Springfield calls on burly right winger as Carbery activated off I.R.

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, has announced rookie right wing David Rohlfs (WRALL-fs) has been recalled from the Thunder to Springfield and right wing Spencer Carbery has been activated off the seven-day injured reserve list.

Carbery, acquired from the Bakersfield Condors with defenseman L.P. Lachance in exchange for right wing Jesse Bennefield on December 4, is expected to be in the Thunder lineup for tonight's game against the Idaho Steelheads, beginning at 6:10 p.m. from Qwest Arena.

Carbery, 26, has scored seven points (3g-4a) with 56 penalty minutes in 28 games with the Thunder and Condors this season and scored 44 points (16g-28a) with 157 penalty minutes in 63 games last year in his professional rookie season with the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound right wing split four seasons (2003-06) of his college hockey career with the University of Alaska-Anchorage (NCAA) and St. Norbert College (NCAA), scoring 103 points (56g-47a) with 111 penalty minutes in 113 career games. Carbery achieved career-highs with 41 points and 21 assists as a 2003-04 sophomore for St. Norbert, helping guide the program to a berth in the 2004 NCAA Division-III Championship game.

Rohlfs has played in 40 games for the Thunder this season, scoring 17 points (10g-7a) and tallying 24 penalty minutes.  The 23-year old was selected in the fifth round (154^th overall) by the Oilers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and spent time in 2007 NHL training camp with the Oilers.

Rohlfs spent four years (2003-07) of his college hockey career at national-power University of Michigan (NCAA), helping guide the Wolverines to an NCAA Frozen Four tournament appearance in four consecutive seasons.

The Thunder returns to play tonight to finish the three-game road trip with a 6:05 p.m. game against the Idaho Steelheads from Qwest Arena. The game can be heard live on radio at 1420-AM KSTN and online (video and audio available) at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/, courtesy of B2 Networks.

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, mini plans, group and individual 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/.

Thunder hosts hottest team in ECHL for two-game set this weekend

Thunder adds toughness, sends Bennefield to Condors in three-player swap

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, has acquired right wing Spencer Carbery and defenseman Louis-Philippe Lachance (loo-EE fi-LEEP, la-SHONTZ) from the Bakersfield Condors in exchange for right wing Jesse Bennefield, Thunder head coach Chris Cichocki announced today.

"We're expecting Spencer and L.P. to add grit, toughness and a physical edge to our lineup that fits our playing style," said Cichocki. "Spencer is a physical player who is willing to stick up for his teammates and L.P. is a defenseman who likes to initiate contact and will help stabilize play in our own defensive zone."

Carbery, 26, has scored six points (3g-3a) with 44 penalty minutes in 18 games with Bakersfield this season and scored 44 points (16g-28a) with 157 penalty minutes in 63 games last year in his professional rookie season with the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound right wing split four seasons (2003-06) of his college hockey career with the University of Alaska-Anchorage (NCAA) and St. Norbert College (NCAA), scoring 103 points (56g-47a) with 111 penalty minutes in 113 career games. Carbery achieved career-highs with 41 points and 21 assists as a 2003-04 sophomore for St. Norbert, helping guide the program to a berth in the 2004 NCAA Division-III Championship game.

Thunder shutout for second time in club history, Lawson stops 28 shots

STATS: Box score


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - Goaltender Nathan Lawson picked up the second shutout of his career on a 28-save effort as the Stockton Thunder (8-10-2, 18 points) suffered the second all-time shutout in modern club history in a 4-0 Utah Grizzlies win over the Thunder before 3,385 at The E-Center on Saturday.

Both teams battled to a scoreless tie through one period with Utah outshooting the Thunder at an 8-5 clip.

Utah's Keith Johnson, who had six points (4g-2a) against the Thunder in the season series, scored two more goals in the second period to hike the Grizzlies to a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes. Johnson's first goal came at the 6:27 mark, squeezing a one-timer through the five-hole of Thunder goaltender Tim Boron which ignited a shower of thousands of stuffed animals onto the ice, part of the Grizzlies' "Teddy Bear Toss Night."

Johnson pushed the lead to two goals with 45 seconds left in the period, following up on a drive by Olivier Labelle which Boron kicked to the base of the left circle. Johnson beat the Thunder defense to the loose puck and fired the rebound on net, eluding Boron's blocker side.

Boron's 43 saves sparks second straight two-goal, third period comeback

STATS: Box Score
AUDIO: Ryan O'Marra's power-play goal starts the rally
AUDIO: Geoff Paukovich ties the game with 3:45 left in the 3rd


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - The Stockton Thunder (8-9-2, 18 points) battled back from a two-goal deficit in the third period for the second straight game, but the Utah Grizzlies took the extra point on goaltender Michael Mole's four shootout saves in a 3-2 shootout win over the Thunder before 4,266 at The E-Center on Friday.

Mole made 30 saves in regulation and overtime, closing the game when Thunder rookie Ryan O'Marra's wrist shot clanged off the right goal post in the fifth round of the shootout. Making his second consecutive start, Thunder goaltender Tim Boron helped spark the comeback with a 43-save effort, a career-high, and is unbeaten in regulation (3-0-1) in his last four games.

Utah took an early 1-0 lead on veteran Scott Burt's 10^th goal of the year at the 3:29 mark of the first period, following up on defenseman Jordan Hart's blocked shot from the right point that caromed toward Burt's stick in the slot. Burt whistled a slapshot past Boron to put Utah on the board.

Burt scored his second of the game and 11^th goal of the season just 2:07 into the second period, capitalizing on a Thunder defensive turnover. Burt picked off a pass deep in the slot, skated on Boron all by himself and beat the Thunder goaltender through the five-hole for a 2-0 Utah advantage.

GAME PREVIEW: Stockton Thunder at Utah Grizzlies
FACEOFF: 6:05 p.m. PT

WATCH PARTY: Valley Brew Restaurant

RADIO: None
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BROADCAST (audio): click here (B2 Networks)
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2007-08 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES
11/24/07 Utah 8 at Stockton 3
11/28/07 Stockton 4 at Utah 3 (SO)
11/30/07 Stockton 2 at Utah 3
12/01/07 Stockton at Utah
02/06/08 Utah at Stockton
02/29/08 Utah at Stockton
04/03/08 Stockton at Utah
04/04/08 Stockton at Utah
04/05/08 Stockton at Utah


UPCOMING MILESTONES

• Chris Cichocki is 9 wins shy of 200 in his ECHL coaching career
• Mark Adamek is 7 games shy of 100 in his professional career
• Phil Cole is 8 games shy of 300 in his professional career
• Andy Contois is 4 games shy of 100 in his professional career
• Brian Lee is 8 games shy of 100 in his professional career