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Thunder Drops Inaugural Game, Prepares for Ice Dogs

October 24, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


Saturday, October 29th - @ Long Beach Ice Dogs, 7pm - The Thunder has never lost to the Ice Dogs (0-3-0, 0 points) in team history, compiling a 3-0-0 all-time clip against Long Beach, when the Thunder was previously the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. Both teams met twice in 2004-05, with Atlantic City sweeping the season series at a 2-0-0 clip. Atlantic City defeated Long Beach 4-2 on November 24th, and dusted off the Ice Dogs with a 3-2 win, two nights later.

Long Beach returns last season's top two goal scorers Marco Rosa and Chris Kenady, part of a team that finished 43-20-9 and advanced to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Ice Dogs are also looking for their first win of the season after succumbing to an Idaho Steelheads three-game sweep. Thunder center Nathan Martz returns to face his old teammates for the first time, after previously finishing fifth on the team in points (51) and second in assists (35).

Saturday's game can be heard on the internet (audio-only broadcast) 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 6:45pm.

STOCKTON THUNDER SCHEDULE: October 24 - October 30 (All times pacific, subject to change)

Monday, October 24th 10am - 11:30: Practice at Oak Park Rink

Tuesday, October 25th 10am - 11:30: Practice at Oak Park Rink

Wednesday, October 26th 10am - 11:30: Practice at Oak Park Rink

Thursday, October 27th TBA

Friday, October 28th 9am - 10:30: Practice at Oak Park Rink Travel Day

Saturday, October 29th 11:00am: Morning skate at Long Beach Arena 7pm: Game vs. Long Beach Ice Dogs (Long Beach Arena)

Sunday, October 30th Off Day

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

- Joel Irwin is eight goals away from 100, and 17 games away from 300 in his ECHL career.
- Nathan Martz is 32 games away from 100 in his ECHL career.
- Dave McCulloch is 31 games away from 100 in his ECHL career.
- Geno Parrish is 5 assists away from 100 in his ECHL career.
- Dean Stork is 22 games away from 400 in his ECHL career.
- Maris Ziedins is 32 games away from 100 in his ECHL career. WEEK IN REVIEW

Saturday, Oct. 22
FRESNO 4 vs. STOCKTON 3

FRESNO, Calif. - Peter Fregoe's game-winning, even-strength goal early in the second period was enough for the Fresno Falcons to stunt a Stockton Thunder comeback, in a 4-3 Thunder loss in the inaugural game in Thunder history, before 7,797 at Fresno's Save Mart Center Saturday night.

The Thunder began the historic first period having to play catch-up for almost the entire stanza. Brett Hammond cashed in a rebound goal only 57 seconds into the game from a scramble in front, which found its way past starting goaltender Jake Moreland for a 1-0 Fresno lead.

Three former Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies hooked-up for Fresno's next tally 59 seconds later, when Shawn Mather's feed from the right point was tipped-in from in front by J.F. Plourde, putting Fresno out to a quick 2-0 cushion. Luke Curtin, who finished with two assists on the night, added his first assist on the goal.

A turnover at the Thunder blueline led to Fresno's third goal with 3:10 left in the period, when Dustin VanBallegooie's 15-foot wrist shot beat Moreland high to the glove side.

The Falcons hiked the lead to 4-0 with 3:44 gone in the second frame, when Fregoe banged home a rebound off a missed Derek Krestanovich wrap-around attempt. Moreland was then pulled for backup Jeff Weber, and Stockton responded in urgent fashion.

Noah Whyte scored the first goal in Thunder history only 1:03 later, when Fresno goaltender Jamie Holden misplayed a dump-in attempt behind the net. Whyte pounced on the loose puck from 10 feet out and jammed a shot into a semi-open net. The Thunder then cut the lead to 4-2 on a Derek Campbell power play goal with 2:52 left in the period, when Campbell tipped-in a Geno Parrish wrister from the right point.

Campbell cashed in his second goal on the night only 5:05 into the third period, to cut the lead to 4-3 and tighten Fresno's collar. Nathan Martz set-up Campbell with a pass from the right circle, which Campbell one-timed home while driving to the net. The Thunder, who finished 2-for-9 on the power play for the evening, had numerous chances late in the game but was stoned by Holden's sample of 18 saves on the night.

Weber kept the Thunder within striking distance by turning aside all 19 shots faced. Moreland finished his brief night with eight saves.

The Thunder fell to 0-1-0 with the setback, while Fresno improved to 2-0-0 on the season. Campbell (2g-0a=2p) and Parrish (0g-2a=2p) each picked up two points to lead the Thunder in scoring.

ZIEDENS ARRIVES IN STOCKTON AS LATE ADDITION

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder has acquired forward Maris Ziedins from the Greenville Grrrowl in exchange for future considerations, Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki announced Saturday.

Ziedins, 27, makes Stockton his third ECHL stop, splitting 2004-05 between Toledo and Greenville. Ziedins combined for 25 goals in only 67 games (25g-13a=48p), including nine goals in only 12 games with Greenville (9g-6a=15p). Ziedins made his professional debut in the United Hockey League, spending 2002-04 with the Rockford IceHogs, combining for 36 points (14g-22a=36p) in 77 games.

The Thunder has also announced that forward Vin Hellemeyer has been placed on waivers.

WEEK IN REVIEW NOTES:

- The Thunder is 0-2-0 in the last two season openers.
- Saturday night's loss dropped Stockton to a 1-1-0 clip all-time vs. Fresno.
- Derek Campbell's two goals on Saturday marked the second time he has scored in a debut with a new team.
- The Thunder dropped their first one-goal game of the season, previously clipping a 19-6-8 record in 2004-05 as the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies.

THUNDER INAUGURAL NIGHT FIRSTS:

- Game and loss: 10/22 vs. Fresno (4-3)
- Goal: 10/22/05 vs. Fresno - Noah Whyte (2nd period @ 4:47, unassisted)
- Goal (opponent): 10/22/05 vs. Fresno - Brett Hammond (1st period @ 0:59, assists - John Wroblewski, Kelsey Muench)
- Starting lineup: G - Jake Moreland; D - Dean Stork, Tony Johnson; LW - Derek Campbell; C - Nathan Martz; RW - Mike Lalonde

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