Valette Returned From Loan, O'Dette Debuts Tonight

January 17, 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 Craig Valette (va-LET) has been returned to the Thunder from loan to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL and veteran defenseman Matt O'Dette (oh-DET) has been activated off the 30-day injured reserve list.

In addition, defenseman Mark Adamek was placed on the three-day injured reserve list, while right wing Justin Chwedoruk was transferred from the three-day to seven-day injured reserve list and right wing David Rohlfs was transferred from the seven-day to 30-day injured reserve list.

O'Dette will make his Thunder debut while Valette is scheduled to return to the Thunder lineup tonight against the Idaho Steelheads, starting at 7:30 p.m. (StocktonThunder.com) from Stockton Arena.

Valette has scored seven points (3g-4a) in eight games this season for the Thunder and has added two assists and 17 penalty minutes in 21 AHL games for Syracuse and 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, 2008 and has skated in 349 career AHL games while amassing 82 points (36g-46a) and 457 penalty minutes for Syracuse, 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.

O'Dette, 33, will skate in his first game since Nov. 23 and has played in an 11-year plus career as a veteran pro, split between the AHL with Saint John, Quebec and Hamilton and in the ECHL with Fresno and Roanoke, skating in 614 career games while amassing 1,503 penalty minutes and 109 points (34g-75a). O'Dette has participated in 64 career playoff games as a professional, scoring three assists while helping guide Saint John to a Calder Cup championship in 2001.

O'Dette had five points (2g-3a) and 55 penalty minutes in 16 games this year before signing with the Thunder as a free-agent on Dec. 30, 2008. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound blueliner has amassed 34 games of ECHL postseason experience, served as Fresno's captain for three seasons (2005-08) and helped guide the Falcons the club's first Pacific Division title, 100-point season and a berth in the National Conference Finals in 2005-06.

O'Dette was originally selected by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round (157th overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. The Oshawa, Ontario native enjoyed a trip to NHL training camp in 2002-03 with the Montreal Canadiens, scoring two goals in seven games and was a member of the club's Stanley Cup Playoff roster that year.

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 17, 2009


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