Stockton Thunder Signs Two
The Thunder has signed defenseman Michal Spacek and forward J.P. Burkemper
Stockton Thunder Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Rich Kromm announced Monday that the team has signed defenseman Michal Spacek and forward J.P. Burkemper. The two players were in training camp with the Thunder and played in the team’s preseason games.
Spacek, 21, hails from Marianske, Czech Republic where he played for the youth U-18 and U-20 teams of hometown club, H.C. Plzen. He came to the U.S. during the 2011-12 season where he played in the EJHL for the Palm Beach Hawks.
In 2012-13 he moved to the Bracebridge Phantoms of the GMHL where he posted 32 goals, 44 assists (76 points) and 105 penalty minutes in just 41 games. He also added 5 goals and 10 assists in 8 playoff games.
Burkemper, 22, played college hockey at Minnesota State University-Mankato where he posted 14 points in three seasons. The 6’3” St. Louis, MO native also spent two seasons playing in the USHL with the Des Moines Buccaneers and the Fargo Force.
In the Thunder’s two preseason games this year, Spacek posted two assists while Burkemper was a +1 with 4 shots.
The two players will be available for the team’s next games this Friday and Saturday, when the Thunder, ECHL affiliates of the NHL’s New York Islanders and AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, takes on the Utah Grizzlies. The weekend set is also the team’s “Thunder Goes Pink VIII” event with a portion of ticket sales as well as proceeds from a silent auction and jersey auction benefitting the St. Joseph’s Foundation – Breast Health Services.