STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, announced Edmonton has recalled rookie center Ryan Martindale from the Thunder to the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League.

Martindale, 20, should be available for the Barons’ next game on Wednesday for a 5:00 p.m. PT faceoff against the Texas Stars.

The 6-foot-3 and 207 pound forward has scored 15 points (6g-9a) and collected ten penalty minutes in 34 games this season. He has notched three multi point games and a season high five game scoring streak from Dec. 16-30.

Martindale was selected by Edmonton in the third round (61st overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and suited up in two preseason games for the Oilers this season.

He has appeared in two AHL games with Oklahoma City this season and posted two penalty minutes.

For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, announced Edmonton has recalled rookie goaltender Olivier Roy (WAH, oh-liv-EE-yay) from the Thunder to the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League.

Roy, 20, has appeared in 32 ECHL games this season, ranks sixth in the league with a 2.44 goals against average, third with a .927 save percentage and has compiled a record of 12-15-5. His three shutouts have tied a Thunder regular season record.

The native of Causapscal, Quebec has earned two ECHL Goaltender of the Week awards this season.

Roy was selected in the fifth round (133rd overall) by the Oilers in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, was ranked as the second highest North American goaltender by the Central Scouting Bureau before the draft and represented Canada at the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships.

He appeared in 200 games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Cape Breton and Acadie-Bathurst going 123-57-8 with 14 shutouts, a 2.77 goals-against average and a save percentage of .906. Roy was named to the Canadian Hockey League All-Rookie Team and received the QMJHL Rookie of the Year award in 2007-08.

Roy has three games of AHL experience with the Springfield Falcons, where he was 1-1-0 with a .913 save percentage and 2.57 goals-against-average in 2009-10.

The transaction comes on the same day that Edmonton recalled goaltender Yann Danis from Oklahoma City.

For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, announced rookie left wing Ian O’Connor has been loaned to the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey league on a professional tryout agreement (PTO).

O’Connor, 24, ranks second on the Thunder with 14 goals and has collected 25 points (14g-11a) and 47 penalty minutes in 45 games this season. He made his pro debut with the Reading Royals of the ECHL last season, notching one goal, seven penalty minutes and a +1 rating in six games.

The 6-foot and 200 pound forward skated with Providence College (NCAA) and led the Friars last season as a senior with a career-high 24 points (8g-16a) and 16 assists in 34 games. The native of Londonderry, N. H. suited up in 135 career games for Providence, collecting 62 points (26g-36a) and 102 penalty minutes through four seasons (2007-11).

O’Connor should be available to make his AHL debut tomorrow when Worcester visits the Connecticut Whale at 4:00 p.m. PT.

For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks

Ontario Reign: Los Angeles Kings

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, Feb. 17 vs. Idaho Steelheads, 7:30 p.m.

KEVIN BAKER BOBBLEHEAD GIVEAWAY (presented by MetroPCS and KAT Country 103)

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

Tonight’s Promotion: FAMILY DAY (presented by Sutter Gould Medical Foundation and 99.3 KJOY)

National Anthem Singer: Sierra Middle School

Public Address Announcer: Mike McKnight

In-Arena Emcee: Jungle Jim

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder battles the Ontario Reign on Wednesday to open up a four game homestand at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 5-3-2 this season against the Reign and in the last meeting the Thunder defeated Ontario, 4-3 in a shootout at Stockton Arena on Dec. 31. Through 40 regular season games in the all-time series, the Thunder is 23-12-5 against Ontario. Wednesday’s game will be the final time the teams meet this season at Stockton Arena.

THUNDER BOOMING AGAIN

In the last 10 home games, the Thunder have blasted 42 goals to average 4.2 goals per game. They most recently scored seven in a 7-2 victory over Idaho on Feb. 3 where they poured 40 shots on goal and had six goals through two periods. In the game, the Thunder came within two goals of tying a Thunder record of nine goals set in one game (Dec. 10 vs. Bakersfield), also set at Stockton Arena.

SEASON SERIES

Sat. Oct. 15 Stockton 2 at Ontario 3 (SO)

Fri. Oct. 28 Stockton 2 at Ontario 4

Wed. Nov. 16 Stockton 2 at Ontario 4

Fri. Nov. 18 Stockton 3 at Ontario 2

Sat. Nov. 19 Stockton 3 at Ontario 1

Wed. Nov. 30 Stockton 4 at Ontario 3 (SO)

Fri. Dec. 2 Ontario 4 at Stockton 0

Sun. Dec. 4 Stockton 2 at Ontario 0

Fri. Dec. 30 Ontario 4 at Stockton 3 (SO)

Sat. Dec. 31 Ontario 3 at Stockton 4 (SO)

Wed. Feb. 15 Ontario 7:00 p.m.

