Why Do We Care About The Stockton Thunder? (ECHL)

The Stockton Thunder is an ECHL team that has an affiliation (*not yet confirmed for this upcoming season*) with both the Edmonton Oilers (NHL), and the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL) Here is why the Thunder are glad for their affiliations.

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers, one of the most storied teams in hockey history, extended its affiliation agreement with the Stockton Thunder in the summer of 2009 after the Thunder advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive season, increased a total of four alum that have advanced onto the NHL and produced eight ECHL All-Star selections in three seasons.

For the fifth (**not yet confirmed**) consecutive season, Stockton will serve as the AA minor-league affiliate for Oilers prospects. Since the Thunder and Oilers began their partnership in 2006-07, the Thunder has advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs (edit) four* consecutive years and four former Thunder players - right wing Troy Bodie, center Tim Sestito, left wing Liam Reddox and defenseman Bryan Young - have gone on to play in the NHL.

Sestito made his NHL debut with the Oilers last season on Nov. 26 against the Los Angeles Kings. The 6-foot, 195-pound forward played in 66 games for the Thunder in 2006-07, ranking second on the club with 132 penalty minutes while scoring 26 points (13g-13a). Sestito, who wore the "C" as captain for the Springfield Falcons of the AHL last year, helped guide the Thunder to the first Kelly Cup Playoff berth in team history during 2006-07 and scored three points (2g-1a) in six playoff games, ranking tied for second on the team in playoff scoring.

Bodie debuted with the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 16 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 6-foot-4, 219-pound forward was originally selected by the Oilers in the ninth round (278th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and skated in 46 games for the Thunder in 2006-07, ranking second on the club with 21 goals while amassing 38 points (21g-17a) and 80 penalty minutes. Bodie added two assists in six Kelly Cup Playoff games and represented the Thunder in the 2007 ECHL All-Star Game in Boise, Idaho.

In total, seven Thunder players, including two who have been selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, have been named to play in the ECHL All-Star Game in the last three years while in the Oilers farm system. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk, a first-round selection of the Oilers (14th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, set Thunder single-season records in 06-07 for wins (24), minutes played (2,529), lowest goals-against-average (2.56) and save percentage (.921). Dubnyk made a game-high tying 17 saves in the second period of the 2007 ECHL All-Star Game for the National Conference.

Center Ryan O'Marra, who was selected in the first round (15th overall) by the New York Islanders in the 2005 draft and an Oilers trade acquisition in 2006-07, was originally named to the National Conference squad at the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game shortly before earning a recall to Springfield of the American Hockey League. O'Marra scored 20 points (11g-9a) in 24 games with the Thunder last year and added nine points (2g-7a) in six Kelly Cup Playoff games.

Last year, Thunder forwards Cory Urquhart and Ryan Huddy played under AHL contracts with Springfield and were named to the National Conference all-star team. Huddy, whose father Charlie previously was an assistant coach and was a member of five Stanley Cup champion teams with the Oilers as a defenseman, led the Thunder with a club record 73 points (35g-38a) and 35 goals in 69 games, ranking ninth overall and third in ECHL rookie scoring.

Urquhart's 60 points (28g-32a) and 28 goals in 57 games paced second on the Thunder in both categories, adding a team-high tying five game-winning goals. His 16 points (10g-6a) and 10 goals in 14 postseason games broke Thunder playoff scoring records in both categories last season.

The Oilers, a member of the NHL's Western Conference and Northwest Division, have been a member of the National Hockey League since the 1979-80 season. A winner of five Stanley Cup Championships (1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88 and 1989-90), the Oilers became the NHL's first-ever eighth playoff seed in league history to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2005-06 as the league's Western Conference Champion, falling in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Finals.

Currently led by president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe and general manager Steve Tambellini, the Oilers have sent six players to the Hockey Hall of Fame - a list of "who's who" in hockey history - including Wayne Gretzky (NHL's all-time leading scorer), Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey and Glenn Anderson. Glen Sather (Head Coach/President and General Manager) and Rod Phillips (Radio Broadcaster) have also earned spots in the Hall of Fame.


