STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, has announced a four-game preseason schedule for the 2010-11 season which starts on the road, Oct. 5 against the Alaska Aces at 8:15 p.m.

The Thunder will host the Ontario Reign in the team's lone preseason appearance at Stockton Arena, starting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8. Ticket information will be announced soon. The home game is part of a special home-and-home style series with the Reign and both teams meet the following night in Ontario at 7:00 p.m. at a site to be announced.

The Thunder will launch the preseason schedule with a two-game series at Alaska, marking the team's first inter-state preseason battle with an ECHL opponent.

STOCKTON THUNDER 2010-11 PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE (all times PT)
DATE                                      OPPONENT               LOCATION               TIME
TUESDAY          Oct. 5            @ ALASKA                Sullivan Arena             8:15 p.m.
WEDNESDAY   Oct. 6            @ ALASKA                Sullivan Arena             8:15 p.m.
FRIDAY             Oct. 8            ONTARIO                   Stockton Arena            7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY       Oct. 9            @ ONTARIO               Citizens Business Bank Arena         7:00 p.m.


Stockton and Alaska will meet for the first time since the Thunder eliminated the Aces from the Kelly Cup Playoffs, a 3-1 series win in the 2010 National Conference Quarterfinal. Both teams will also meet nine times during the regular season, starting Wednesday, Dec. 15 at Sullivan Arena at 8:15 p.m.

The Thunder and Ontario, who are competing in their third year as in-state rivals of the Pacific Division, will meet ten times in the regular season including Opening Night, starting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 at Stockton Arena. The Thunder went 7-3-0 in ten games last season against the Reign.

OPENING NIGHT AND TICKET INFORMATION
Opening Night is Friday, Oct. 15, when the Thunder opens the 2010-11 regular season at home against the Ontario Reign, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

The Thunder are freezing Season Ticket prices for the 2010-11 season, which are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (209) 373-1500 or by visiting www.stocktonthunder.com. Partial-season Mini Plans are also available now and information on individual tickets will be announced soon.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," the 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. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.