Wed. Mar. 21 at Ontario 7:00 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT:

STK 4 – ONT 3 (SO) (12/31/11): Goaltender Olivier Roy made 26 saves and stopped all five shootout attempts to help lift the Stockton Thunder (13-13-4, 30 points) to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Ontario Reign before a crowd of 6,044 on Saturday night at Stockton Arena. The Thunder, who hosted a special New Year’s Eve event to close out the calendar year, was aided offensively with two goals by Kevin Baker and Milan Kytnar’s third period goal. Roy, who earned his first career win at Stockton Arena, stopped Kevin Estrada with a blocker save in the fifth round. The Thunder snapped a six game winless skid (0-5-1) and finished the 2011 year with a combined record of 38-26-10.

LAST THREE GAMES:

COL 4 – STK 1 (2/11/12): Kyle Jones made 36 saves for his 21st win of the season, enough to help the Colorado Eagles escape and defeat the Stockton Thunder (23-20-5, 51 points) 4-1 before 5,289 fans at Budweiser Events Center on Saturday night. The Thunder, who outshot the Eagles 42-36, nearly raged back from a 2-0 deficit in the third period. After a Max Campbell goal to slice the deficit to 2-1 Stockton had a game-tying marker by Matt Foy waved off with 3:03 remaining in the game on a rebound chance that was shoved at the goal line. Ben Chiarot registered Colorado’s game winning goal on a third period penalty shot.

COL 5 – STK 2 (2/10/12): Steve Haddon and Joey Sides each scored a pair of goals to help the Colorado Eagles manufacture a wire to wire effort and defeat the Stockton Thunder (23-19-5, 51 points), 5-2, before an announced sold out crowd of 5,289 at the Budweiser Events Center on Friday night. The Thunder, who saw a 5-0-1 streak come to an end, were outshot 41-29 and received their offensive contributions behind a second period goal by Max Campbell and a third period goal by Chris Doyle, who continued to stay hot with his 10th goal in the last 12 games.

IDH 2 – STK 1 (SO) (2/4/12): Jerry Kuhn made 41 saves and stopped four of five in the shootout to help the Idaho Steelheads send the Stockton Thunder (23-18-5, 51 points) to a 2-1 shootout defeat before a crowd of 7,032 at Stockton Arena on Saturday. Derek LeBlanc netted Idaho’s only goal in regulation, before a goal scored from red hot Thunder center Chris Doyle in the second period. LeBlanc ended the game with a forehand deke to Thunder goaltender Olivier Roy’s blocker side in the bottom of the shootout’s fifth round. Stockton extended an unbeaten streak in regulation to six games (5-0-1) overall and seven games (6-0-1) at home.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

• Matt Thomas is 6 wins away from 300 in his professional coaching career

• Kevin Baker is 17 goals away from 200 in his professional career

• Matt Foy is 5 points away from 200 in his professional career

OH, DOYLE RULES

Thunder center Chris Doyle was named Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week last Tuesday after a performance during the previous week that featured four goals and three assists in three games. He guided the Thunder to a 2-0-1 record during the week and has scored ten goals in 13 games since joining the team in January. He was the first Thunder player to receive the weekly award this season.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

An exclusive club, the Thunder averaged over 6,000 fans per game and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth straight year in 2010-11, ranking second in ECHL in attendance with 6,382 fans per game. Stockton has 17 sellouts in the team’s franchise history. They welcomed 12 crowds of 7,000 or more at Stockton Arena last season and had its highest attendance since 2007-08, a six percent increase from 2009-10. This season, the Thunder has welcome 11 crowds of 6,000 or more to Stockton Arena and drew a season high 9,012 fans on Nov. 5 vs. Utah.

The Thunder is third in ECHL attendance with an average of 5,826 fans per game.

GOAL ORIENTED

Thunder right winger Kevin Baker was signed as a free agent on Aug. 24 and brings a wealth of offensive accomplishments to the Thunder roster. He was named ECHL Most Valuable Player in 2008-09 and his 57 goals that season were most in the league since 2000-01. He ranks third in ECHL all-time goal scoring (since 2006-07) with 171 goals. On Dec. 10 vs. Bakersfield, he collected his first hat trick of the season.

