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Shown here taking out Victoria's Kiel McLeod into the boards, Lee helped guide the Thunder to a 13-4-0 run heading into last year's playoffs.
(photo by George Steckler) |
A third round selection (71st overall) of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Lee scored eight points (2g-6a) and was +8 in just 16 regular season games with the Thunder last year, originally acquired from the Columbia Inferno in a four-team on March 7, 2007 in exchange for defenseman Bryan Rodney.
The Thunder compiled a 14-3-0 regular season record following the trade for Lee.
The Berrien Springs, Michigan native began the year with the Gwinnett Gladiators and tallied 16 points (3g-13a) with a +7 rating and 111 penalty minutes in 71 combined games in 2006-07. Lee has appeared in 133 games in his professional career, scoring 24 points (5g-19a) with 226 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2 blueliner has scored five points (2g-3a) and added 16 penalty minutes in 13 career Kelly Cup Playoff games.
Additionally, Lee has appeared in 60 combined games with Cincinnati, Norfolk and Chicago of the American Hockey League, notching eight points (2g-6a) and 113 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Berrien Springs, Michigan native scored 107 points (25g-82a) in 319 junior career games, spanning five seasons (2000-05) with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League while helping guide Erie to an OHL Robertson Cup title in 2001-02.
"I was excited about getting a new start about Stockton after the trade in March and after coming here, I was welcomed right from the start which made it comfortable," said Lee. "I like Chris' playing style and the way his players buy into his system. It's always nice to play in a great facility like Stockton Arena and every player loves to play in front of a large group who support you like Thunder fans which it makes it enjoyable for everyone in our dressing room."
Lee joins defensemen Beau Geisler, Mark Adamek and right wing Tim Verbeek as returners from last year's Kelly Cup playoff squad that tied for fourth in the ECHL with 197 goals allowed (2.7 per game).
ABOUT THE ECHL
Opening Day for the 20th Anniversary Season will be Oct. 18 when the Johnstown Chiefs host the Wheeling Nailers at Cambria County War Memorial in a rematch of Game 7 from the first-ever ECHL Finals.
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the Premier ‘AA' Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that will have 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08. The 25 teams includes the Mississippi (Biloxi) Sea Wolves, who return after missing two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the expansion Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals. The ECHL will play 900 games beginning Oct. 18 and concluding Apr. 5.
GAME TIMES CHANGED
Two game times on the 2007-08 Thunder schedule have been changed. A road game scheduled for December 29 against the Bakersfield Condors has been changed from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., and an additionally scheduled road game at Bakersfield on February 23 has been changed from 8:00 to 7:00 p.m. PT.
Details on Thunder 2007 training camp information will be announced soon. The Thunder begins the 2007-08 ECHL season Friday, October 19 on the road against the Bakersfield Condors at 7:00 p.m. PT, and faces the Alaska Aces on Saturday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. PT in the home opener at Stockton Arena.
Host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game, the Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets for 2007-08 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/.
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Click here to view Brian Lee's career playing statistics.
