STOCKTON, Calif. – For the first time in history, the Stockton Thunder (12-5-2-1) and San Francisco Bulls (8-12-1-2) will take to NHL ice at HP Pavilion in San Jose, home of the San Jose Sharks.
The Sharks will host the game in which the schedule modification moves the regular season January 16 game to Monday, December 17, 2012 at 7:30 PM (Pacific). Sharks and Bulls season ticket holders will have access to complimentary tickets, then space permitting, the general public will have access to free tickets. Those details will be forthcoming to fans.
In the Sharks press release Sharks Sports& Entertainment’s Executive Vice President of Business Operations Malcolm Bordelon said, “We all miss having the game of hockey at HP Pavilion. This free event is a way for us to say thank you to our loyal and patient fans, while also trying to assist those who have been directly impacted by the labor dispute between the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association.”
In addition to the game, the Sharks Foundation is hosting a “Toys for Tots” toy drive, in which donors receive raffle tickets for drawings during the game for bringing new, unwrapped toys or monetary donations to support those less fortunate during the holiday season.
The Bulls President and Head Coach Pat Curcio remarked, “We are extremely excited to host one of our regular season games at the home of the Sharks. We can’t thank the Sharks organization enough for providing us with this unique opportunity.”
This event marks the first time an ECHL game is hosted in an NHL arena since the Peoria Rivermen took on the Wheeling Nailers at the home of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mellon Arena in October 2002.
The Bulls are one of the latest expansion teams in San Francisco, in their inaugural season. They play their home games at Cow Palace, which was the location where the Sharks played their first two seasons when they came to California from 1991-93, before moving the San Jose.
The Stockton Thunder are proud affiliates of the Edmonton Oilers and until last year had also been affiliated with the Sharks.
Thunder head coach Matt Thomas stated in a Thunder press release, “It will be a great opportunity for our players to play in an environment that rivals the NHL experience. It will be two Northern California teams competing in an NHL market in front of NHL executives which is sure to bring added intensity to an already growing rivalry.”
Stockton is 2-0 against the Bulls this season to date.
It’s important to mention that the Bulls currently have four Sharks Prospects on their roster. Goaltender Thomas Heemskerk, and forward Marek Viedensky were assigned to the Bulls by San Jose. Goaltender Taylor Nelson and forward Daniil Tarasov were loaned by Worcester.
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