A look at the Oilers five Stanley Cup championships:

•1983-84: defeated New York Islanders, 4 games to 1
•1984-85: defeated Philadelphia Flyers, 4 games to 1
•1986-87: defeated Philadelphia Flyers, 4 games to 3
•1987-88: defeated Boston Bruins, 4 games to 0
•1989-90: defeated Boston Bruins, 4 games to 1

WHAT THEY HAVE SAID:

"We are pleased to once again extend our agreement for another year with Stockton. The Thunder organization have provided our players with a positive environment that enables them to develop as professionals. We look forward to another successful season with Stockton in 2009-10."
- Former Edmonton Oilers VP of Hockey Operations Kevin Prendergast

"The Stockton Thunder are very excited about entering into our fourth year of an affiliation with the Edmonton Oilers. Developing young players and putting a winning team on the ice are the two most important factors when considering who our NHL partner will be. The Oilers and Thunder clearly are on the same page in this regard and we look forward to achieving both of these objectives with Edmonton during the 2009-10 season."
- Thunder president Dan Chapman

"We're excited to once again partner with a first class organization in the Edmonton Oilers and the opportunity to work with their exceptional front office is an advantage to the Thunder. They continue to show a strong commitment to strengthening prospect development and our on-ice product by being visibly active when it comes to scouting and on-hands teaching with prospects in our farm system. We look forward to continued success in developing future Oilers talent and helping promote a winning culture they can take on their road to the National Hockey League."
- Thunder head coach Matt Thomas

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Contact info:

Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club
11230 - 110 Street
Edmonton, AB. T5G 3H7
Phone: 780-414-4000
http://www.edmontonoilers.com/

Oklahoma City Barons Hockey Club
P.O. Box 1478
Oklahoma City, OK 73101
Phone: (405) 232-4625
Fax: (405) 232-4622
http://www.okcbarons.com/

Stockton Thunder Hockey Club
248 West Fremont Street
Stockton, CA 95203
Thunder Info Line (209)373-1500
Fax (209)373-1525
http://www.stocktonthunder.com/

CLICK HERE TO READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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

Stockton Thunder Add All-Star Aaron Clarke

All-Star Clarke Joins Season Ending Roster

06/16/2010 12:55 PM - Clarke completes future considerations trade for Colin Power, is one of 18 players eligible for qualifying offers by July 1

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VIDEO: Matt Thomas on acquiring Aaron Clarke

MORE: AARON CLARKE CAREER STATISTICS

 STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers, has acquired 2009 ECHL All-Star left wing Aaron Clarke from the Wheeling Nailers, completing the original Dec. 4, 2009 transaction that had right wing Colin Power acquired by Wheeling from the Thunder for future considerations, Thunder head coach Matt Thomas announced today.

Clarke is one of 18 players named to the Thunder 2009-10 season ending roster, announced today, which includes 17 ECHL-contracted players who appeared in a Thunder uniform for the season. Of the 18 players, eight can be issued Qualifying Offers, which must be submitted to the ECHL on July 1.

"Aaron is an exciting, point-per-game caliber player that we couldn't pass up on the chance to acquire," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "With players like Oren Eizenman getting a chance to move onto the American Hockey League, we're hoping that possibly, a player like Aaron can come in and use his skill and leadership to help replace those minutes and points."

Aaron Clarke's rights were acquired to complete the Dec. 4 trade, sending Colin Power to the Wheeling Nailers. (photo by Rick Bacmanski)

Clarke, 27, comes off a 2009-10 season where he shattered career highs in goals (25), points (57) and assists (32), additionally ranking third on the Nailers in scoring and goals. Contributing on the penalty kill, his five shorthanded goals, a career-high as well, led the ECHL.

Completing his third year, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound forward racked up 14 assists on the power-play which ranked tied for second on the team.

The Peterborough, Ontario native earned a selection to the American Conference All-Star team in 2009, his first ECHL All-Star berth and scored a goal in the game at Reading. Serving the Nailers as captain, Clarke capped off the year with 37 points (11g-26a) in 40 games for Wheeling and chipped in with three goals and an assist in seven playoff games.

Clarke also earned three separate trips to the AHL on professional tryout agreements (PTO) that season, combining for seven points (3g-4a) and six penalty minutes in 32 games with Binghamton, Providence and Albany.

In 159 career ECHL games with Wheeling, spanning three seasons (2007-10), he has scored 130 points (55g-75a) and totaled 106 penalty minutes.

Previously, Clarke split four years (2003-07) of his college playing career between Niagara University and Robert Morris University (NCAA), suiting up in 95 games while scoring 27 goals, 63 points (27g-36a) and totaling 114 penalty minutes.

Clarke joins the Thunder season-ending roster, which under ECHL guidelines may include up to 20 players. Season-ending rosters cannot include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2009-10 (i.e. players who were under contract to teams in either the National Hockey League or the American Hockey League).

