StocktonThunder

Tormey triumphant in pro debut, Lawrence chips in with pair of goals in 4-3 win

FINAL STATS: Box score
AUDIO: Thunder Replay – Game Highlights

ONTARIO, Calif. – Chris Lawrence buried a pair of goals while goaltender Dan Tormey celebrated his 26th birthday with a win in his first career start, to lead the Stockton Thunder (28-19-9, 65 points) to a 4-3 victory over the Ontario Reign at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Sunday.

The Thunder, who erased a three-game losing skid and finished the head to head series at 7-1-2 against Ontario, also got goal scoring help from Jordan Fulton and Jordan Foreman, while Kyle Kraemer and Jordan Hill chipped in with a goal and assist each for Ontario.

In keeping pace at five points behind the front-runner Las Vegas Wranglers for first place in the Western Conference and Pacific Division, the Thunder decreased its magic number to 9 for a Kelly Cup Playoff berth clinch.

P.A. Bureau, who set the table for Jordan Foreman's shorthanded breakaway goal, establishes position after a faceoff win. (photo by Lee Calkins)

Lawrence stashed a turnover into an open Ontario net just 1:48 into the game, off a Kelly Czuy steal and pass behind the net, for a 1-0 Thunder lead and his 19th goal of the season.

Alex Bourret answered on a breakaway goal, converting Jordan Hill’s outlet pass just 1:53 later to knot the score, 1-1.

The Thunder responded at 6:22 of the period with Ontario caught deep in the offensive zone and Fulton capitalized with his 10th goal of the season when he skated up the left wing and wired a wrist shot over Mike Zacharias’ glove.

Just before the goal, Tormey made a key save in the period when he stopped a Dusty Collins re-direction from above the hash marks to preserve the tie.

The Thunder were nailed with a Garet Hunt slashing penalty but capitalized on their seventh shorthanded goal of the season, when Foreman buried a wrist shot on a breakaway over Mike Zacharias’ glove with 5:31 left in the second for a 3-1 edge, converting P.A. Bureau’s clearing pass off the left side glass.

Just 1:01 later, Kyle Kraemer’s 11th goal of the season closed the gap to 3-2 on a two-man advantage when he snuck a re-direction past Tormey’s stick at the left goal post, originating with Collins’ one-timer at the high slot.

Lawrence buried his second goal of the game just 39 seconds into the third period, when he collected a blocked shot at the left circle and rifled a second chance blast past Zacharias’ glove.

Jordan Hill’s second goal of the season, on the power play with 5:24 elapsed, closed the deficit to 4-3 when he converted a backdoor one-timer at the left circle.

Zacharias took the loss with 34 stops.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Daryl Marcoux (injured, day-to-day), Craig Valette (injured reserve) and Jesse Gimblett (injured reserve) … Lawrence’s multi goal game boosted his total to 12 points in the last six games … Stockton outshot Ontario, 38-29 … Tormey became the fifth goaltender to suit up and play for the Thunder this season … the Thunder improved to 11-5-2 this season involving three-game, three-day situations.

The Thunder returns to play Friday, hosting the Alaska Aces at Stockton Arena, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard on radio at 1280 KWSX and viewed live on the internet (pay-per-view video charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL “Award of Excellence,” Thunder was voted “Best Local Sports Team” by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the fifth consecutive season in 2009-10. Season Tickets, mini-plans and individual tickets for 2010-11 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

THREE STARS:
1. ONT – 41 Jordan Hill
2. STK – 19 Chris Lawrence
3. ONT – 16 Kyle Kraemer