ROY WORRY?

Thunder goaltender and Edmonton Oilers prospect Olivier Roy was named runner up for ECHL Goaltender of the Week last Tuesday. From Jan. 25 through Feb. 13, he has stood atop the ECHL with a 1.38 goals against average and has compiled a 2-2-1 record in five games, adding a .963 save percentage.

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, announced San Jose has recalled goaltender Alex Stalock (STAY-lock) from the Thunder to the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League.

The transaction leaves the Thunder with two goaltenders, Olivier Roy and Thomas Heemskerk, on the roster. Heemskerk is expected to be available to suit up for the Thunder’s next game on Wednesday against the Ontario Reign at 7:00 p.m. (1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com) at Stockton Arena.

Heemskerk was placed on injured reserve on Jan. 18 and is 8-5-0 in 13 games this season with a .894 save percentage.

Stalock, 24, earned a win in his NHL debut last season with San Jose on Feb. 1 against Phoenix and was selected by the Sharks in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

After missing the final 29 games of last season due to injury, Stalock was assigned to Stockton from Worcester on Jan. 18 and posted a 5-1-0 record in six ECHL games, adding a 2.83 goals-against-average and .914 save percentage.

He became the third goaltender in Thunder history (Devan Dubnyk in 2006-07 and Heemskerk in 2011-12) to tally a 5-0-0 record in his first five decisions.

The 6-foot and 180-pound goaltender appeared in 41 games for Worcester in 2010-11 and went 19-17-4 with a goals against average of 2.63 and a save percentage of .907.

Stalock was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team and selected to the All-Star Game in 2009-10 when he set an AHL rookie goaltending record with 39 wins. He led the league in minutes played (3,534), notched a .908 save percentage, four shutouts and was 39-19-2 in 61 games.

For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

True story …

I was ambushed yesterday on the airline flight home with the Thunder, who played well enough to win at Colorado but have to absorb zero points from the last weekend and move on from it.

At approximately 9:20 a.m. MT time, a harmless, innocent male flight attendant (we’ll call him “Jim”) saunters to the back of the plane, where most of us are sitting.

Jim: are most of you with a professional hockey team?

Team (4-5 players/staff/etc): yes, Stockton Thunder.

Jim: Thank you!

Five minutes later …

Jim (over the airline intercom): we understand there’s a professional hockey team gracing us with our presence on board today, the Stockton Thunder … I have a special message for Mike Benton, the team’s radio broadcaster … Mike, will you please ring your flight attendant call button?

Me (knowing this must be good): *ding*

Jim: Thanks, Mike. We’ve just received a message from the hotel that they have retrieved your lost pair of Spiderman pajamas.

(I’ll let you figure out how much laughter roared on that plane for the next 120 seconds.)

Jim: They have been carefully packaged and are currently en route back to Stockton for your claim.

Me: (hands in the air like I had won the Stanley Cup.)

Silly hockey players.

Word I heard was that head coach Matt Thomas was the original intended target, but that “plan A” initiative was shot down after it was remembered a two-game/zero-win weekend isn’t exactly a good time for that.

Vengeance will be mine (it’s a long season)!

Mike Benton has served the Thunder as television and radio play-by-play announcer since the team’s inception. Got a question or comment?
Follow Mike on twitter at twitter.com/Benton_mike

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks

Colorado Eagles: Winnipeg Jets

NEXT HOME GAME

Wednesday, Feb. 15 vs. Ontario Reign, 7:00 p.m.

FAMILY DAY (presented by Sutter Gould Medical Foundation and 99.3 KJOY)

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder hits the road for a two game series in back to back days, visiting the Colorado Eagles beginning Friday. The game on Friday will be the fourth of nine matchups between the teams this season. Colorado is in their first season in the ECHL after spending the previous eight seasons in the Central Hockey League. The Thunder last faced Colorado on Oct. 22 and won 5-4 in the Eagles’ first ECHL home loss at the Budweiser Events Center. The Thunder is 5-0-1 in the last six games.

