The theme for this edition of the wonderful world of blogosphere is the road.

There's almost too much happening in the last few days within the world of hockey to emphasize one single subject (I hate when that happens), so we'll combine a few items that have been jogging my brain:

HIT THE ROAD - A BRAND NEW TEAM
Observing the new and improved Stockton Thunder from the booth in the last few days, my first observation is "wow."

After averaging just over 2.0 goals per game, instant dividends are coming in waves with the acquisitions of Brett Hemingway (2 pts, 2 games), Matt Robinson (2 goals, 2 games), Justin Dacosta (3 assists in 2 games) and Anthony Aiello (hasn't scored, but Matt Thomas gave him Chris Pronger-like minutes in the third period in holding a 2-2 tie last Saturday, played physical and didn't make a mistake).

At 5-on-5,it's the best I've observed the team play puck possession hockey since last year's offensive dynamo that included Ryan Huddy, Cory Urquhart, Mike Lalonde and Cleve Kinley.

They've also opened up more scoring chances for guys like Oren Eizenman to dish the puck and J.F. Caudron to finally open the offensive floodgates. They both have a combined 10 points in the last two games.

Hitting the road won't be easy, but back to back wins against the first place Bakersfield Condors have restored confidence heading into "The Sully" and into Victoria.

HIT THE ROAD - I LOVE ANCHORAGE
I said three years ago in this blogspace that I love Anchorage because it's like visiting a real life snowglobe.

I leave my opinions and observations unchanged. What a gorgeous city, when it comes to December, if you can brave the -10 temperatures.

It almost seems like I have family or friends all over the place when it comes to a road destination, but Anchorage is like an annual family pilgrimage - meaning a nice, home-cooked meal at the house of Jerry (Uncle) and Lavonne (Aunt) Norman.

Additionally, I seem to cave into a sweet tooth at Alaska Wild Berry for their white chocolate "glacier" popcorn and one of the best pizzas that you'll ever enjoy from outside of the California boundaries is from a rustic, vibrant restaurant called "The Moose's Tooth."

And have you seen/heard about the team travel itinerary?

As a traveling bunch on this 11-day/longest road trip of the year sojourn, we bolt town on a red-eye flight to Victoria immediately after the 6:05 p.m. contest against Alaska on Sunday.

Thank God for an off-day, and a hotel bed in Victoria on Monday.

HIT THE ROAD - THE IDEA OF CHANGING NHL TROPHY NAMES
Much talk around the NHL - and it was intensified yesterday morning on the NHL XM Channel's "The War Room," was the idea of changing the names of the annual award trophies handed out to players each June (much like the idea, 18 years ago of regionalizing division and conference names, in order to appeal to a broader fan base).

Thus, there would be no more Hart Trophy (MVP), Rocket Richard Trophy (Top Goal Scorer), Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year), Vezina Trophy (Goaltender of the Year) or Lady Byng Trophy (Most Gentlemanly Player).

I'm all for making every avenue of our great sport more appealing to a wide audience. But at some point, messing with a sport's tradition in this fashion is akin to taking an episode of "Gunsmoke" and superimposing a guest appearance by "Big & Rich."

Many of the NHL trophies are a dedication to the names that helped establish the game at its infancy, all the way back to over 100 years. You can read more about the rich history of our sport, and the story behind the names here . Making a long story short, how would you like to be a member of the Hart, Vezina, Calder or Pearson family and be informed the game is eliminating your family name from one of their trophies all in the name of mindlessly associating it with a bland "league MVP" or "Goaltender of the Year" or "Leading Scorer?"

I'm with host Mick Kern - who (tongue-in-cheek) cooked up the following idea: "if we're going to change all the trophy names, why not change the name of the Stanley Cup too?"

My stomach turned on that one.

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. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com

If you're a die-hard NHL fan on the side of being a die-hard Thunder fan, you might find the name Brendan Shanahan synonymous with NHL greatness.

