FREE-FOR-ALL07/02/2008 10:18 PM - Benton's Blog
I love July.
We're two days from fireworks, prime golf weather is among us, and with the exception of 5-8 players that have contract rights under each team, we've officially entered the free agency free-for-all. Expect signings in the category of the no-brainer and the no-holds barred. Already we've experienced a few players returning to their respective teams in a non-surprising fashion (Zanoski to the Thunder, Moreland to Fresno, Nate Kiser to South Carolina and Jarret Lukin to Florida). The real fun happens when we see teams take runs at other players who might be donning a new jersey in the future, if the AHL isn't in the immediate cards for 2008-09. The Thunder have made no secret it wishes to upgrade offensively and in addition to the assortment of talent they're slated to receive from Springfield and Edmonton in September, step one of that process starts with perhaps locking up a player that's been in their own backyard - Mike Lalonde. It's no secret with the credentials he's gained - nearly two separate 30-goal campaigns, the all-time goal-scoring leader in a Thunder uniform, an ECHL All-Star appearance in 2006 - that he's a hot commodity around this time of year. Yet, he fits into Chris Cichocki's system like a glove, his big-screen smile has staked one of the most positive and endearing reputations in the three-year history of the Thunder and by gosh - the man has a bobblehead and is a big-ticket favorite among Thunder fans. Should he wind up in a Thunder uniform once more in 08-09, it's a marriage made in offensive heaven. Additionally - it will be interesting to watch the transformation of an assortment of conference rivals, who could be undergoing a massive face-lift during this offseason. Bako - Brett Lutes is going overseas. So is Tim Konsorada. So is ex-Thunder forward Jason Kostadine. Mark Derlago signed an AHL pact with the Manitoba Moose. Kevin Truelson and David Kudelka are unrestricted free agents. Yutaka Fukufuji was not covered with a Q.O. Idaho - Lance Galbraith has signed with the Central Hockey League's Texas Brahmas (who will Thunder fans love to hate now?) ... Darrell Hay and Marty Flichel were not issued qualifying offers and are now free agents. Ontario - Two players from their list of Q.O.'s have defected for Europe (Brandon Benedict and Scott Champagne) and two more ex-Texas Wildcatters are crossing the pond - Tim Cook and Danny Welch. New Head Coach Karl Taylor might be in-store for a busy offseason. Utah - Assistant captain and playoff hero Scott Burt - no qualifying offer, and he's free-agency fair game. Rob Sirianni (a point-per-game gem of a forward who would look good in Chris Cichocki's tenacity-based, puck-possession system) - no qualifying offer. Victoria - Head Coach Mark Morrison might be as busy as Taylor. Crossing the pond are Ash Goldie, Milan Gajic, Kevin Estrada, ex-NHL'er Jordan Krestanovich, goaltender Billy Thompson and Paul Ballantyne. The Salmon Kings are losing a combined total of 228 points between Goldie, Gajic, Estrada and Krestanovich (three of them were Victoria's top-four scorers last year) - a whopping 33% of their offensive output from last season. Whether it's one of these players going elsewhere in the ECHL or another one of the non-mentioned, it's gripping theater with the league's ponds still two months away from being frozen over! Bring on the drama. Mike Benton has served the Thunder as radio broadcaster since the team's inception and also serves the same role for the Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league. He can also be heard on AM 970 ESPN Radio, contributing as a sports anchor on "SportsCenter" and "Modesto's Morning News." Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com THE FIRST SIGNING, FROM A TO Z(anoski)06/18/2008 9:54 PM - Benton's Blog
Let's fire up the hot stove!
