Stockton Thunder mid-summer update

STOCKTON, Calif. – As August looms in the near future, Stockton Thunder fans are still sporting their black and gold. You can see them around town as they go about their daily business.   Hockey is still on their minds, though the season opener is more than two months away.    The Stockton Arena has no ice during the off season, but the Thunder staff offices are open and they are hard at work preparing for the 2010-11 season. 
Stockton ’s Coach Matt Thomas has been busy making deals, talking hockey and finding young talent to take his team to the next level.    Last season, the Thunder went deeper into the playoffs than ever before, after loosing game six of the National Conference Finals against the Idaho Steelheads.   The fans were sad, but proud of their teams’ best accomplishment since arriving in town five seasons ago.   Toward the end of the season, new owner, Brad Rowbotham finalized his purchase of the team and made several visits with his family to watch his new team play.  
Rowbotham is a native of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada and has shareholding interest and is general manager of Roll’n Oilfield Industries, Ltd, a company started by his father 33 years ago. He and his wife, Dawn and two of their four children, Cole and Austin, came to town in July for a meet and greet with the Stockton Thunder Fans.
 
Rowbotham “wanted a chance to get to know the fans better.” Said General Manager Dan Chapman, as he kicked off the meet and greet session and welcomed the fans.
 
The session was well attended by fans.   When this idea was conceived, Chapman suggested they should initially invite the full season ticket holders first, then after giving them time to RSVP, then any remaining open seats would be offered to those fans with less than full season.   However, that wasn’t necessary; the response was quick and overwhelming with over 250 in attendance.
 
The Thunder clad fans were welcomed with a hot dog, soda and chips, then encouraged to mingle with staff and management while they ate.   Then when the fans were seated, Chapman, Rowbotham, and Coach Thomas took their place on the stage.   Chapman made a few opening comments.
Remarking of the great turn-out, “It’s a testament to your love of hockey, support of the Thunder, support of this organization and embracing Brad and his family, and the passion they will bring to hockey for many years to come,” Said Chapman.
 
Chapman announced the winners of the final contest of the season, “How All Out Are You?”   The contest encouraged fans to get creative and show how much they loved the Thunder through written, video or photo.   The grand prize winner, of over 100 entrants, submitted a photo montage set to music of his road trips to see the Thunder at various arenas. Tim Harrington won a V.I.P. experience for a night at a Thunder game in 2010-11 season, topped off by a luxury suite and pizza party accommodations.  
 
Rowbotham then briefly shared his background and how he came to find and purchase the team.  
 
“It’s good to see everyone is excited about this as I am. I am completely loving this whole thing.   From the games, to meeting the people, fans, sponsors, and the group I get to work with; it’s fantastic,” He said.
 
“I want this team to be here for decades. Sport [management] is a tough business. It’s going to take all of us working together; city, staff, fans, and everyone to be successful.   I can see a long future with this team. I don’t jump into things. It took five years before I bought a team.   I looked around and I think I found everything in place here. I’m confident.” He added.
 
His wife, Dawn Rowbotham took a moment to share how much their family enjoys coming to town and how impressed they are with the dedication and loyalty of the Stockton fans.
 
Then the fans were encouraged to line up and ask questions, make comments, provide suggestions or just say what was on their minds.   Several fans lined up with their questions over the next 60 minutes.   Questions ranged from player roster movement, music selection between periods, promotion suggestions, fan appreciation events, to the future of the team with Stockton.   The staff recorded comments and suggestions, as Chapman encouraged fans to keep them coming, even after the event by email or just stop by.  
 
Another treat for the fans in attendance, was a sneak preview of a video production, still under construction by Media Relations and Radio Announcer Mike Benton, which highlighted the Thunders history spanning the last five years.
 
Rowbotham added that the team management was closer to finalizing the continued contract with the Edmonton Oilers as their NHL parent franchise for a fifth consecutive season.
 
Coach Thomas announced that former Thunder Defenseman Matt O’Dette will continue as full-time assistant coach; a role he took on near the end of the last season, after appearing in 14 regular season games.
 
Since the meet and greet event, Thomas has gone back to working the phones.   After issuing qualifying offers to eight players from last season, Thomas continues to seek free-agents to fill the vacant roster positions for the 2010-11 season. The eight players protected were: Defensemen Anthony Aiello and Ryan Constant, Centers Chris D’Alvise and Oren Eizenman and Left Wings Aaron Clarke, Igor Gongalsky, Jason Pitton and Matt Robinson.
 
The Thunder has announced signing their first four members of the 2010-11 team to date.   Unrestricted free-agent center and Captain Craig Valette, defensemen Daryl Marcoux and Steve Vanoosten have been re-signed.   The fourth player is free-agent rookie, left wing, Jordan Cyr.
 
Valette, 27, will return for his third season with the Thunder.   He appeared in 22 games last year, before being sidelined with an injury in December.   As a member of the Thunder, Valette has skated in 65 career regular season games, racking up 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) and 101 penalty minutes.
 
Last seasons “Unsung Hero” award winner, and alternate captain Marcoux, 26, skated in 71 regular season games, earning 17 points (3 goals, 14 assists), 49 penalty minutes and a plus 15 rating.   In the post-season, he collected five assists in 15 Kelly Cup Playoff games.   Over his 112 game Thunder career, he’s tallied 29 points (5 goals, 24 assists) and 73 penalty minutes.
 
Vanoosten, 25, appeared in 52 games last season, scoring 19 points (3 goals, 16 assists). This will be his second season in the black and gold.
 
The only free-agent rookie signed so far, is 24-year old, Left Wing Jordan Cyr. Cyr led the College of the Holy Cross (NCAA) in scoring for the past two seasons, and received back-to-back program Most Valuable Player honors.   Last season, Cyr posted a career high 16 assists in 29 games, with 14 goals.   Cyr appeared in 77 games, and posted 63 points (34 goals, 29 assists).   Thomas is glad to have finally recruited him, since he admitted Cyr was one of the first players he actively recruited this off season.   Thomas expects him to bring more scoring opportunities to the team.
 
The Thunder announced they will be hosting a Free-Agent Tryout Camp set to begin September 24.   Selected players will be invited to attend the Thunder’s Training Camp.   Last year, the tryout camp led to a record number of seven players selected to attend the training camp session.   Two players went on to play the regular season as members of the Thunder, forward Stephen Slonina and goalie Matt Pamidi.
 
With only four of the roster positions officially filled, Thomas still has plenty to do.   The fans are excited and continue to plan for the upcoming season.   Many have already begun to make road trip plans to follow their team.  
 
The Thunder has four pre-season games scheduled. The first two games will be at Sullivan Arena in Alaska against the Aces, on Oct 5 and 6.   Then the team returns to the Stockton Arena on Oct 8 to battle against the Ontario Reign.   A fourth game is scheduled for Oct 9 at Ontario.
 
The regular season opener is set for Friday, October 15, when the Thunder welcome the Ontario Reign in the first of ten regular season scheduled meetings. Last season the Thunder went 7-3-0 against the Reign.
 
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com