The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Islanders and AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, has announced a pair of roster moves involving players moving to and from the AHL.
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers recalled forward Nick Larson, while loaning defensemen Mike Dalhuisen and Mike Keenan to the Thunder. The two Mikes have both been with Bridgeport since the start of the AHL season, but have not played in any of the Sound Tigers’ four games so far. Because both Dalhuisen and Keenan are on one-way AHL contracts, both players had to approve the loan move to Stockton.
Dalhuisen, 24, spent the last four years playing for Quinnipiac University (NCAA). He appeared in 143 games for the Bobcats, tallying 38 points (12g-16a) over his college career. As a senior last season, he helped lead Quinnipiac to the NCAA championship game where the Bobcats lost to Yale.
Keenan, 24, made a five-game cameo with Bridgeport last season after graduating from Dartmouth College (NCAA). He registered his first and only point, an assist, in his AHL debut against Albany on March 24, 2013. While in college, he posted 37 points (9g-28a) in 108 games.
Larson, the former 4th round draft pick by the Calgary Flames in 2008, started the offseason with Bridgeport before being assigned to the Thunder along with three other players on September 28th.
Larson featured prominently for the Thunder in the preseason. While he was snake-bitten against Bakersfield and San Francisco, hitting the post three times, he did have the second-most shots with 7, behind only Austin Mayer’s 9.
The move makes things interesting before the opening day rosters are finalized later today at 3 PM ET. The Thunder now has 25 players on its roster including 14 forwards, 9 defensemen and 2 goalies.
The Thunder will showcase its new roster for the first time this Saturday, October 19th, when it opens the regular season at home against the Colorado Eagles. The pre-game festivities will feature the raising of the 2013 Western Conference Championship banner. Discount tickets are available through the Thunder ticket office at 209-373-1500 or online at
StocktonThunder.com. Tickets are also available at the Stockton Arena box office or online at
TicketMaster.com.