He was nearly a career point-per-game player through 21 seasons in the NHL (1,354 points in 1,524 games) with St. Louis, the Rangers, New Jersey and most notably, Detroit.

I fully remember his career-high of 52 goals as a Blue in 2003-04, which actually outscored Brett Hull that year.

He wasn't done yet - he won the Stanley Cup three times (1997, 98, 2002) as a member of the Red Wings.

Six times, he broke the 40-goal plateau.

I'd say it's fully justified that he was the first round, second overall pick by the Devils in the 1987 NHL Draft.

And furthermore, I'd say it's fully justified that he's a first ballot Hall of Famer.

It's too bad he'll always be remembered in many circles as the guy who played in the shadow of Hull, Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov (i.e. the Gene Hackman to Clint Eastwood, the John Taylor to Jerry Rice or the Jay Leno to Johnny Carson).

Thus, there's talk and debate raging today if his jersey #14 is worthy enough to hang in the rafters of Joe Louis Arena, with the likes of Yzerman, Gordie Howe, Sid Abel and more.

Whatever happens, I'll always remember him for one of the best quotes ever in a hockey media scrum, when he was asked in the overly-simplistic connotation, "is hockey hard?"

Shanahan's response:

"I don't know, you tell me. We need to have the strength and power of a football player, the stamina of a marathon runner, and the concentration of a brain surgeon. But we need to put all this together while moving at high speeds on a cold and slippery surface while 5 other guys use clubs to try and kill us, oh yeah did I mention that this whole time we're standing on blades 1/8 of an inch thick? Is ice hockey hard? I don't know, you tell me. Next question."

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. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com

The signing of star center Oren Eizenman makes sense and excites me on many different levels, to simply state it.

First, if you have a player who's proven to be over a point-per-game guy in the ECHL, why not take him?

Second, he's played for Matt Thomas before. Familiarity with a coach's style, his system and in most cases, his teammates, generally makes it easier for a player to assimilate with a new team. With Thomas and a cast of familiar teammates in Matt O'Dette, Daryl Marcoux, Judd Blackwater, Igor Gongalsky and Kenny MacAulay, the Thunder finished six games over .500 after New Year's Eve and almost got into the National Conference Finals.

Third, it's for the insurance policy. I'm not speaking of Oren being THE insurance policy, but more of the cast that plays behind him. There's much more depth on the Thunder roster this year to back him up in case his services are called for in the AHL. Judd Blackwater blossomed in the playoffs as a near point-per-game guy. Craig Valette is getting into his late 20's and Thomas is counting on his loyalty this year as a leader. Young guns like Chris D'Alvise, Colin Power, Tyler Burton and others are ready for ice time and given that ice time, are in the opportunity to succeed (take D'Alvise's three points in just four games last year for instance - not bad for a kid fresh out of college in March).

Last year, Eizenman earned a whopping four AHL tryout deals - try using the guy's airline mileage on your credit card - you may be earning a free trip to Cancun. It's probably no secret he's on a short list of players on the "call-up" radar, along with what I would imagine, a few others:

- Mark Derlago (Idaho) - Led ECHL rookies with 39 goals in 2007-08, followed up with a ridiculous 77 points in 49 games last year in Bakersfield.

- Greg Rallo (Idaho) - Another Steelhead who's a near point per game guy at the ECHL level - spent all last year in Manitoba - is getting older (turned 28 a month ago) so age may be a question.

- Yannick Tifu (Victoria) - 33 points in 24 games last year with Florida - spent the rest of the year in the AHL with Albany with 18 points in 37 games

- Stephane Goulet (Bakersfield) - Remember him? He's now on an ECHL deal and spent a majority of the last two years in the AHL with Springfield.

- Mathieu Aubin (Bakersfield) - The Condor theme continues - he's big (6-3, 204), he spent all of last year in the AHL, scored 30 goals for Cincinnati the year they won the Kelly Cup, and he just turned 23.