THERE IS NO KEY FOR STALOCK

Thunder goaltender and San Jose Sharks prospect Alex Stalock is 5-0-0 in five ECHL games since being assigned by San Jose on Jan. 18. Since Jan. 24, Stalock has compiled a .945 save percentage and 1.75 goals against average. He won in his NHL debut last season with San Jose on Feb. 1 vs. Phoenix.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder has been involved in ten games decided by one goal this season, boasting a record of 6-2-2 in that scenario. Stockton is also 7-1-1 when leading after one period on the road. The last time out in Colorado, the Thunder defeated the Eagles, 5-4 at Budweiser Events Center on Oct. 22 and led 2-0 after the first period.

THUNDER BOOMING AGAIN

In the last 11 games, the Thunder have blasted through with 43 goals, including seven in a 7-2 victory over Idaho last Friday where they poured 40 shots on goal and had six goals through two periods. In the game, the Thunder came within two goals of tying a Thunder record of nine goals set in one game (Dec. 10 vs. Bakersfield).

SEASON SERIES

Fri. Oct. 14 Colorado 5 at Stockton 2

Fri. Oct. 21 Stockton 1 at Colorado 3

Sat. Oct. 22 Stockton 5 at Colorado 4

Fri. Feb. 10 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 11 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 18 Colorado 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 19 Colorado 4:00 p.m.

Tue. Mar. 6 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

Wed. Mar. 7 at Colorado 6:05 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT:

STK 5 – COL 4 (10/22/11): Matt Foy notched two goals, added an assist and goaltender Thomas Heemskerk won in his pro debut with 27 saves, helping the Stockton Thunder (1-2-1, 3 points) defeat the Colorado Eagles, 5-4, before a sellout crowd of 5,289 at the Budweiser Events Center on Saturday. The Thunder, who earned a split in the road series and their first win of the season, had additional goal scoring support from Gabriel Levesque (two points), Kevin Baker and Jordan Foreman. Colorado was handed their first ECHL home loss.

LAST THREE GAMES:

IDH 2 – STK 1 (SO) (2/4/12): Jerry Kuhn made 41 saves and stopped four of five in the shootout to help the Idaho Steelheads send the Stockton Thunder (23-18-5, 51 points) to a 2-1 shootout defeat before a crowd of 7,032 at Stockton Arena on Saturday. Derek LeBlanc netted Idaho’s only goal in regulation, before a goal scored from red hot Thunder center Chris Doyle in the second period. LeBlanc ended the game with a forehand deke to Thunder goaltender Olivier Roy’s blocker side in the bottom of the shootout’s fifth round. Stockton extended an unbeaten streak in regulation to six games (5-0-1) overall and seven games (6-0-1) at home.

STK 7 – IDH 2 (2/3/12): Garet Hunt combined with linemates Kevin Baker and Chris Doyle for a ten point effort to help the Stockton Thunder (23-18-4, 50 points) rout the Idaho Steelheads in a 7-2 victory before a crowd of 6,170 at Stockton Arena on Friday. The Thunder, who collected their eighth win in the last nine games (8-1-0) and ran their season long win streak to five straight games, scored six unanswered goals and helped goaltender Alex Stalock improve to 5-0-0 in five games with a 29 save effort. Doyle scored a goal and added three assists for a career high tying four point effort.

STK 4 – BAK 1 (2/1/12): Goaltender Olivier Roy earned a career high 55 saves and Chris Doyle scored a pair of goals to lead a wire to wire effort by the Stockton Thunder (22-18-4, 48 points), dispatching the Bakersfield Condors in a 4-1 victory at Rabobank Arena on Wednesday. Roy came one save shy of Jake Moreland’s all time Thunder single game save record, stopping all 38 shots he faced through two periods. The Thunder won their fourth game in a row – a season high – and jumped to one point back of Colorado for fourth place in the Western Conference.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

• Matt Thomas is 6 wins away from 300 in his professional coaching career

• Kevin Baker is 17 goals away from 200 in his professional career

• Matt Foy is 5 points away from 200 in his professional career

OH, DOYLE RULES

Thunder center Chris Doyle was named Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week on Tuesday after a performance last week that featured four goals and three assists in three games. He guided the Thunder to a 2-0-1 record during the week and has scored nine goals in 11 games since joining the team in January. He was the first Thunder player to receive the weekly award this season.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

An exclusive club, the Thunder averaged over 6,000 fans per game and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth straight year in 2010-11, ranking second in ECHL in attendance with 6,382 fans per game. Stockton has 17 sellouts in the team’s franchise history. They welcomed 12 crowds of 7,000 or more at Stockton Arena last season and had its highest attendance since 2007-08, a six percent increase from 2009-10. This season, the Thunder has welcome 11 crowds of 6,000 or more to Stockton Arena and drew a season high 9,012 fans on Nov. 5 vs. Utah. The Thunder is second in ECHL attendance with an average of 5,826 fans per game.

