ECHL Pacific Division looking to have a wild finish of the season

WOODBRIDGE, CA – The Pacific Division is shaping up for a “Wild West ” style shootout for the final month of the regular season.
When the first place Fresno Falcons folded at the end of December, the battle for the division suddenly heated up. Though the Ontario Reign had been keeping pace with the Falcons for the first months of the season, suddenly the Stockton Thunder and Las Vegas Wranglers started a drive toward the top of the division. Las Vegas briefly overtook the Reign and Stockton to come within a half dozen points of the top spot before both teams dropped back to concede the number one spot back to the Reign. Now, even the hapless Bakersfield Condors are making noise by winning more than losing. As of this article (March 2, 2009), the standings were as follows: Ontario 32-21-4 68pts. Las Vegas 26-24-8 60pts. Stockton 27-26-5 59pts. Bakersfield 24-28-7 55pts. The following is a summary of the four teams in the Pacific Division. Ontario Reign 32-21-4 (68 points)

The model of consistency, the Reign has quietly strung together a season that most teams, let alone a new one, would surely covet. The ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and AHL’s Manchester Monarchs have rattled off three, four, and six game win streaks during the season while never losing more than three in a row. Led by rookie forward Geoff Walker (17-22- 39pts.) and journeyman forward Jon Francisco (19-19-38pts.), the Southern California based team has begun to create an enthusiasm for ice hockey in the inland empire. While the team currently leads the Pacific division, the stretch run will not be an easy one. The second place Wranglers trail the Reign by eight points and the third place Thunder trail by nine. Those small numbers and the eleven of sixteen road games left, including four at Victoria, three at Idaho, three against division foe Bakersfield, and two each against Las Vegas and Stockton, make the last month of the season interesting for everyone in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles Kings prospect (G) Jeff Zatkoff, a third round pick in 2006 (#74 overall) is a 6′-2″ 21 year old from Detroit, Michigan by way of the University of Miami (Ohio). Jeff has amassed a respectable 12-8-1 record with the Reign posting a 2.69 goals against average (GAA), .921 save percentage and one shutout. He also appeared in three games this season with the Manchester Monarchs compiling a 2.31 GAA and a .918 save percentage. Las Vegas Wranglers 26-24-8 (60 points) After an unusually slow start for Head Coach Glen Gulutzan’s squad going 16-19 before the All Star break, the Wranglers ripped off 10 wins in 11 games after the break, including the start of February with 7 straight wins against the likes of the Victoria Salmon Kings, Bakersfield Condors, and Phoenix Roadrunners. During the run, the Wranglers claimed the top spot in the division, but injuries and call ups have taken a toll on the team leading to their current 8 game slide since Feb. 14. Before the slide, the team was averaging 3.55 goals per game and only allowing 1.82 goals against. Since Feb. 14, the team has only been able to scratch out 1.35 goals for and have given up 2.8 goals against. The loss of (F) Justin Taylor to the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and (D) Dan Spang to the Quad City Flames (AHL), as well as (F) Mick Lawrence and (F) Shawn Limpright to the I.R. have had a definite impact on the scoring ability and defense. Additionally, the revolving door at the goalie position including the call up of Kevin Lalande to Quad City and the addition of Springfield Falcons backup Glen Fisher has made for a feeling of instability for the play between the pipes. One bright spot for the team was the recent acquisition of (F) Dan Reidel from the Dayton Bombers. Reidel led the Bombers with 46 points in 55 games at the time of the trade. It is hoped that Reidels’ presence will spur the Wranglers to a winning record through the rest of the season. Calgary Flames prospect (G) Kevin Lalande, from Kingston, Ontario was a fifth round pick in the 2005 NHL draft, led the Wranglers to the Kelly Cup finals last season. Lalande appeared in 34 games with the Wranglers and Quad City compiling a record of 19-8-4 allowing 75 goals allowed (GA) with a 2.69 GAA and a .910 save percentage. Thus far this season, Lalande has appeared in 21 games with a record of 9-8-2 allowing 47 GA with a 2.39 GAA and a .925 save percentage. Stockton Thunder 27-26-5 (59 points) The addition of former Fresno Falcons coaches Matt Thomas and Ryan Mougenel has sparked an otherwise mediocre team into one with a sense of purpose. The team, having started the season with 17 players under contract with affiliates, the Edmonton Oilers and Springfield Falcons, looked nearly unbeatable by many in the minor league hockey community. Their fallibility was quickly exposed though, as the team went 12-16-3 before the coaching change at the end of December. Head coach Matt Thomas came to the team and, through a series of free agent signing’s, trades, and player releases, molded a team that has worked hard in his system. Since that time, the Thunder have ripped off a respectable 15-10-2 record to pull to within ten points of the first place Ontario Reign. Their confidence and never give up attitude has served them well, despite the seemingly never ending revolving door of player call ups and AHL PTO’s. The team is led by veteran and Captain Matt O’Dette who, along with Igor Gongalsky and Daryl Marcoux, came to the Thunder as free agents from the Fresno Falcons.Each having made an important impact on the team. Important also are points leaders Ryan Huddy (28-28-56 in 55 games), Cory Urquhart (26-24-50 in 49 games) and Mike Lalonde (17-24-41 in 49 games). Huddy and Urquhart are currently two of the top nine goal scorers in the league. Anchored by solid defense men Cleve Kinley, Matt O’Dette, Mark Adamek and netminder Andrew Perugini, The Stockton Thunder are going to be a force to be reckoned with come playoffs time. Edmonton Oilers prospect Theo Peckham, from Richmond Hill, Ontario; was drafted in the third round (#75 overall) of the 2006 NHL entry draft. After playing two years with the Springfield Falcons, the feisty defenseman has appeared in 104 games, tallying 12 goals, 20 assists, and 255 penalty minutes. Playing in just 10 games with the Oilers, he has yet to score a point but has tallied 45 penalty minutes. The 6′ 2″, 216 pound 21 year old has definitely made his mark on many opponents and is well on his way to gaining the skills and speed necessary to play at the next level. Bakersfield Condors 24-28-7 (55 points) Despite the shaky start to the season, the Bakersfield Condors have started their playoff run with a league leading 8-1-1 record over the last ten games. Led by (RW) Mike Wirll, (LW) Mark Derlago and (F) Dave Bonk, the Condors are now looking at the possibility of making the playoffs when that possibility appeared slim at the beginning of February. Posting a record of 14-24-6 through the end of January, the Condors seemed to be a team on the edge of extinction (figuratively speaking of course), but February dawned a new era for the Condors with the acquisition of centerman Dan Lapointe from the Dayton Bombers and the return of (RW) Chad Painchaud from the Iowa Chops. Additionally, the goaltending improved enough to allow the high scoring offense to be effective. The Condors are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks and the AHL’s Iowa Chops, have compiled a record for the month of February of 10-4-1, but still face an uphill battle for a playoff spot. With thirteen games remaining in their schedule, they must finish with a better record than the Phoenix Roadrunners, who have four games in hand, a better winning percentage, and the same point total, or finish higher than the Stockton Thunder, each of which are not insurmountable, making the Condors a very hungry and dangerous team. Anaheim Ducks prospect (LW) Matt Belesky leads all Iowa Chops rookies with 8 goals and 16 assists for 24 points in 38 games. The 6′ 0″, 208 pound 20 year old winger was selected in the fourth round (#112) of the 2006 NHL entry draft. The Windsor Ontario native led the Belleville Bulls of the OHL with 90 points in 62 games and was selected to the 2008 OHL Eastern Conference All-Star team. Contact the author at Craig.Cawelti@prohockeynews.com
 
Contact the photographer at Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com