Forward Justin Maylan has been invited to represent the Stockton Thunder at the upcoming ECHL All-Star Game, and goalie Tyler Bunz has been promoted from Stockton to the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League.
The Thunder announced both pieces of news on Thursday (Jan. 17), which was the team’s last day to prepare for three consecutive games against the San Francisco Bulls. The teams will face off on Friday at Stockton Arena and then play at the Cow Palace in Daly City on Saturday before returning to Stockton for the weekend finale on Sunday.
The games against the Bulls will carry the Thunder into the All-Star break, and the 2013 ECHL All-Star Game will be played on Jan. 23 in Colorado.
Maylan, who leads all ECHL rookies in scoring with 34 points in 38 games, was added to the All-Star Game roster to replace Toni Rajala, who had been selected for the game before recently being promoted from Stockton to Oklahoma City. Defenseman Nathan Deck had been chosen to represent the Thunder as a starter in the All-Star Game, but he also is playing in Oklahoma City and has been replaced on the All-Star roster by Chris Huxley of the Ontario Reign.
Maylan, 21, has been enjoying a remarkably successful rookie season with the Thunder. In addition to leading all ECHL rookies in scoring, he also ranks tied for fourth among all ECHL rookies in goals with 15, tied for second among rookies in power-play assists with nine and fourth among rookies in power-play points with 12.
Bunz, 20, heads to Oklahoma City after posting a record of 11-9-3 with one shutout and a goals-against average of 3.45 in 23 appearances with the Thunder. His promotion leaves Stockton’s goaltending duties in the hands of Cody Reichard, who is 9-4-4 with one shutout and a goals-against average of 2.54 in 18 games with the Thunder so far this season. The Thunder signed Jody O'Neill on Thursday to serve as a backup to Reichard.
Bunz was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL entry draft and the promotion marks his first trip to the AHL.
Following the All-Star break, the Thunder will resume play on Jan. 25, when the Utah Grizzlies will visit Stockton Arena for the first of three consecutive games.
Beginning with Friday’s battle against the Bulls, Stockton will play eight of its next nine games at home, where the team is 11-4-2.
The complete ECHL All-Star roster can be viewed here:
http://cdn.rapidmanager.com/echl/files/2013ECHLAllStarRoster_01.17.13.pdf