GOAL ORIENTED

Thunder right winger Kevin Baker was signed as a free agent on Aug. 24 and brings a wealth of offensive accomplishments to the Thunder roster. He was named ECHL Most Valuable Player in 2008-09 and his 57 goals that season were most in the league since 2000-01. He ranks third in ECHL all-time goal scoring (since 2006-07) with 171 goals. On Dec. 10 vs. Bakersfield, he collected his first hat trick of the season.

]]> http://www.stocktonthunder.com/2012/02/10/preview-going-the-extra-mile-high/feed/ 0 http://www.stocktonthunder.com/2012/02/09/bentons-blog-airplane-mode/ http://www.stocktonthunder.com/2012/02/09/bentons-blog-airplane-mode/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:35:12 +0000 Mike Benton http://www.stocktonthunder.com/?p=8743 A rapidly improving defense, Owen Nolan and Sky Mall were on the mind of Thunder radio voice Mike Benton, who files this from Colorado. (photo by Sean Blair)

The Oklahoma City Barons signed defenseman Dan Ringwald to a two-way deal with the team, General Manager Bill Scott announced today.

Ringwald, a 6-1, 205-pounder from Oakville, Ontario has played 23 games with the Barons this season, recording seven points (1-6-7). After attending training camp with the Barons, he began the season with Stockton of the ECHL. With Stockton, he played in 11 games and scored nine points (2-7-9). During his professional career, he has played in 96 games, recording 39 points (4-35-39).

Prior to turning pro, Ringwald played four seasons at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. In 146 games over four seasons, he recorded 125 points (21-104-125).

“Dan has played very well for us on each occasion that we brought him in from Stockton on a tryout basis,” said Scott. “His play on the ice and attitude off it has earned him this contract and we look forward to him being a big part of our team as we head into the home stretch of the regular season.”

Oklahoma City hits the road for two games this weekend against the Abbotsford Heat, the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames. Thursday evening, the Barons will skate at the Scotiabank Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames. This marks the second straight season the Heat have hosted the Barons in their parent club’s home rink. Faceoff is set for 8 p.m. (ct). Saturday, the teams finish their regular season series in Abbotsford. Faceoff is set for 9 p.m. (ct).

MORE: Ryan Lowery career statistics

MORE: Cameron Abney Oilers profile

Ryan Lowery has 7 points in 26 AHL games from the blueline. He suited up for the Edmonton Oilers in last September's YoungStars Tournament. (photo by Steven Christy)

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, announced defenseman Ryan Lowery and right winger Cameron Abney have been assigned to the Thunder from the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League.

Both players are expected to be available to suit up for the Thunder, who returns to play on Friday at 6:05 p.m. (1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com) for the start of a two game road trip against the Colorado Eagles.

Lowery, 23, was signed to an AHL contract with Oklahoma City on Sept. 23, 2011 and has notched seven points (1g-6a), 16 penalty minutes and a +1 rating in 26 games. He skated with the Edmonton Oilers in the 2011 YoungStars Tournament in Penticton, B.C. and scored a goal in two games.

The 5-foot-11 and 189 pound blueliner was co-captain as a 2010-11 senior at Colorado College and suited up in 152 career games with the Tigers, recording 46 points (7g-39a) and 152 penalty minutes. He collected 35 of his 46 points during his final two seasons and posted a career high 18 points (4g-14a) in 38 games as a 2009-10 junior.

The Thunder acquired his ECHL contract rights from the Greenville Road Warriors on Jan. 24 in exchange for right wing Bretton Cameron.

Abney, 20, was selected by the Oilers in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and skated in two games for Edmonton at this year’s YoungStars Tournament, collecting an assist, a +1 rating and fighting major.

The 6-foot-5 and 205 pound rookie forward has suited up in 24 games for the Thunder, collecting five points (2g-3a) and 112 penalty minutes.

He has skated in 12 AHL games and posted 24 penalty minutes. Abney made his debut with Oklahoma City on Dec. 10 at Texas and was +1 in a 3-2 Barons win.

For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.