaned to the Portland Pirates of the AHL on a professional tryout agreement (PTO).

Currently signed to an AHL contract with Springfield, the 24-year old forward will represent the Thunder at the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Guardian WearTM and was recently named In Glas Co ECHL Player of the Week (Jan. 5-11) with five goals and six points (5g-1a).

It is the first All-Star selection of Urquhart's career, who will serve as an alternate captain for the National Conference team. Urquhart is expected to participate in tonight's ECHL All-Star Skills Competition at the Sovereign Center (3:45 p.m. PT/ B2CableTV.com) in Reading, PA. along with Thunder forward Ryan Huddy.

Urquhart is scheduled to participate in the MeiGray Group Accuracy Shooting Competition and in the Guardian WearTM Breakaway Relay. Huddy will represent the Thunder in the Puck Control Relay sponsored by Sherwood Hockey and in the Guardian WearTM Breakaway Relay.

Urquhart ranks second on the Thunder with 32 points (15g-17a) in 30 games, additionally posting 24 penalty minutes this season. Urquhart ranks tied for second on the Thunder with four power-play goals and was selected in the second round (40th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound forward has amassed an assist in six games this year for Springfield and has skated in 300 games as a pro in the ECHL with Stockton, Cincinnati and Long Beach, in the AHL with Springfield and Hamilton and in the Central Hockey League with Arizona, scoring 239 points (123g-116a) while posting 183 penalty minutes.

MacAulay, 24, was selected to represent the Thunder at the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game, the second straight honor of his career. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound blueliner leads Thunder defensemen and ranks tied for eighth among ECHL defensemen with 23 points (3g-20a) in 38 games, additionally posting 74 penalty minutes.

The Baddeck, Nova Scotia native has earned the second AHL recall of his career after posting an assist in 18 games with the Rockford Ice Hogs last season. In 98 career professional games with Stockton and Fresno of the ECHL and Rockford of the AHL, MacAulay has scored 44 points (7g-37a) and posted 177 penalty minutes while adding three points (1g-2a) in six Kelly Cup Playoff games.

MacAulay's PTO agreement is on a 25-game tryout basis (maximum) with Portland.

2009 ECHL ALL-STAR GAME

The Reading Royals, the City of Reading and the Sovereign Center will host the 17th Annual ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 21, 2009 and the 12th Annual All-Star Skills Competition on Jan. 20, 2009. There are 13 rookies on the National Conference and 20 of the 21 players are making their first appearance in an ECHL All-Star Game. There have been 46 players from the All-Star Game who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 29 since 2002 when the lineups began having players who coaches felt were prospects to move up to a higher level.

The Thunder are represented by three members for the National Conference team, which includes Urquhart, forward Ryan Huddy and head coach Matt Thomas, who makes his second appearance behind the All-Star bench in his career. It is the first ECHL All-Star selection for Huddy and Urquhart in their careers.

The Stanley Cup and the Patrick J. Kelly Cup will both be on display throughout the event, marking the ninth time in the last 10 years that the NHL championship trophy and the ECHL championship trophy have been displayed together at the All-Star Game.

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season tickets, group tickets, individual tickets and mini plans 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.



ECHL Stories from January 20, 2009


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