- Aaron Clarke (Wheeling) - 37 points in 40 games last year as a rookie, earned 3 separate tryout deals with Binghamton, Providence and Albany.

- Geoff Walker (Ontario) - Tied for Ontario's lead in scoring last year, reportedly impressed scouts at Los Angeles Kings rookie camp. He has a big league frame at 6-3, 225 pounds and quickness, which are ingredients that most pro scouts drool over.

- Jimmy Kilpatrick (Cincinnati) - Earned an ECHL rookie of the month award last year, had 49 points in 43 games and an AHL callup. He was in Houston's AHL training camp this year.

Thus, we can't place any guarantee how long Eizenman is here to help the Thunder offensively, but I would see many signs pointing to a longer stay than just two games, like last year. Matt Thomas said in our recent ThunderVision chat at how surprised he was that Oren didn't get an AHL deal. I was just as surprised.

Eizenman was pretty direct in The Record when he talked about the possibilities of taking another AHL tryout offer at the age of 24, stating "I'm being more selective and it would have to be a good situation. If the right opportunity came along, I would have to consider it."

For as long as he might be here, he takes the Thunder offense to the next level. All the better.


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. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com

Adam Huxley became an Idaho Steelhead today, ending a three-year career with the Stockton Thunder that had the Thunder fan followings as close to "cult" status when it came to his brash personality, grit and willingness to drop the gloves.

Nobody has earned more penalty minutes (665) in a Thunder uniform than Huxley over a three-year span.

As a role player, Huxley set a Thunder record (241 penalty minutes, eventually broken by Garet Hunt's 248 last year) for penalty minutes in 2006-07 and earned an AHL contract with the Springfield Falcons based on his the amount of eyebrows raised with his play in training camp. He improved his skating over this past summer and translated it into an eight-goal output, a career-high after five full seasons.

This was a move that I saw coming at the end of the postseason, after Huxley was scratched for all but three games in the Kelly Cup Playoffs and the fact that he had surpassed his "veteran" status of 260-games played, or more in the ECHL (many coaches have a track record of saving the veteran spots for a premier scoring forward, defenseman, or a longtime captain like Matt O'Dette).

The facts of life in professional hockey often dictate that as coaches come and go, so do players, and it continues in the ushering of a new era of Thunder hockey under Head Coach Matt Thomas.

The man has a continuous track record of success (lifetime .621 win percentage in five years as a head coach, plus a Kelly Cup ring in 2003 as an Atlantic City assistant coach). He turned a Thunder season around last year that was going down in flames before his arrival, into a close brush with an appearance in the Conference Finals.

It's clear that Thomas has a game plan for winning ingredients this season. It just doesn't involve Huxley, and he is wished nothing but the best in Boise.

Colin Power, Luis Tremblay and Bobby Davey have a track record of sticking up for their teammates by dropping the gloves, plus there's still a collective group of "tough guy" role players available on the free agent market and there's still five weeks until training camp. Stay tuned.

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. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com

I give props to The Hockey News - well done.

The magazine put on another tournament this year in the world of hockey, this year asking you who has the better-looking jersey (last year, it was logos).

I love it. (Go and vote here if you haven't done so, yet).

The art of the hockey jersey (or, "sweater," depending what region of North America you're from) is akin to a warrior's battle armor. The sleeker and more menacing you look, the more you gain a visual edge. Fans identify with them by wearing it not just at games, but in the general public (ask me, I own three hockey jerseys that hang in my closet).

Thus, this week's launching of The Hockey News jersey tournament got me thinking of my top-five favorites from hockey history (we'll keep it in the ECHL and NHL confines):


ECHL

1. STOCKTON THUNDER - who'd you expect? Yes, they supply my paycheck, but it's not just for that reason to begin with them. I love the black, gold and white colors. The crest is striking against the contrasting body color. In a league with a gargantuan amount of red and blue, no one else employs a similar look except for Johnstown. The bolts down the sides align with a progressive design in the NHL - a more streamlined façade that's made for the new sleek uniforms of today. The edgy, gold numbers and white trim are remarkable (not to mention distinctive from the balcony, a broadcaster's dream!) - and bare a similar look to the well-received Minnesota Wild threads. By virtue of The Hockey News' ranking (5th in ECHL) and the fans vote (Thunder are 3rd with 12% of vote as I type this), it's obvious others share similar feelings.

