09/28/2010 10:21 AM - Forward is eighth to return from last year's Conference Finals squad
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MORE: JASON PITTON CAREER STATISTICS
VIDEO: (Coming soon) Matt Thomas comments on bringing back Jason Pitton
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks, and Thunder head coach Matt Thomas announced today the team has re-signed left winger Jason Pitton (PITT-in). Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Pitton, 24, is the eighth player to return from last year's Thunder team that advanced to the National Conference Finals for the first time.
"Jason became a key contributor to our success and everyone remembers how much of a force he was in our playoff run last season," said Thomas. "He's a big body, a great skater, has a great set of hands and brings quite a bit of toughness to our identity. We want to be a big, strong team that can score goals, make you pay physically and he fits that identity to a 'T' with his playing style."
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| Jason Pitton (17) lays a check into Logan MacMillan of the Bakersfield Condors. (photo by Sean Blair) |
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound forward was selected by the New York Islanders in the eighth round (244th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and enjoyed a career-high 11 goals and 24 points (11g-13a) in 38 ECHL games. He led the Thunder with seven goals in the Kelly Cup Playoffs and totaled 14 points (7g-7a) in 15 postseason games.
Currently, he is attending AHL training camp with the Manitoba Moose and was signed by Springfield on Jan. 21 on a professional tryout agreement last season. He suited up 25 AHL games, scoring one goal, one assist and adding 22 penalty minutes.
The Brampton, Ontario native has collected 37 career points (16g-21a) in 61 ECHL games with Stockton and Utah. In 161 career games in the AHL, Pitton has registered 24 goals, 54 points (24g-30a) and 198 penalty minutes with Bridgeport and Springfield.
"It wasn't too hard of a decision to come back considering I had such a great time last year with our great group of guys in the room, the fans and the enjoyable experience of playing in Stockton night in and night out," said Pitton. "I know with Matt Thomas and Matt O'Dette back here again, we'll have that same type of feel to it. I've been working off the ice at refining my physical conditioning and on the ice with my hands, and I can't wait use that to contribute offensively."
Pitton scored 60 goals, 104 points (60g-44a) and collected 122 penalty minutes in 204 career games through four seasons (2002-06) in the Ontario Hockey League with Sault Ste. Marie and Guelph.
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 and Alaska Aces meet in the preseason opener on Oct. 5 at Sullivan Arena, beginning at 8:15 p.m. The Thunder and Ontario Reign square off in the only preseason game at Stockton Arena on Friday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Training camp opens Sunday, Oct. 3 at Stockton Arena, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," 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. Season Tickets and mini-plans for 2010-11 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/.
-Written by the Stockton Thunder-
*Reprinted by OilersJambalaya.com with permission from the Stockton Thunder hockey club*
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