Stockton Thunder prepare for post season

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Thunder will face the Colorado Eagles for the first time in post-season play, beginning Tuesday, April 3, 2012. The first round of playoffs will be in a two home and three away, best of five series beginning at the Stockton Arena. Game two is Wednesday, April 4, followed by travel to Colorado for successive games on Friday, Saturday* and Monday*(*if needed).
 
The Thunder finished in the fifth seed in the Western Conference marking their sixth straight year to have advanced into the post season.
 
Colorado finished in fourth place in their ECHL inaugural year and is 5-4-0 against the Thunder this past season with Stockton gaining momentum by winning three of their last four games against the Eagles.
 
The playoff roster for Stockton includes goal tenders Olivier Roy, Cody Reichard, Alex Stalock and Thomas Heemskerk. Stalock (Peoria Rivermen) and Heemskerk (Worcester Sharks) are currently playing at the AHL level, but are on the eligible list for Stockton. Roy, an Edmonton Oilers prospect is the likely starting goaltender for tonight’s match. Roy finished fourth in the ECHL with a .925 save percentage and a 16-18-1-4 record, including four shutouts, and 2.49 goals against average.
 
Reichard comes to Stockton after completing college in Oxford, Ohio at Miami University (NCAA). He posted a .912 save percentage with 2.10 goals against average and a record of 53-24-9, with 12 career shutouts.
 
Among the defensemen on the roster are Cameron Brodie, Tony DeHart, Nathan Deck, Mike Little, Brock Matheson, Rob Kwiet and Sebastian Owuya. Ryan Lowery and Dan Ringwald are also on the list, however are still skating with the Oklahoma City Barons.
 
Little (10 goals, 31 assists) led the ECHL rookies and defensemen with a plus-22 rating. The eligible forwards include Max Campbell, Chris D’Alvise, Gabriel Levesque, Jesse Fratkin, Jason Morgan, Jordan Fulton, Garet Hunt, Greg Squires, Matt Reber, Kevin Baker, and Matt Foy. Ryan Martindale, and Cameron Abney are also on the list, however are skating with the Oklahoma City Barons.
 
Baker led the Thunder in points and goals (27 goals, 29 assists, 56 points) as well as shots on goal (293), while Foy led in assists (16 goals, 36 assists, 52 points). Alternate team captain Hunt led the team in penalty minutes with 255.
 
During the regular season, Stockton Fans helped the Thunder rank third in overall attendance with an average of 5,916 fans per game.
 
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com          Contact the Photographer at Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com