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Weekly Weather Report: News and Notes of the Stockton Thunder

November 10, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder were reeling after their three-straight defeats to the Idaho Steelheads and also were in need of a few extra bodies with the team picking up a few injuries in Idaho. In came Roberts Lipsbergs, Prab Rai, Michal Spacek and J.T. Barnett who were all signed to the team officially on both November 4 and 5.

That meant reinforcements had arrived just prior to the Thunder taking on the Ontario Reign at home. However, things didn't end the way the Thunder had hoped as Derek Couture's hat trick powered the Reign over the Thunder, sending the Stockton side to their fourth straight loss.

The team couldn't dwell on the loss though as just two days later the team saw the Utah Grizzlies for the first time. The game didn't begin well for the Thunder as a bad turnover in their own zone led to Utah's first goal and then at the end of the period, former Thunder defenseman Marc Cantin scored a power play goal to put Utah up 2-0.

However the Thunder came out and put on a good show in the second period and despite Lukas Sutter in the box for slashing, the Thunder had their first "Grade A" scoring chance of the game. Ryan Constant fired a clearing attempt around the boards that got past the Utah defenseman, giving Tyler Maxwell an opportunity to push up the ice. With Prab Rai in the middle, Maxwell sauced a pass to the former Vancouver Canucks draft pick and he deflected the pass in past Joe Howe bringing the Thunder back into the game.

It didn't take long after that for the Thunder to tie the game as Howard Lenz found himself in the box giving the Thunder a power play. The league's second best unit would make the Grizzlies pay as once again Maxwell played a smart pass, this time to Jack MacLellan, who took a shot that was blocked but defenseman Austin Levi came right through and put the rebound in tying the game up.

With no scoring happening in the third period and overtime, the team once again turned to Maxwell who got the Thunder started off and in the lead during the shootout. Then it was the Shane Owen show as the goalie stopped the other four Utah shooters, breaking the streak and giving the Thunder their first win since October 25.

Recent Transactions

11/9 - Robin Soudek traded to Rapid City

11/5 - J.T. Barnett signed contract

11/4 - Austin Levi loaned from Carolina (NHL)

11/4 - Michal Spacek signed contract

11/4 - Prab Rai signed contract

11/3 - Roberts Lipsbergs added to roster

11/2 - Andrey Pedan reassigned to Bridgeport by the New York Islanders

Team Leaders

Goals: Tyler Maxwell/Adam Phillips/Ryan Hayes with 3

Assists: Jack MacLellan with 8

Points: Jack MacLellan with 10

PIMs: Loic Leduc with 28

Wins: Shane Owen with 3

Losses: Shane Owen/Philippe Trudeau with 3

GAA: Shane Owen with 3.28

SV%: Shane Owen with .910

Second Longest Road Trip of the Season Upcoming

The Thunder take to the road for a five-game road trip starting tomorrow in Southern California and continuing to Alaska and Bakersfield.

The Thunder battle the Ontario Reign for the second time tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. The Thunder were pretty excellent against the Reign last season on the road, coming away with a 5-2-0-2 record and a total of 12 points out of a possible 18. The team also added two wins in the post season at Citizens Business Bank Arena when the Thunder swept the #2 seeded Reign in the opening round of the 2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

After the date in Ontario the Thunder head to Alaska for a three-in-three beginning on Friday and continuing through Sunday. Game times will be at 8:15 p.m. PST on both Friday and Saturday and then a 4:00 p.m. PST game on Sunday. The Thunder didn't fare well in Alaska last season as the team went 1-4-0-0 in Alaska; however the Aces team is vastly different this season than the one that eventually would win the Kelly Cup.

After the Alaska trip the Thunder return to California and take on the Bakersfield Condors during their "Education Day" on Thursday, November 20, in a 10:35 a.m. game. After the five-game road trip the Thunder return to Stockton Arena for a season long seven-game home stand featuring the Condors, Grizzlies and Aces.

Don't forget you can catch all the away games at the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel for FREE!

Interesting News and Notes

Ryan Constant is tied second in the league with 5 assists coming on the power play. He is also the top defenseman in that category

Shane Owen is second in the league in saves made with 213

Shane Owen is also one of three goaltenders to stop all shots he's faced in the shootout

Loic Leduc and Lukas Sutter are tied among rookie leaders with 9 minor penalties apiece. Leduc is tied third in penalty minutes among rookies with 28

Adam Phillips is tied second among rookies with 2 power-play goals

The Thunder have the second most proficient power play in the league as they've converted 24.4% of their chances (10/41)

The Thunder's PK unit has been very good as well ranking seventh in the ECHL with an 88% kill rate (44/50)

The Thunder have scored two short-handed goals this season (James Henry/Prab Rai) but have also allowed 3 short-handed goals

Stockton's 371 shots allowed is second behind only Bakersfield at 409. The Thunder have allowed an average of 37 shots per game while averaging just shy of 30 per game. The team has been outshot (or tied in shots) every game but one this season (vs. Utah 11-7)

The Thunder are 3-1-0-0 when tied after two periods of play

Lukas Sutter has penalties in five-straight games

Approaching Milestones

Shane Owen is one win away from 25 in his ECHL career

Tyler Maxwell is 3 games away from 50 games played in his ECHL career

Jack MacLellan is 15 games away from 100 career professional games played

J.T. Barnett is 11 games away from 50 career ECHL and pro games played

James Henry is 7 points away from 50 career points in the ECHL and his pro career. He's also 24 games away from 100 played in his career

Ryan Constant is 6 goals away from 50 in his ECHL career. He's 10 assists away from 150 career ECHL assists and just 16 points away from 200 career ECHL points

Garet Hunt is 9 games away from 400 career ECHL games played. He's 10 assists away from 100 and 9 points away from 150 in his ECHL career

Recently Accomplished Milestones

Keith Seabrook played in his 200th professional game against Ontario on 11-5-14

Jack MacLellan played in his 50th ECHL game against Utah on 11-7-14

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ECHL Stories from November 10, 2014


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