CONDORS CHANGES CONTINUE WITH ADDITION OF AARON BRAND
March 16, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
Former AHL Center Brought In from Austria
BAKERSFIELD, Calif - The Bakersfield Condors of the West Coast Hockey League have announced the signing of Aaron Brand today, and he will be in the lineup tonight against the Long Beach Ice Dogs. To make room on the roster, winger Todd Esselmont was waived.
Brand, 26, played with HC TWK Innsbruck in Austria this season. Brand brings over 300 games of American Hockey League experience to the Condors, as he spent four full seasons with the St. John's Maple Leafs in the AHL. Last season, he played in Arkansas in the East Coast Hockey League. The Toronto native won the Eddie Power Memorial Trophy during the 1995-96 season with Sarnia in the Ontario Hockey League, awarded to the league's leading point scorer. That season, he scored 119 points in 66 games, while adding 18 points in just 10 playoff games.
This season in Austria, he finished with 45 points (18g-27a) in 36 games to finish second on his team. He finished 10th in the league in scoring and also added three shorthanded goals, which led the league.
Esselmont, 30, appeared in 50 games this season for the Condors, during which he scored 7g-4a-11pts, with four penalty minutes and was a -14.
The Condors return home for games at Centennial Garden tonight and tomorrow. Saturday, March 16th, KUZZ 107.9 & Burlington Homes present Jersey Off Our Back Night. Commemorative St. Patrick's Day game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off after the game, with proceeds donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In addition to the auction, fans will have a chance to win one of five of the limited edition jerseys being given away.
Sunday, March 17th, is KUZZ 107.9 & General Mills / US Cold Storage St. Patrick's Puck Giveaway. The first 3,000 fans will receive a special green holiday puck. The game is also Department of Conservation Recycling Day, as fans can receive one free terrace ticket for bringing in two recyclable containers. In addition, Sunday is Pepsi Discount Day, as fans can receive $2.00 off admission by presenting a Pepsi neckringer coupon found at Rite Aid and at participating stores.
Single-game tickets are available through the Centennial Garden Box Office, which opens at 10:00am Monday through Saturday. Tickets may also be purchased by phone through Ticketmaster at 322-2525, online at www.ticketmaster.com or at any Ticketmaster location. Season tickets and group outings may be purchased by calling 324-PUCK (7825), or by visiting the Condors office at Centennial Garden.
Condor Droppings. . . Career stats for Brand to follow... The Annual Tip A Condor dinner and auction will be held next Monday, March 18 at Wood'ys Grill, Bar & Deck, 5555 Truxtun Avenue, from 5:30-8:00pm. The event is to benefit Wendi Lund, the girlfriend of Idaho Steelheads player Derek Paget, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
ECHL Stories from March 16, 2002
- NEW NETMINDER TO JOIN TEAM FOR STRETCH RUN - Alaska Aces
- ECHL'S GREENVILLE GRRROWL LOSE 4-2 IN SOUTH CAROLINA - Greenville Grrrowl
- Chiefs Set Franchise Record With Win - Johnstown Chiefs
- Cyclones Game Summary - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Bandits Snap Streak at 2 - Jackson Bandits
- CONDORS CHANGES CONTINUE WITH ADDITION OF AARON BRAND - Bakersfield Condors
- Kalamazoo Wings vs. Port Huron Border Cats - Kalamazoo Wings
- Chiefs Pregame Notes vs. Reading - Johnstown Chiefs
- Falcons smelt Steelheads - Fresno Falcons
- Idaho Gets Blasted 6-1 By Fresno - Idaho Steelheads
- San Diego Scores Three in Final Period En Route to Victory - San Diego Gulls
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