STOCKTON – Forty-two of the most talented minor-league hockey players in North America gathered Wednesday night to play in the ECHL All-Star Game at a sparkling waterfront arena.
Among the announced crowd of 7,455 were hundreds of Sacramento-region hockey fans, who watched snipers such as Ash Goldie of the Victoria Salmon Kings score three goals and post three assists to help the host National Conference thump the American Conference 10-7. But Sacramento Sports Commission executive director John McCasey wasn't among them.
Sacramento hockey fans such as Tom Landwehr and his buddies John Abdo and Mike Sgourakis, who attended the game, want to know why.
The ECHL's board of governors picked the Stockton Thunder to host the 2008 All-Star Game one year ago to recognize the city and team's hockey achievements.
Since the Thunder hit the ice in 2005, the Stockton team has enjoyed the highest attendance of all 25 ECHL "AA" league clubs for two consecutive seasons. Last season, 244,085 fans flocked to Stockton Arena.
The All-Star Game, which also featured a visit by the Stanley Cup, the NHL's championship trophy, and a dozen NHL scouts, gave the Stockton economy a $1 million boost from event-related spending as it grapples with a troubled housing market.
Landwehr, a Sacramento small-business owner and Thunder season-ticket holder, said he'd like to see Sacramento get an ECHL team to compete with Stockton and other cities.
"Tell the Maloofs to bring a team to town. People who've never been to a hockey game are surprised how entertaining it is," said Landwehr, a Chicago native who moved to Sacramento 27 years ago. He brings clients.
His friend Sgourakis, a geologist who came to East Sacramento from Pittsburgh two decades ago, was giddy, never imagining he'd get to hold the Stanley Cup, much less in Stockton.
The crowd erupted as Goldie, a former Michigan State star, was named the game's MVP. But the fans also celebrated one goal and one assist by Thunder shooter Andy Contois and two goals by Fresno Falcons star Oren Eizenman.
McCasey acknowledged Wed- nesday that Sacramento has the population, disposable income and fan support sought by ECHL teams, but the city has no home for hockey.
"It all comes down to facilities," he said. "We have an expanding marketplace that includes four counties, and all major highways cut right through the Sacramento region, but it's all pie in the sky until we have a proper facility."
Arco Arena has difficulty freezing ice and has had to be reconfigured – "turned sideways," McCasey said – when it has held NHL exhibition games.
"A new arena would open up a whole vista of expanded opportunities, not just for hockey but also for arena football," McCasey said.
The ECHL's attraction for hockey fans is easy to understand. They can enjoy good fast hockey, hard body-checking, exciting saves and goals and, occasionally, a good fight – all for a fraction of the cost to attend a Sharks or other NHL game.
The smaller 10,000-seat arenas typically used by ECHL teams – such as Stockton's new $113 million waterfront complex – offer fans great views from almost every modern seat and a close-up look at future NHL stars developing in the minors.
The Thunder's ECHL Western rivals include Fresno and Bakersfield, Las Vegas, Idaho, Phoenix and Victoria, British Columbia. A Reno team is dormant because of arena issues.
Most ECHL clubs have affiliations with NHL teams. The Stockton roster includes top draft prospects from the Edmonton Oilers, Fresno has an affiliation with the Sharks, and the Idaho Steelheads work with the Dallas Stars. A total of 345 ECHL players have gone on to the NHL.
Thunder spokeswoman Brenda Bryant said 15 percent of the team's season-ticket holders are from north of Elk Grove. McCasey said the Thunder also draws fans from the East Bay and parts of the Central Valley.
"Hockey fans are really dedicated," he said, suggesting people would travel to Sacramento for games if only it had a pro team – and a suitable home.
Call The Bee's Andrew McIntosh, (916) 321-1215.