Tom Zanoski's re-signing with the Thunder officially signals the start of the "hot stove" season - where all of us hockey fans run wild with our imagination of free agency comings and going, line combinations and defensive pairings. They're all dancing in our heads "Twas Night Before Christmas" style, as if the start to the regular season is like the paramount day of the holiday season. The 12 goals and 98 penalty minutes in 42 games signal a lot of promise and upside for this young kid out of Brampton, Ontario. (Speaking of ... what's in the Brampton, Ontario water that gives hockey players an edge to their agitating abilities like the virtual turpentine that invades energy drinks? Zanoski, Lance Galbraith and Ian Forbes are all from there.) But I digress. If Zanoski plays a full season, he comes awfully close to pacing a 20-goal, 200-penalty minute season ... in his rookie year. Not too shabby, for a guy who fits in beautifully with Cichocki's system that demands speed and fearlessness. I also have personal reasons to welcome him back - he'll engage verbally on the ice and engage verbally even more off the ice - nearly a one-liner per day. He's a broadcaster's/writer's/blogger's dream. As of right now, could Zanoski be vying for the National Conference crown of chief scorer/agitator extraordinaire? Galbraith has moved onto the Central Hockey League, Alaska's Peter Metcalf has gone overseas for 2008-09 and Kimbi Daniels is pondering retirement ... which might leave Zanoski to vie for the honors with Fresno's Matt Stefanishion and Las Vegas' Shawn Limpright. The one thing they have in common - they're all players that teams would covet and take in a heartbeat. Mike Benton has served the Thunder as radio broadcaster since the team's inception and also serves the same role for the Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league. He can also be heard on AM 970 ESPN Radio as an afternoon anchor for "SportsCenter," heard between 4-7:00 p.m. weekdays.. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com WATCH MORE HOCKEY … IT’S GOOD FOR YOU06/03/2008 4:53 PM - Benton's Blog
I'm not a Wings fan. I'm neither a Pens fan.
So why the heck was I jumping out of my couch last night, disturbing my roomates with random shouts of "OHHH!!!" or "NO WAY!!!" after every highway robbery-like save my Marc-Andre' Fleury, every end-to-end rush traded between the Penguins and Red Wings like it was 4:00 p.m. at the New York Stock Exchange, and two dramatic goals by Max Talbot (30 seconds left in regulation) and Petr Sykora (game winner)? It's because for over 100 combined minutes on Monday, the game of hockey put on its "Sunday Best." If it was a car, Game 5 of the Penguins vs. Red Wings Stanley Cup Final game was triple-waxed with the engine steam-cleaned along with a touch of "new car smell." Outkast would have called this one "So Fresh and So Clean." It had a little bit of Willis Reed (Gonchar, Malone) and a little bit of Babe Ruth (Sykora calling his shot). Mike Bolt, who has graced Stockton Arena twice with his presence as the keeper of the Stanley Cup, was seen on TV giving the Cup a last-second, pre-party shine before Talbot's goal crashed, and eventually, burned the party. The bottom line is games like the triple overtime classic make you scream "I LOVE THIS GAME," with all apologies to the NBA marketing suits of the 1990's. Try comparing Game 5 to going extra innings in the World Series, overtime in the Super Bowl or overtime in the NBA Finals. It does not compare with the drama of playoff hockey. Every play, every rush, every shot, matters. The words "sudden death" may not be justice enough to describe the peril and theater of overtime. Besides, aren't we an adrenaline, caffene-obsessed society who needs our coffee, ginseng and taurine every morning before work/school or before the evening workout/mid-term cramming? Watch your playoff hockey as a viable substitute! Everybody's doing it ... even if Tiger Woods is the only one who isn't. Shame. He'll learn. Mike Benton has served the Thunder as radio broadcaster since the team's inception and also serves the same role for the Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league. He can also be heard on AM 970 ESPN Radio as an afternoon anchor for "SportsCenter," heard between 4-7:00 p.m. weekdays.. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com FINALS PREDICTIONS05/24/2008 2:41 PM - Benton's Blog
Vegas in six. WORKIN’ FOR THE WEEKEND05/07/2008 10:45 AM - Benton's Blog
I usually try to spread this stuff out over a few days ... but with me just returning from vacation this past weekend (family and friends gathering - a little shout-out here to the mum who graduated with her master's degree) - there happened to be a handful of topics of puck pertinence that occurred of late.
