Stockton Thunder season update

STOCKTON, Ca – The Stockton Thunder (11-4-1-2, 26 points) have been working hard both on and off the ice, and it’s evident by their current standings for the season to date.
 
After 19 games, which are about two to four games fewer than most other teams to date, the Thunder is fourth overall in the league; far better than any past season.   They are first in their division and second among the Western conference, only trailing the Idaho Steelheads by a single point.   The Thunder are the only team without a loss on the road, 6-0-0-2.
 
The Thunder just completed a three game sweep of the Victoria Salmon Kings over the past weekend and will return to their home arena on Saturday, following a quick turnaround appearance in Bakersfield Friday night.
 
Looking at the team statistics, their success comes from a combination of players and no single player really stands out.   The line of Chris D’Alvise, Jason Pitton and Fraser Clair had been clicking on all cylinders, until call-ups forced some changes.  
 
D’Alvise is the team leader in points, with 10 goals and seven assists in 12 games, despite being loaned to the AHL Springfield Falcons in mid-November on a professional tryout agreement. He has posted a goal and five assists in ten games with Springfield.
 
J. Pitton (5 goals, 9 assists) back from his second AHL call-up this season, and after a short scoring drought, began to find the net again.   He played a game with the AHL Manitoba Moose and appeared in six games with the Worcester Sharks earning an assist.
 
Picking up where D’Alvise left off, is Center Chris Lawrence, who’s been taking up the slack and has seven goals and nine assists in 18 games.   Another forward that deserves mention has been Aaron Clarke.   Clarke has 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) after appearing in all games to date.
 
Other players that have earned a trip to the AHL are Jesse Gimblett, just sent to Oklahoma City Barons and Jim McKenzie for two games with the Sharks. Last years fan favorite, Garet Hunt earned a spot on the Sharks roster early in the season, appearing in nine games earning an assist.
 
Among the blue-liners, returning player Anthony Aiello (3 goals, 8 assists) has been producing goals, working hard to make his way deep in the opponents’ zone.    Ryan Constant (2 goals, 7 assists) is another defenseman that should not go unnoticed. He has worked hard at both ends of the ice.
 
Statistics wise, the Thunder players don’t really stand out, but as a team they seem to be working well together. At this level, the goaltending can really make or break a team.   This is fairly evident for the Thunder as well.
 
Goaltender Tyson Sexsmith, a third round 2007 San Jose Sharks draftee started the season in the net and was putting together a good string of saves. On one particular night in the final five minutes of a shutout, he was challenged to drop the gloves with Bakersfield goaltender Josh Tordjman.   He’s been on the injured reserve ever since.  
Sexsmith is 3-1-1-1, with 2.93 goals against average with a .892 save percentage.
 
Bryan Pitton, a returning player from last year, has a great start.   He’s appeared in nine games, and has posted 7-0-1, with a shutout.   His goals against average is 2.26 and save percentage of .916, and is fifth in the league overall.   Pitton was also named ECHL Goaltender of the Week in November.   B. Pitton had also earned a call-up to Barons where he appeared in three games, posting a win and a loss with 3.39 goals against average and .894 save percentage.  
 
While Sexsmith has been out, Thunder head coach Matt Thomas signed another goaltender, Garrett Zemlak, from Kalamazoo in a trade    Zemlak has appeared in six games, and is 1-4-0-1 with 2.77 goals against average and a .881 save percentage.
 
The Thunder is 5-3-0-2 in their last ten games and is currently on a three game win streak.   Their current success is appreciated by their fans, but it’s apparent that Coach Thomas needs to work on the power play and penalty kill if he’s going to take this team deeper into the playoffs than past seasons; ranking about the middle of the pack in both categories.
 
The Thunder will face the Bakersfield Condors Friday night, in their fifth of 11 meetings this season.   A California valley rivalry, these teams are known to be physical and aggressive. The Thunder will try to keep their road record unscathed, before heading back home on Saturday to face the Utah Grizzlies.
 
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
Contact the Photographer at Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com