D'Alvise Heading to Stockton

STOCKTON, Calif. -- The Stockton Thunder, the proud ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League and Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, has agreed to contract terms with rookie center Chris D'Alvise, Thunder head coach Matt Thomas announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

D'Alvise is the sixth forward and tenth player overall to join the Thunder roster for 2009-10.

"Chris was a very highly-demanded free agent this offseason after performing as a top scorer in college and the way he fits into our team philosophy makes us thrilled to put him in a Thunder sweater," said Thomas. "He's another forward who we've added with elite-level scoring ability and further strengthens our attack up front as a two-way center who is useful in all situations, possesses tremendous skating and playmaking skills and is terrific on faceoffs."

D'Alvise, 23, enters his first full season of professional hockey after making his debut with the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) last year, collecting three assists in just four games. While helping the defending Kelly Cup champion Cyclones clinch their third straight Kelly Cup Playoff berth in a tightly-contested North Division, D'Alvise posted two assists in his second pro game on March 19 against the Gwinnett Gladiators.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound pivot parlayed a decorated four-year college career at Clarkson University (NCAA) before he made the jump to the professional level in March with Cincinnati. D'Alvise skated in 145 career games for the Knights throughout four seasons (2005-09), racking up 105 points (49g-56a), 49 goals and 117 penalty minutes.

The native of Mississauga, Ontario guided the Knights to two appearances (2007, 2008) in the NCAA "Frozen Four" Tournament and enjoyed a career-high 29 points (12g-17a) in 39 games as a 2007-08 junior. As a 2006-07 sophomore, D'Alvise was named the Most Outstanding Player for the ECAC Conference Tournament behind Clarkson's ECAC championship, highlighting a season where he buried a career-high 16 goals in 37 games.

"I got a lot of help on my decision to go to Stockton based on the recommendations of my peers throughout the ECHL," said D'Alvise. "Of all the places in the league I mentioned that were reputable and respectable, every time I mentioned Stockton to my buddies, they gave me nothing but rave reviews and it made my decision easy. I'm looking forward to arriving in Stockton and contributing in an up-tempo, puck possession style of play."

A player with prestigious hockey bloodlines, D'Alvise's father, Daniel was a member of the 1980 Canadian Olympic team and his Uncle, Bob was a 1975 All-American selection as a forward at Michigan Tech University.