Not fair. Being that we can't stop time, we'll review via the "Reader's Digest" version: UTAH ADVANCES: The Grizzlies are 6th seed and Victoria was a 2nd seed. This may have been the most misleading matchup on-paper since the tortoise versus the hare. Victoria will run-and-gun you up-and-down the ice ... and ... they'll run-and-gun you up-and-down the ice ... and ... well, you get the idea. Utah is skilled, mean, fearless, possesses timely playoff goaltending (Mole and Lawson overcame Moreland, Ellis, Thompson - not too shabby) and have an Alternate Captain who's won two Kelly Cup titles already (Scott Burt). Las Vegas is going to get another run-for-their-money in a seven-game series. But, by the hair of their chinny-chin-chin, I pick Las Vegas in seven - by virtue of discipline and goaltending (Lalande got better after the Thunder series and Manzato's back from the Swiss National Team). CINCINNATI ADVANCES: How would that look for the Thunder season resume to see a Las Vegas-Cincinnati Kelly Cup Finals? The Cyclones squeaked by in a seven-game series with Reading and their upcoming opponent in the Conference Finals - South Carolina - is a perfect 9-0 at home in the playoffs. I'm tempted to pick "upset" here, but my betting money goes with Cincinnati, who's perhaps learned a few intangibles with surviving the Reading series. Also, they have a better goals for and goals against in the playoffs. SAN JOSE DOES NOT ADVANCE: Anybody else watch this game? Anybody see the save of the year? Props to the Sharks who battled back with heart to almost force Game 7 ... while the Dallas Stars advanced, playing "their Game 7." If San Jose won in Big D, there was no way Dallas was going to go back to the Shark Tank and win with an eruptive environment of 17,000 screaming Sharks fans breathing down their neck. Dallas is a forechecking beast and can hang with the Red Wings speed, but Detroit is on fire and has too much depth. Red Wings in six. MY TASTE BUDS ADVANCE: While down in L.A. I had lunch with a friend of mine who suggested ice cream afterwards - she mentioned a new frozen yogurt joint called "Pinkberry." (I would normally first assume by stepping into a place of business called "Pinkberry" my masculinity was plummeting 50 points). I took a good risk - word of mouth was that this place was nicknamed "crackberry," for the addictiveness of the frozen yogurt (it's legal, mind you). I fully back up the claim. You get a choice of frozen fruit and extra topping on the side with a cream-flavored/coffee-flavored/or green-tea flavored yogurt (I recommend the original cream-flavored, with strawberries and Cap'N Crunch topping), while a chance to take it outside or sit inside of a "Baskin Robbins-meets-Ikea" motif. If they ever expand into the Central Valley and Northern California territory, this place will blow up all over. I swear. Along with my gut. Mike Benton has served the Thunder as radio broadcaster since the team's inception and also serves the same role for the Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league. He can also be heard on AM 970 ESPN Radio as an afternoon anchor for "SportsCenter," heard between 4-7:00 p.m. weekdays.. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR05/04/2008 4:50 PM - Benton's Blog
We now ponder where to go in the offseason - and it starts with a conversation I had with an esteemed broadcast colleague in the National Hockey League about a few months ago led to the following exchange, after he commiserated with Columbus Blue Jackets general manager (and former Edmonton Oilers assistant GM) Scott Howson:
Me: How is Scott doing? Collegaue: Scott's terrific, one of the most well-mannered, classiest general managers in the league - we talked about Stockton, and he pointed out at how it's one of the best set-ups in minor league hockey. Folks, if that's not an indication the Thunder has arrived, what else is there?? You're on the NHL map for heaven's sakes. Stockton Arena's facilities, its fans, the atmopshere, and the ability to develop players and foster a winning team have signaled advancement, along with the chance to join the likes of Bryan Young, Liam Reddox and Sebastien Bisaillon who have donned a Thunder jersey and now have NHL experience, to boot (one of the most powerful recruiting tools for offseason free agents is working out a deal to get them into an NHL or AHL training camp). Seeing countless numbers of wide-eyed players, gawking at Stockton Arena in their maiden voyage at the ECHL All-Star Game, directly increases your exposure to the free-agent talent pool. And like any team on the rise, there must be baby steps taken. Making the playoffs for two seasons in a row is a step in the right direction. A colleague with the Las Vegas Wranglers even shot me a text message - during the course of the Alaska series - noting that "Cichocki's due." You want proof? The Thunder lost in six games to the Wranglers, with two games going into overtime while one another one slipped away in the waning 75 seconds. On the flipside, Alaska needed a monster rally - just to force game five. Las Vegas promptly responded by waxing the floor with them, winning the series 4-1. Ultimately, it's Chris Cichocki's teams that learn to play with heart and desire, no matter if the lineup and the deck is stacked with future NHL talent in October/April - or if injuries and callups have ravaged the cupboard bare in February. A 2-1-2 push was executed in the last five games of the regular season to get into the playoffs - and Brandon Schwartz, Tim O'Connell, Ryan MacMurchy, Jacob Micflikier and others stepped in while Ryan O'Marra, Stephane Goulet, Brad Farynuk and others were unavailable until the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Las Vegas Wranglers have never advanced past the second round of the playoffs - until this year. The Bakersfield Condors had not advanced past the first round of the playoffs - until 2005-06. The Alaska Aces had not reached a Conference Final series - until 2004-05. It's baby steps that must be taken. And perhaps, in 2008-09, maybe next year is the Thunder's year. Mike Benton has served the Thunder as radio broadcaster since the team's inception and also serves the same role for the Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league. He can also be heard on AM 970 ESPN Radio as an afternoon anchor for "SportsCenter," heard between 4-7:00 p.m. weekdays.. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com THOUGHTS ON GAME 604/23/2008 10:36 PM - Benton's Blog
Now that we're all back home, off a nine-hour bus ride, sleep in my system and a Valley Brew chicken caesar salad in my stomach, my first reaction to last night is ...
