Another Stockton Thunder forward has earned a promotion to the American Hockey League.
The team announced on Saturday (Feb. 23) that center Eric Hunter has been called up to the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL and will not be with the Thunder when the club meets the Ontario Reign at Stockton Arena on Sunday.
Hunter, who has recorded 38 points (17 goals, 21 assists) in 57 games with the Thunder, joins a lengthy list of players who have been promoted to the AHL from Stockton this season.
Most notably, high-scoring forwards Toni Rajala and Philippe Cornet were promoted to the Barons immediately after the National Hockey League lockout ended in January, and Harrison Reed, Stockton’s top goal-scorer this season, was loaned to the Lake Erie Monsters in early February. Among moves made earlier in the season, defenseman Nathan Deck was called up to Oklahoma City in December after averaging nearly a point per game in 19 outings with the Thunder.
Additionally, Yannick Riendeau, who stills leads the Thunder in scoring this season, left the team in early February to accept an offer to play in Switzerland.
Including Hunter, that group accounts for 202 points (84 goals, 118 assists) which have been taken out of the Thunder lineup. Still, Stockton (28-22-9) remains in second place behind Ontario (37-13-5) in the ECHL’s Pacific Division and fourth in the Western Conference heading into Sunday’s game.
Hunter, 26, made two appearances with Oklahoma City earlier this season and has played in 80 career AHL games.
