GAME RECAP: Stockton 7 - Victoria 2 (ECHL)

GAME RECAP: Stockton 7 - Victoria 2
03/17/2010 9:40 PM


03/17/2010 9:40 PM -
O'BROTHER!
Thunder routs Victoria on St. Patrick's Day to open seven-game homestand,
Hemingways, Hunts chip in

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Colin Hemingway continued his assault on Victoria's backchecking scheme with a goal and two assists, totaling 24 points in 15 games this year against the Salmon Kings. (photo by George Steckler)

STOCKTON, Calif. - All-Star center Chris D'Alvise (2g-1a) was one of five players to record multi-point games and help lead the Stockton Thunder (29-24-9, 67 points) to a 7-2 rout of the Victoria Salmon Kings before 4,072 fans at Stockton Arena on Wednesday.

In opening a seven-game homestand which includes eight of the last 11 games of the season at Stockton Arena, the Thunder, who led wire-to-wire in the game, improved to 12-2-4 at home since Dec. 4 and moved to a fourth place tie in the National Conference with Las Vegas, one point behind Victoria for third place.

Colin Hemingway and brother Brett were paired on the same line with Oren Eizenman and the brotherly duo combined for five points (3g-2a), while Eizenman had one assist. Defenseman Trevor Hunt, making his pro debut and brother Garet each recorded an assist as well.

On the first shift of the game, Eizenman batted a loose puck out of mid air at the doorstep to lift the Thunder to a 1-0 lead just 44 seconds in, after Brett Hemingway hit the post on a snap shot at the right wing and Colin Hemingway was stopped on a rebound from tight range.

Brett broke a nine-game goal-scoring drought to push the lead to 2-0, finishing a rebound at the right goal line after Daryl Marcoux was stopped on a wrist shot from between the circles.

Jimmy Sharrow converted a backdoor feed by Randall Gelech from the left corner just 42 seconds into the second period to slice the deficit to 2-1, but just 11 seconds later, a Daryl Marcoux long bomb pass found D'Alvise on a breakaway, who beat Matt Keetley inside the right goal post for his 27th goal of the year to restore the Thunder two-goal margin at 3-1.

Victoria got back into the game again on Chad Painchaud's 28th marker of the year with 14 minutes left in the period, taking a rebound below the left circle and sneaking it through Andrew Perugini's five hole for a 3-2 score.

Yet, a four-goal attack by Stockton put the game out of reach in the third period, beginning with Matt Robinson's career-high 25th goal of the year to boost the lead to 4-2 just 1:04 into the period off a rebound at the left post.

Just 45 seconds later, Igor Gongalsky caught a piece of Garet Hunt's spin-around shot from between the circles with a screen at the goal mouth and increased the bulge to 5-2 with his 13th goal of the season.

A blast by Colin Hemingway, his 23rd goal, hiked the Thunder lead to 6-2 when he teed up a loose puck at the right circle and beat Keetley past the glove.

D'Alvise's second goal of the game put on the finishing touches with 33.1 seconds left, burying a one-timer from inside of the left circle on a feed by James Bates from behind the net. Trevor Hunt completed his debut and +2 effort with an assist on the play, feeding the puck to Bates from the left point.

Perugini earned his 19th win of the season (19-12-4) by making 22 saves.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched J.F. Caudron (injured reserve), Riley Emmerson (healthy), Matt O'Dette (healthy) and Craig Valette (injured reserve) ... the Thunder outshot Victoria 37-24 and raced out to a 9-1 advantage in the opening minutes of the game ... Eizenman's pair of points boosted his scoring streak to seven straight games ... Marcoux earned the third star honors with a +4 rating and career-high three asssits ... Colin Hemingway's three-point effort gave him 24 points in 15 games against Victoria this season.

The Thunder continues the seven-game homestand on Friday at 7:30 p.m., hosting the Utah Grizzlies at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard and viewed online exclusively at www.stocktonthunder.com , courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 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/

THREE STARS:
1. STK - 10 Chris D'Alvise
2. STK - 20 Colin Hemingway
3. STK - 27 Daryl Marcoux

CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE AT STOCKTONTHUNDER.COM

*Reprinted with permission from Stockton Thunder Professional Hockey Club, ECHL. The Stockton Thunder are a proud 'AA' affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL) and Springfield Falcons (AHL) *