... Well, what can you do? Enter ringer Curtis Fraser (the guy had 5 games in the ECHL before being sent back down from San Antonio - but again, score one for the affiliation) ... add to a determined and nasty Las Vegas team, and the Thunder are sent off to the first tee for the ensuing five-and-a-half months. The Thunder showed up. I thought Goulet's snap shot from the left circle (2nd peirod) was going in. It went off Lalande's right shoulder. The score would have been 2-1 at that point. I then thought Lance Monych had a virtual tap-in (3rd period). Lalande then pulled off his best Dominik Hasek impersonation (diving save). The sigh and look I got from Steve Serdachny (Oilers development coach, sitting to my left in the booth) said it all: "not our night." And, in spite of a handful the Thunder gave the opposition in black-and-white dice-clad jerseys, Las Vegas advances. The most salvaging feeling of the night was seeing 30 Thunder fans - clad in black, white and gold jerseys waiting outside in the Las Vegas night while the team packed its bags, giving one last final applause and send-off for a well-done effort for 2007-08. (For a group that travels well, I say it often and I don't mince words here - This. Team. Has. The. Best. Fans. In. The. League. Period.) You could state that a bounce here (glanced puck off Ferraro's skate), a bounce there (overtime) or a rejuvenated power-play gets the Thunder onto a plane Friday to face the Alaska Aces, but tip your hat as well to the Las Vegas Wranglers - they found ways to win, unleashed productive center Tyler Mosienko in the most clutch situations (this skilled forward was at times, more of a pain-in-the-butt than Tonya Harding's feeling after a bad routine). Now, we enter the offseason, my beard is shaved back down back to a 12 on my face's stimpmeter (golf term), we're back home and after 8 hours of afternoon sleep and NyQuil (whatever bug I caught in Vegas is now gone), we're left pondering the thrills, spills, highs, lows and anything else of this 2007-08 season, where the Thunder is making baby steps up in the world of minor league hockey juggernauts. Putting things in perspective - the playoffs were a goal reached in spite of a cluster of injuries (Geisler, Micflikier, we could go on ...), callups, and other dramatic factors this season. The Thunder went 2-1-2 in its last five regular season games, pushed the first seed Las Vegas Wranglers to six games and led in every game in the series except for game six. Pats on the back for overcoming adversity and getting into the postseason, something the Phoenix RoadRunners, Wheeling Nailers, Pensacola Ice Pilots or other teams would have died for. And heck, the 2007-08 ECHL All-Star Game, known as one of the most sophisticated NHL-like shows in league history, wasn't too shabby, no? Now, five months lie ahead to put more pieces to the puzzle in constructing a championship team, taking more of your feedback of what you want more in entertainment value at a Thunder game, and recharge the batteries before we wind it up again in October 2008. You get the feeling that this team is on the cusp of ultimate glory. 2007-08 was a step in that direction. We'll expound on that later this week, while Chris Cichocki and I break it all down in our season-ending "Chalk Talk" Coach's Show Podcast. Mike Benton has served the Thunder as radio broadcaster since the team's inception and also serves the same role for the Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league. He can also be heard on AM 970 ESPN Radio as an afternoon anchor for "SportsCenter," heard between 4-7:00 p.m. weekdays.. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com THOUGHTS ON GAME 504/21/2008 6:32 AM - Benton's Blog
Okie doke - I just entered my Orleans Hotel room now - following a nine hour bus ride from Stockton Arena to Sin City ... I've unfolded myself, my eyes look like a Las Vegas tourist at 6:45 a.m. on the usual Sunday (or, like myself after sophomore year finals in college) - so this might be the coffee talking, but here goes nothing ...