2. FLORIDA EVERBLADES - I love the progressive look with the numbers on the front. The colors aren't too busy, the logo is clean and yet unique - it all supports a popular look that's stood the test of time for over 11 years.

3. GWINNETT GLADIATORS - I'm a big fan of the clean logo look (gladiator head, instead of the full logo) on well-designed and professional, bold-looking duds. It features large, distinctive numbers that are also broadcaster-friendly (noticing a theme?)

4. TOLEDO WALLEYE - We're keeping with another theme here, as the overall designs in the Premiere "AA" hockey league have steadily improved over last 21 years. I will be shocked if the Walleye aren't swimming in dough from merchandise sales this year with Toledo's new hockey look. It's quite an interesting diversion from the conservative, almost "campy" look the Storm employed for so many years. But you can never go wrong with a baby blue color and the contrasting gold logo that adds more to it.

5. UTAH GRIZZLIES - Some folks knock the jersey for having an often-imitated "swiping bear" look to it, but don't blame the Grizzlies. Theirs has been around for over a decade and has spanned three leagues (ECHL, AHL and "old" IHL). They've stuck with it for the most part, which means they have a taste for tradition. The colors are clean, the logo is clean, the lettering is clean, and the dark jerseys pay homage to "old time hockey" with the "tie down" at the neck. Any team who uses tie-downs in jerseys is good in my book. They're as complimentary to the game as ice cream to cake (I think I just drooled on my keyboard).


NHL

1. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS - a time-honored classic for an "Original Six" franchise. Except for a few alterations related to the trim and a third jersey over the years, this has stuck the same for generations. It's not too plain like the Red Wings or Maple Leafs, but they haven't jumped the couch with experimenting like the New York Rangers did in the 1970's. It's so popular, the darned threads have been featured in movies like "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and "Wayne's World."

2. WASHINGTON CAPITALS (2007-present) - I never was a fan of the "eagle" jersey used in the late 90's/early 21st century, and the Caps picked the perfect time to go back to the old-school red/white/blue colors of the past when Ovechkin and Co. turned the franchise around.

3. SAN JOSE SHARKS (1998-2007) - nobody does teal like the Sharks and I've always admired the signature lustrous, progressive look employed by the team during the "Owen Nolan era" which stood out with a dark teal and metallic design.

4. LOS ANGELES KINGS (1988-1998) - inserting a little childhood bias in here, so pardon me. I grew up a "sunbelt" kid. My first hockey game ever, live, was watching Wayne Gretzky work his magic with the puck in this uniform. It's clean, crisp and classic. It's the first jersey I ever owned as a kid. At the peak of Gretzky's Hollywood popularity, the threads were often seen on MTV (specifically, Riki Rachtman's "Headbanger's Ball").

5. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (1992-1997) - some may identify the Pens' pinnacle hockey look with "the skating penguin," but I'm going off the board with the "robo penguin" look. It was a much sleeker design, the Penguins were a fun team to watch with a healthy Mario Lemieux in these threads, and it symbolic of hockey's progressive look in the 1990's.


And, for your viewing amusement, a few looks of the NHL's past that I'm personally glad that have come and gone:

1. MIGHTY DUCKS OF ANAHEIM (3rd jersey, 1995-96): It might be just me, but a cartoon caricature of Wild Wing emerging from an icy pond just doesn't depict "intimidation."

2. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (1995-96): Fans launched so much of an uproar, the team ditched the "Gorton's Fisherman" logo after one season and went back to their "glory years" look two seasons later. While wearing the duds at road games against their rival New York Rangers, MSG fans mockingly replaced the chant "Let's Go Rangers!" with "We Want Fishsticks!"

