04/08/2008 4:25 PM -

Home game tickets on sale now, Thunder visits Las Vegas in game 1 this Friday


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, announced ECHL all-star selection and rookie center Ryan O'Marra (oh-MARE-ah) has been reassigned to the Thunder from Springfield and rookie right wing David Rohlfs has been placed on the three-day injured reserve list.

O'Marra will join the Thunder in the lineup for the Kelly Cup Playoffs beginning Friday for game one of the National Conference Quarterfinals against the Las Vegas Wranglers, starting at 7:05 p.m. from Orleans Arena.

O'Marra, 20, was named to the National Conference roster for the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game after leading the Thunder with 11 goals and ranking third on the club with 20 points (11g-9a) in 24 games. Selected in the first round (15^th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders, O'Marra has appeared in 39 career games at the AHL level with Springfield and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 14 points (6g-8a) with 35 penalty minutes. O'Marra appeared in three Calder Cup Playoff games with Bridgeport in 2005-06, tallying an assist.

The 6-foot-1, 193-pound center spent time with the Oilers in 2007-08 training camp and appeared in two preseason games, with Edmonton tallying a 2-0-0 record with O'Marra in the lineup. O'Marra was obtained by the Oilers from the Islanders, along with right wing Robert Nilsson and a first round NHL draft pick, in exchange for veteran right wing Ryan Smyth on February 27, 2007.

O'Marra helped guide Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2004 Junior World Cup (Under-18), serving as an assistant captain. The Tokyo, Japan native made hockey history as the first Japanese-born Canadian player selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft and is the second player previously selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft to dot the Thunder roster in as many years, joined by goaltender Devan Dubnyk in 2006-07 (Oilers first round selection, 14^th overall, 2004).

The Thunder opens the Kelly Cup Playoffs in game 1 of the National Conference Quarterfinals against the Las Vegas Wranglers, beginning on Friday, April 11 at 7:05 p.m. from Orleans Arena.


STOCKTON VS. LAS VEGAS - NATIONAL CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
Game 1: at Las Vegas - Friday, April 11 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena)
Game 2: at Las Vegas - Saturday, April 12 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena)
Game 3: at Stockton - Sunday, April 13 - 6:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena)
Game 4: at Stockton - Friday, April 18 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)
Game 5: at Stockton - Sunday, April 20 - 4:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena) *
Game 6: at Las Vegas - Tuesday, April 22 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena) *
Game 7: at Las Vegas - Wednesday, April 23 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena) *

* If necessary             


The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season tickets for 2008-09 and 2008 Kelly Cup Playoff ticket packages and individual tickets are now on sale. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.