THOUGHTS ON GAME 404/19/2008 1:33 AM - Benton's Blog
What if Kevin Lalande didn't stop Brandon Schwartz's backhander? (2nd period)
What if Kevin Lalande didn't stop Sebastien Bisaillon's missle of a one-timer in overtime? What if Stephane Goulet's goal late in the third period counted? All these "what if's" could have, would have, and (maybe even) should have added up to a 2-2 series, with us guaranteed to high-tail it back to Sin City after game 5. Instead, that's how the ball bounces - or the puck rolls - in playoff hockey. And now the Thunder must win game 5 to keep their season alive. Lalande looked shaky as ever in the first two periods, and the Thunder had him and Las Vegas on the proverbial ropes bidding for a 4-0 lead. But these past two games are proof why Las Vegas isn't a "token" first-seed team. They're loaded. Yet, they are not invincible. There were moments tonight when the top line of Micflikier-O'Marra-Goulet completely outplayed, and at some cases early in the game, outhustled the Las Vegas backcheckers. A few times, you may have noticed that Micflikier and O'Marra were being double-shifted. After all, if your top scorers are rested, why not put them out more? Are the Thunder behind the "eight ball" with a 3-1 deficit? Yes. Are they finished? Absolutely not. None of these games have been blowouts, and the Thunder had leads in games 2, 3 and 4. Turn any of those games around and it's anywhere from a 2-2 deficit to - at best - a Thunder sweep in four games. About Goulet's overturned goal: another bad break, but replays confirmed it caromed off Goulet's skate before it ricocheted into the Wranglers net. I know - you might be thinking the same thing I am - these overturned goal calls, due to the fan un-friendly term "distinct kicking motion," are a bit on the annoying side and helped do the Thunder in for the second straight game. Yet, when Goulet tried to establish control by playing the puck off his skate for the purpose of going to his forehand for a rebound, if went off the blade of steel - at that point - it's a lost cause and the official has no choice to overturn the call. It could have been, but it wasn't. Onto game 5, where some folk (me included) will probably get the head start on packing for Las Vegas since there's an overnight trip on Sunday involved, should the Thunder win game 5. The Thunder are aiming to put those packed bags to usage. Mike Benton has served the Thunder as radio broadcaster since the team's inception and also serves the same role for the Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league. He can also be heard on AM 970 ESPN Radio as an afternoon anchor for "SportsCenter," heard between 4-7:00 p.m. weekdays.. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com HIGHWAY TO HAIR (part 1)04/16/2008 5:22 PM - Benton's Blog
Hide the women, children, and Norelcos. Mike Commodore, Peter Fosberg and Scott Niedermayer, you've got company. It's that time of year folks. Playoff beards aren't just for the players anymore - it's now everyone into the proverbial pool, including the organizational front office! Pros: facial heat insulation, playoff solidarity, subtraction of five mintues to get ready in the morning. Cons: This. Hey, we figure if Tim O'Connell, Luke Lynes, Ryan O'Marra, Kevin Anderson and Mark Burgess (who have the top-5 dressing room lead for thickest face-jungle so far - pics coming soon), why can't everyone else? The best part - we ain't shavin' this stuff until the team's done for the summer (hopefully that's June, with a shiny trophy in tow)! It's now time to reveal the front office's sultans of stubble, the barons of the beard, and non-razor royalty: Alex Beer (Senior Account Executive) Yours Truly (the longest I have ever grown this - i'm too much of a beach bum) Clint Eastman (Account Executive) Alex Geche (Director of Group Sales ... and by FAR the clubhouse leader in the front office) Dave Piecuch (Vice President of Sales) Alex Wheatley (Account Executive) Jeff Zavatsky (Manager of Public Relations and Team Operations ... and by FAR the best "thinking man's" pose) Mike Benton has served the Thunder as radio broadcaster since the team's inception and also serves the same role for the Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league. He can also be heard on AM 970 ESPN Radio as an afternoon anchor for "SportsCenter," heard between 4-7:00 p.m. weekdays.. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com |
Browse by Month »
July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 |
 |  |  |  |
| ©2008, Stockton Thunder. All rights reserved. |
|