3. NEW YORK RANGERS (1976-78): The Rangers threw caution to the wind with a far more progressive look in its time, but fans gave it thumbs down. The team ditched the look two years later and went back to their original "RANGERS" diagonal wordmark design - another "Original Six" classic.

4. CALGARY FLAMES (dark jersey, 2000-03): Some saw a raging horse. Others saw Mr. Ed with a sinus problem.


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. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com

In this space almost two weeks ago, I asked for your answers on what your pick for top Thunder highlight of the 2008-09 season. Mine was the Game 7 win at Ontario in the first round ...

I received multiple responses via the Thunder Insider and facebook (I love this social networking concept). Without further ado, here are the highlights of your "best of" ... many of them, on the entertaining side!

Jon Armstrong: Watching Kindle go headlong into the goalie after the puck had crossed the line, and watching Hip-Check Harry ( GO Constant GO!) knock the tar outta that one guy...you all know which one I'm talking about too ;)

Kent Armstrong: My favorite time was the month of January, a complete turnaround from the month of December and the start to a great hockey year.

Carol Lee Barker: Mine would be the Friday evening I went to the game in Ontario with Matt, Cherise & Sam. It was fun.

(Blogger's note: this is a close family friend who visited the booth with family during Game 1 of the Ontario series. The aforementioned "Matt" had me serve as the best man in his wedding. He's my best friend but also a Ducks fan - so go easy on him folks. ***Shameless plug off***)

Garrett Buck: Well I like their game 7 since i made the trip down there to see them but i also like the Utah game too

Heather Buckland: Mine was the Utah game when their goalie got suspended at the end of the game and Bo Cheeseman skated the "moon skate!"

Heather Fogg: I just loved it all, but watching Parker Van Buskirk in the playoffs was definitely a highlight! Man, I hope the team admin asks him to come back, he was a great addition to the team!

Barbara Gillespie: James Bates at 2:28 of overtime in Game 4, now mind you I might be a little biased since Jamie was one of my adopted players for the season.

Ed Gillespie: This year's team was fantastic. The games, the players ... it was enjoyable throughout the season and especially the post season. Next season players and team have some big shoes to fill.

Athena Hutsell: i love it all but I'm gonna half to go with heather on this one! Watching the opposing goalie get mad... and then Bo Cheeseman was perfect at that moon walk! it was awesome! Can't wait for 09-10 season! GO THUNDER!

Amanda Patton: i know i have to agree with Athena and Heather that was the BEST GAME EVER!!!!! That was very funny... can't wait, like 5 more months for next season.... ooo yea....:) ♥

(Another blogger's note, to Amanda: how on the Good Lord's green earth did you create that heart emoticon? I guess I'm showing my emoticon savvy here ... )

Leanne Emery Rutherford: Mine would have to be the Game 7 win at Ontario...way to take the Division champs out and advance to Round 2!!! Gosh I can't wait 'til the new season starts, that alone got me pumped up for 09-10!

Cori Swanson: Mine would be round two game six in Vegas. Watt delivered a cheap shot to Surma. Damian goes down hard. Comes out after intermission and scores twice. Can I get a "Watt watt?"

Sr.2112 (via Thunder Insider): January 18, Huddy's OT goal, capping off a 7 game winning streak. Video link provided

Ice Baby (via Thunder Insider): I'LL never forget... the first game under Matt Thomas, vs. Alaska, it truly opened up a window that the Thunder could turn the season around. They came out playing like a brand new team. One of the funniest moments was seeing Utah goalie Gherson lose his cool in the 3/27 home game. On a personal note, I won Damian Surma's jersey on 3/21, the same day I went to my first Dallas Stars (vs. SJ Sharks) game. And I will admit, watching the Thunder defeat the Reign in Game 7 of the 1st round of playoffs made me very emotional and definitely even more proud. Geez, why did you have to write this blog? It's prolonging the agony of hockey withdrawal. There were a lot of memorable things from this season that we talk about over and over again. Can't wait to see what the next season brings.

