Urquhart, Valette Return to Thunder From AHL

December 15, 2008 - 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 reassigned to the Thunder from Springfield and veteran center Craig Valette (va-LET) has been returned to the Thunder from loan to the Houston Aeros of the AHL.

Urquhart and Valette are scheduled to return to the Thunder lineup Tuesday, Dec. 16 against the Freson Falcons, starting at 7:05 p.m. (1420 KSTN / StocktonThunder.com) from Selland Arena.

Urquhart led the Thunder in scoring at the time of his recall on Dec. 6 with 19 points (7g-12a) in 18 games, additionally posting 10 penalty minutes this season and was runner-up for In Glas Co ECHL Player of the Week (Oct. 20). The 6-foot-3, 196-pound forward was selected in the second round (40th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and has amassed an assist in five games this year for Springfield.

The Halifax, Nova Scotia native has registered 226 points (115g-111a) in 287 career games with Stockton, Cincinnati and Long Beach of the ECHL, Hamilton and Springfield of the AHL and Arizona of the Central Hockey League.

Valette has amassed three points (2g-1a) in two games this season for the Thunder and has added two assists and 15 penalty minutes in 15 AHL games for Houston.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound center was loaned to Houston on a professional tryout agreement (PTO) on Nov. 4, 2008, was originally signed by the Thunder as a free agent on Oct. 17 and has skated in 343 career AHL games while amassing 82 points (36g-46a) and 455 penalty minutes for Cleveland, Worcester and Houston of the AHL.

A former prospect of the San Jose Sharks farm system, Valette was originally signed by the Sharks as a free agent to an NHL contract on Apr. 4, 2003.

The native of Shellbrook, Saskatchewan spent time (2003, 2005-07) with the Sharks in NHL preseason training camp and scored a career-high 15 goals and 26 points (15g-11a) in 55 games for Worcester in 2006-07. Valette previously competed in four years (1999-2003) of junior hockey with the Saskatoon Blades and Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League, skating in 248 career games while scoring 97 points (50g-47a) and posting 435 penalty minutes.

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 December 15, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central