April 3, 2010

Bates Ties Stockton Scoring Mark

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - James Bates, a former Quinnipiac standout, tied the Stockton Thunder (33-28-10, 76 points) single-season scoring record with an assist to help Stockton claim a point in a 3-2 shootout loss to the host Alaska Aces before 5,263 fans at Sullivan Arena on Friday.

Bates earned his 73rd point of the season with a helper on a Matt Robinson goal, tying Ryan Huddy's mark set one season ago.

The Thunder, who moved to a tie for fourth place in the National Conference with the Las Vegas Wranglers, also were helped by goaltender Andrew Perugini's 32 saves and a first period goal from Matt Robinson. Jason Pitton added a first period goal.

Nick Mazzolini and Curtis Fraser scored for Alaska and Mazzolini closed the game with a shootout goal in the third round.

Just 35 seconds into the game, Curtis Fraser buried a rebound from the left circle to lift the Aces to a 1-0 edge, countered just 22 seconds later when Robinson finished a give-and-go play beneath the left circle to knot the score, giving Bates the record-tying point on an assist.

Pitton's tenth goal of the put the Thunder ahead 2-1 with 5:09 left in the period.

Alaska's Nick Mazzolini buried his 27th goal of the season to level the score, 2-2 with 12:49 left when he outraced the Thunder defense and poked a rolling puck over a diving Andrew Perugini to the back of the net.

After a scoreless third period, the Aces presented the best opportunity to win the game with a 4-on-3 power-play in sudden-death overtime but the Thunder penalty killing and a series of timely saves by Perugini snuffed out the chance.

After back-to-back goals by Jarrett Konkle and former St. Lawrence standout Brock McBride, Mazzolini put the game away with the shootout winner in the third round, beating Perugini on a wrist shot over the blocker side.

Billy Sauer earned the win in net with 15 saves.

Alaska clinched the conference's #3 seed with the win.