We'd be remiss without mentioning Cory Urquhart's two goals in the last minute-and-a-half of play at Phoenix (early January) to win, 5-4 ... or, a 7-2 Thunder win at home on Jan. 16 - the debut of head coach Matt Thomas at home on the Thunder bench ... or two more big crowds against Victoria in November for "Thunder Goes Pink IV" during a two-game series split against a tough Salmon Kings team ... or the 3-1 win vs. Las Vegas to get into the playoffs, on Craig Valette's goal late in the third period to snap a 1-1 tie in dramatic fashion.

I think the underlying theme is how much the playoffs whet the appetite of many Thunder fans for the upcoming 2009-10 season. At the very least, a disastrous season on-the-ice, heading into December, did an about-face with the success of January to April and then - the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The Thunder wanted progress on the ice. By virtue of word of mouth and a few comments I've read here, there have been fans who wanted progress. That happened this year and the groundwork has been laid for the 5^th Anniversary season.

UPDATE: While the Kelly Cup Finals are into the bulk of competition (I still pick Alaska in six, but South Carolina is making it awfully tough based on goaltending and how well they work a rugged forecheck with the talent that is on the ice) - the Thunder are already looking forward to the 2009-10 plans, which we'll document a lot here throughout the upcoming summer months.

Once the regular season schedule is finalized (should be coming shortly after the completion of the Finals), the promotional and giveaway lineup should follow shortly.

I conversed with Thunder head coach Matt Thomas today on what players are being protected (by league rules, we can't divulge that yet) but each team's "protected list" is due by June 1.

For those who are protected, the table is set for "qualifying offers" (the Thunder have first rights to all players in lieu of free agency), while the remaining players not on the protected list are free agents (save a few players who are under two-year AHL contracts or NHL contracts).

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. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com

It's typical that I don't write a blog like I write a 20-page college research paper.

The latter requires extensive brainstorming, research and mounds upon mounds of drafts (one of the few things I don't miss about college, ha).

With blogs, I write whatever flows through my word document is what flows freely through my head on the subject - almost kind of like a written version of calling a three-hour broadcast on the air, unscripted!

Thus, I've had to take a week or two and cool down from the season before I could properly prepare myself to offer thoughts on what was the most thrilling season in Thunder history. Not that I'm contradicting my methods above, but the cooling off period is necessary to put things into perspective.

I hope you enjoyed the ride. It was a tale of virtually two seasons, when the Thunder went seven games below the equator by New Year's Eve, and roared back with a playoff berth and a stretch of finishing six games over .500.

Give credit where obvious credit is due for the on-ice wizardry - Matt Thomas breathed new life into a team that grew with vim, vigor and accountability.

It officially signaled a new era in Stockton Thunder hockey, where on-ice success go hand-in-hand with the game-night entertainment factor that make this organization one of the most attractive in the entire ECHL (there are colleagues I've run into who report from their GM that Stockton is "one of the best set-ups in minor league hockey).

You also significantly contributed to that - the Thunder led the league in attendance for four straight seasons. Give yourself a pat on the back and hope to see you do it again next year in the "Drive for Five."


Among the highlights I will never forget from this magical season:

• Ryan Huddy's first ECHL goal on Thunder Goes Pink III vs. Victoria (beauty of a snapper from the right circle)
• Being able to call games in front of the league's largest fan base - again - for the fourth straight year
• Seven-game unbeaten streak in January
• The two-minute puck possession power-play in Alaska in Thomas' debut (puck never left the offensive zone)
• 7-0-1 in January
• Perugini's nine-game unbeaten streak
• Van Buskirk's unbeaten attitude in the postseason
• Valette's rocket-like snapper from the right circle vs. Las Vegas (Mar. 29)
• Matt Thomas' press conference and the look on the faces of those in attendance
• Finding Matt O'Dette in the Stockton Thunder dressing room tunnel 2 hours earlier
• Wayne Gretzky watching on the sidelines (Coyotes practice facility)
• The opening night crowd
• The "Thunder Goes Pink II" crowd (9,737)
• Game 4 crowd, 2^nd round vs. Las Vegas (6,000+ die-hards going bonkers, making it sound like 17,000 from where I was sitting)
• James Bates at 2:28 of overtime in Game 4
  