The Thunder season ending roster is as follows:

FORWARDS

• (LW) J.F. Caudron
• (LW) Aaron Clarke
• (C) Chris D'Alvise
• (C) Oren Eizenman
• (LW) Igor Gongalsky
• (LW) Jason Pitton
• (RW) Brett Hemingway
• (RW) Colin Hemingway
• (LW) Garet Hunt
• (LW) Matt Robinson
• (C) Craig Valette  

DEFENSEMEN 

• (D) Anthony Aiello
• (D) Ryan Constant
• (D) Justin DaCosta
• (D) Trevor Hunt
• (D) Kenny MacAulay
• (D) Daryl Marcoux
• (D) Steve Vanoosten

SEASON ENDING ROSTER, QUALIFYING OFFER GUIDELINES
Each team is entitled to reserve rights to a maximum of eight players from the list of 20 by extending a qualifying offer no later than July 1. Of the eight qualified players, no more than four can be veterans (260 regular season professional hockey games played as of the start of the 2010-11 season). Players on open qualifying offers cannot be traded. Teams are not required to extend a qualifying offer to players who sign a contract prior to July 1.

The qualifying offer must remain open for acceptance until Aug. 1 at which time the qualifying offer becomes null and void and the team may sign the qualified player to any salary or may elect to take no further action. Teams that extend a valid qualifying offer to a non-veteran player shall retain the rights to that qualified player for one playing season. A team that extends a valid qualifying offer to a veteran player will retain the rights to that veteran until Aug. 1.

After Aug. 1, if the veteran player is not signed to a contract by the team, the veteran shall be deemed a restricted free agent and shall be entitled to seek and secure offers of employment from other ECHL teams. Restricted free agents may not be traded. When a restricted free agent receives a contract offer from a team other than the team with the player's rights and the restricted free agent wishes to accept the contract offer, the restricted free agent and the offering member must, within 24 hours, notify the ECHL, the team with the player's rights and the Professional Hockey Players' Association.

The member with the player's rights shall have seven days after the date it is notified to exercise its right to match the contract offer. If a restricted free agent is not signed to either an offer sheet or a contract by an ECHL team by Aug. 31, the player shall be deemed an unrestricted free agent.

Qualifying Offers from each individual team are due to the ECHL league office on July 1, 2010.

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. Thunder Season Ticket Holders enjoy the highest-demanded seating locations in Stockton Arena, preferred parking options, benefits including admission to Season Ticket Holder-only events, discount opportunities on Thunder merchandise, a free e-newsletter, an exclusive gift, admission to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and more. Information on individual tickets and min-plans will be announced soon.

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 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/ .

*reprinted by Oilers Jambalaya with permission from the Stockton Thunder hockey club*

AHL's Division Alignments Announced

The AHL today announced the Division Alignments for the 2010-11 season. The Oklahoma City Barons will be playing in the Illinois-Texas and Friends Western Division of the Western Conference along with the Texas Stars, Houston Aeros, San Antonio Rampage, Rockford Icehogs, Peoria Rivermen, Milwaukee Admirals, and the Chicago Wolves.

The schedule is still to be released with no news on a date yet. If the rumor that Scott over at OFH broke is true, that OKC is trying to have the home opener against Texas, then it will be a great way to start off our division rivalry with the Stars and the other Texas teams.

Alignment is set, now we just need the schedule. Oh yeah, and a coach and GM.

-Written by Eric Rodgers-

Rob Daum will not coach the Barons, not returning to the Oilers

From iNews 880:
"iNews880 Sports has confirmed that the Edmonton Oilers have chosen not to renew the contract of their American Hockey League head coach Rob Daum.

Daum, formerly the long-time coach of the University of Alberta Golden Bears, spent the last season-and-a-half coaching in the AHL, after spending one season as an assistant coach with the Oilers. The AHL club in Springfield finished last with a record of 25-39-0-16 under Daum last season.

No replacement has been named for the Oilers' new AHL affiliate that will be based in Oklahoma City this coming season."

So that brings up the questions, who will be coaching the Barons next season, and when will they be named? And, will someone have to report who it is before the Barons officially announce who it is?

-Written by Eric Rodgers-

Calder Cup Champs: Hershey Bears

Congratulations to the Hershey Bears for winning the 2009-10 Calder Cup for a 2nd year in a row. Also congrats to the Texas Stars for making it to the finals in their 1st year.