  MY WINNER: (these two are tied into one) 
• Game 7 - Citizens Business Bank Arena, first round, April 22
• The last minute of regulation in the aforementioned game that the Thunder survived - marking the biggest win in Thunder history, to date

There's mine. That officially kicks off our blog dialogue for the 2009 offseason.

What's yours? Share them in the message thread below. For those who are engaged in the facebook craze, I'll also post this on my facebook page and I'll put up some of your highlights back in this space as well.


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. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com

Gaining some semblance of a train of thought after arriving back in Stockton during the middle of the night, I'm finally confident to offer analysis of last night's Maalox Moment of a Game 2:

-         They say a series doesn't start until the road team wins a game. Consider it "Game On."

-         It's pretty evident at how the Thunder must stay out of the penalty box. Derek Eisler and I often talk about how teams draw the line at 5-6 power-plays a game before it becomes "too much." The Thunder kept Ontario at an 0-for-4 mark last night.

-         Check out the count of even strength goals for both teams:

o       Stockton 8 - Ontario 5 (we've eliminated two Ontario goals scored on delayed penalties, i.e. 6-on-5 skating situations). I think it's pretty safe to say the Thunder have at least held their own at an even-strength environment.

-         The Thunder proved that Bryan Pitton is out of the woods after going winless in the last two months of the season. Getting a win in front of him, with Andrew Perugini out, is a testimony to overall team "heart." Let's not forget #9 of the 16 keys to playoff success - THROW STATISTICS OUT THE WINDOW (i.e. Pitton not winning since Jan. 18).

-         Craig Valette and Colten Teubert are becoming a wild undercard to the overall battle between both teams. Valette sent a message to Teubert by dropping the gloves on Saturday after the Los Angeles Kings prospect hit everything that moved in Game 1. Then, the two engaged in a loose puck battle in the waning seconds of Game 2, which Valette pushed into the Ontario zone deep enough to prevent Teubert from starting one final rush up ice. Game. Over.

-         Home ice advantage is back in the Thunder favor. It comes at a good time with the Thunder still king of the ECHL attendance board for four straight years. With Thunder head coach Matt Thomas often talking about taking advantage of the crowd and using the boisterous atmosphere in the home town favor (i.e. Sullivan Arena, the Shark Tank), this is exhibit "A."

-         There's almost no line that hasn't shown up yet in these playoffs, but through two games, the best one for either team has been Blackwater - Urquhart - Valette (an eye-popping 10 points, combined in two games).

-         If you're coming out to Games 3, 4 or 5, I hope to see you at the new "Kings Room" of Stockton Arena (it's to the left of the arena Ticket Office). Swing on by 90 minutes before faceoff - let's talk some puck before both teams, as Mills Lane would say, "Get it on!"

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. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com

Random thoughts on a non-game day:

1. Banding together: Cleve Kinley's five-game suspension, stemming after a cross-check wasn't the best timing. The Thunder must band together without - again - their best puck-rushing defenseman and the anchor of their puck-possessive, attacking style. They've had to do it for the last 15 games and have been 7-8-0 in that situation (I'll omit last Saturday's game for this sake because Kinley barely played).

The good news is that Sebastien Bisaillon couldn't have returned at a better time. He's the most offensively-aware d-man the Thunder have now and his rocket slap shot is what the power-play needs. In the past couple weeks, it's been Mark Adamek and Matt O'Dette on the point - two players whose bread-and-butter play come more in their own end.

2. Bakersfield's legal matters: All seemed well for our neighbors to the south, the Bakersfield Condors, who went 8-1-1 in their last 10 games to miraculously get back into the Kelly Cup Playoff race.

Yet, they're now faced with two separate legal matters when the playoff push is coming around with the arrest of center Danny LaPointe and the suspensions of Head Coach Marty Raymond (seven days) and Assistant Coach Mark Pederson (indefinitely) - per President Matt Riley through what the team was calling an "internal matter."

Former players Sean Venedam and Scott Hay are taking over the interim coaching duties for now.

More can be found here

3. Chris Cichocki sighting: We always say the "hockey world is a small world" and because relationships are made in this business, you have to give kudos to Chris Cichocki - one of the classiest coaches I've worked with in the business, who landed on his feet in the American Hockey League yesterday after it was time for the Thunder to make a coaching change on Dec. 29. He's now serving as interim assistant coach for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after the domino effect went in order for the Penguins organization which began with the firing of Pittsburgh bench boss Michel Therrien.

It's his second AHL gig (was an assistant with the Grand Rapids Griffins during the 2004-05 NHL lockout year).

As I write this, he's on the ice with Head Coach Todd Rierden for the first time, assumingly helping out Penguins prospects Alex Goligoski, Paul Bissonnette, Tommy Goebel, Jeff Taffe and more.

4. Speaking of the AHL: Look who just got re-assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. Darren McCarty is next in line for the title, "ageless wonder" after Claude Lemieux and Chris Chelios hang it up for good!

5. Slow night in hockey last night: Two games on the ECHL slate, nothing in the AHL, so my attention was diverted to the Sharks/Stars game that had national TV coverage, with my XM Radio tuned into a dear colleague of mine, Dan Rusanowsky of the Sharks radio network and his partner, Jamie Baker.

Our NHL neighbors to the west didn't dominate the Stars as they have done to opponents earlier this season and they were goaded into a muscle-for-muscle battle in a 1-0 win at Dallas, whose hometown Stars forced the Sharks into a dump-and-chase fest.

Yet in a game decided by a nosehair, it proved why I believe Nabokov should still receive consideration for the Vezina Trophy (NHL's goaltender MVP award) and Rob Blake continues to make strides for his comeback as one of the league's top defensemen, making the play of the game (sorry, Setoguchi). An alternate captain, he went down in the slot - face in front of puck - and blocked Jere Lehtinen's wrist shot at the buzzer.

6. RADIO UPDATE: The Thunder are on radio at 1420 KSTN this Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Be sure to tune in on your way to the game or if you can't make it in person. We hope to see you though!

This Saturday, coverage of the Thunder/Idaho Steelheads is an exclusive presentation on www.StocktonThunder.com. If you can't tune in, get online when home from the game and check out our game highlights under the multimedia section titled "audio actualities" and relive all the excitement of that night's contest!

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. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com

Nothing much else you can say, but, one of the most impressive victories I have ever seen this year.

Starting out, the Thunder were tremendously shorthanded - and the lineup was whittled down to 12 after Constant was hurt in the second period (we should know more on his status later on Saturday). With the 12 that were able to play, there was tenacity, resiliency, commitment to the puck-possession style and more help from goaltending.

To say Andrew Perugini is on fire would be an understatement. Yet, he also received help from his D - everyone committed to clogging the lane in the third period to prevent quality scoring chances. The main goal in the third was to protect the 3-1 lead with a conservative chip-and-chase style, wait for scoring chances and then make the most of them (Urquhart and Huddy did).

Tonight's unsung hero might be Daryl Marcoux. He had two assists but was needed most in the defensive zone to simply get pucks out, block shots, deny passing lanes through the middle and create pressure on his opposing man. He doesn't get as much praise as he should and it's baffling - he has a +13 rating since his arrival in Stockton!

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. Got a question or comment? E-mail Mike at mbenton@stocktonthunder.com