Back to Bakersfield for four-game homestand
January 5, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors wrapped up a four-game road trip on Sunday by falling victim to the red-hot Victoria Salmon Kings, who swept the Condors to extend their winning streak to 13 games. The Condors return to the Mercy & Memorial Hospitals Home Ice to start a four-game homestand this weekend with a pair of matches against the Alaska Aces.
The Condors sit in 4th place in the Pacific Division, at 11-18-4 with 26 points in the standings. They trail the 3rd place Stockton Thunder by three points.
THIS WEEK (ALL TIMES PACIFIC):
Friday, Jan. 9 vs. Alaska (7 p.m.)
Saturday, Jan. 10 vs. Alaska (7 p.m.)
WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):
Tuesday, Dec. 30
PHOENIX 5 vs. Condors 0
The RoadRunners spoiled the Condors modest two-game winning streak by handing Bakersfield a 5-0 blanking at US Airways Center on Tuesday night. G Ryan Nie suffered the loss, but stopped 41 shots between the pipes.
Friday, Jan. 2
VICTORIA 5 vs. Condors 2
Winners of two of their last three, the Condors headed north of the border for a three-game series in Victoria last weekend. The Salmon Kings, however, kept their hot streak intact, rolling up their 11th consecutive victory in taking down the Condors, 5-2. F Matt Pope scored twice on the power play for his fourth multi-goal game of the season. G Ryan Nie (right) was in net for the fifth consecutive game, and made 34 saves in the loss.
Saturday, Jan. 3
VICTORIA 2 vs. Condors 1
A strong defensive effort came up just short in a 2-1 setback at the hands of Victoria on Saturday. F Dave Bonk notched the Condors lone goal in the game, on the power play, with just over four minutes remaining to cut the lead down to one, but the Salmon Kings held on for the win. Both of Victoria's goals came in the span of just 66 seconds late in the second period against G Yutaka Fukufuji, who finished the game with 27 saves.
Sunday, Jan. 4
VICTORIA 6 vs. Condors 1
The Salmon Kings used four power play goals to propel them to a 6-1 triumph over Bakersfield, extending their winning streak to a league-high 13 games. C Brett Pilkington (left) scored the Condors only goal, in the third frame, while G Ryan Nie made 37 saves in the loss.
ECHL RELEASES REVISED SCHEDULES:
The ECHL has released revised schedules for all teams affected by the Fresno Falcons ceasing operations. Please note that no Condors home game dates have been rescheduled, although some opponents for home games have changed. Tickets for these games remain good despite opponent changes. If you have any questions, please call the Condors Front Office at (661) 324-PUCK (7825).
THE COACH'S SHOW RETURNS THIS WEEK:
After a two-week hiatus because of Christmas and New Year's, the Condors Coach's Show returns live from the Hungry Hunter restaurant on Rosedale Highway, and live on ESPN Radio 1230, Thursday night from 5 - 6 p.m.
PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES:
The Condors are 2nd in the league in average attendance at 6,147 fans per game.
F Matt Pope leads the team and all ECHL rookies with 19 goals this season, which is also 3rd overall in the league. Pope is also 14th overall in scoring, and leads the Condors, with 32 points.
G Ryan Nie played his 100th professional game on Friday night in Victoria, stopping 34 shots in a loss.
D Jay Langager (right) signed with the Condors on Jan. 2 and made his season debut in Victoria that night. He has spent parts of each of the last two seasons with the Condors, while completing his education at the University of Lethbridge.
Friday's game will start a stretch of 26 games for the Condors in the next 50 days, lasting through Mar. 1. Of those games, 12 are road games and 14 are home games.
C Bruce Graham, acquired from Gwinnett last Sunday, made his Bakersfield debut on Tuesday and recorded a pair of assists in Friday's loss for his first points as a Condor. He has three assists in four games with Bakersfield.
RW Chad Painchaud (right) finished tied for 3rd in the ECHL in scoring for the month of December. His 17 points (6g-11a) were just two shy of the league lead, and his 11 assists were second.
The Condors had an end come to their penalty killing streak on Friday. In six straight games from Dec. 17 - 30 Bakersfield had killed off 20 consecutive opponent power plays.
G Ryan Nie stopped a penalty shot on Sunday, leaving the Condors opponents 0-for-3 on penalty shot attempts this season.
D Kevin Truelson played in his 200th game as a Condor on Tuesday in Phoenix.
Truelson was placed on the 3-IR on Saturday and is eligible to be activated on Tuesday. D Chris Kaufman was placed on the 7-IR on Dec. 27 and is eligible to be activated. D Sean Hurley remains on the 30-IR and is eligible to return on Jan. 27. LW Bobby Bolt remains on the 30-IR and is eligible to be activated.
CONDORS RETURN HOME TO GIVE AWAY 1,000 GALLONS OF GAS, ZAMBONI PILLOWS:
The Condors return to the Mercy & Memorial Hospitals Home Ice on Friday, Jan. 9 against the Alaska Aces* for the 1,000 Gallons of Gas Giveaway, sponsored by My 45 and KUZZ 107.9, during which 40 fans will each win 20 gallons of gas, while one grand-prize winner will get 200 gallons of gas!
The next night, Saturday, Jan. 10, the Condors and Aces retake the ice at The Nest for the Zamboni Pillow Giveaway, sponsored by Pirate 93.1 and Goodwill Industries. The first 2,000 fans, 5-and-older, will receive a free and fluffy Condors Zamboni pillow!
In addition to being broadcast on ESPN Radio 1230, B2 Networks and Bakersfieldcondors.com, Saturday's game will be televised live on Bright House Networks Ch. 21, and available On Demand on Ch. 300 starting Sunday.
*Please note that Friday's game was originally scheduled against the Phoenix RoadRunners, but has been changed due to schedule revisions brought about by the Fresno Falcons ceasing operations.
Individual game tickets are on sale and may be purchased through the Rabobank Arena Box Office, which is open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday with extended hours on game days. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 322-2525, online at Bakersfieldcondors.com, or at any Ticketmaster location. Season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available at the Condors office located at 1001 Truxtun Avenue or by calling 324-PUCK (7825).
LEAGUE LEADERS:
Average Attendance - 6,147 (2nd)
F Matt Pope - 19 goals (1st rookies, t-3rd overall)
F Matt Pope - 32 points (5th rookies, t-14th overall)
F Matt Pope - 9 power play goals (t-1st rookies)
Condors Power Play - 19.3% (6th)
CONDORS LEADERS:
Points- F Matt Pope (32)
Goals- F Matt Pope (19)
Assists- RW Chad Painchaud (21)
PIM- RW Liam Huculak (92)
Plus/Minus- F Matt Pope (+1)
GAA- G Yutaka Fukufuji (3.24)
Save Percentage- G Yutaka Fukufuji (.906)
ECHL Stories from January 5, 2009
- Aces Announce Revised Schedule - Alaska Aces
- Reign Announce Schedule Changes - Ontario Reign
- Back to Bakersfield for four-game homestand - Bakersfield Condors
- Salmon Kings Win Streak At 13 Games - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Salmon Kings Announce Coca-Cola Whiteout Weekend - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Off The Hook: Steelheads Update - Idaho Steelheads
- Colonel Claw'd to promote Condors educational program - Bakersfield Condors
- Salmon Kings Name Harris Assistant General Manager - Victoria Salmon Kings
- ECHL Transactions - January 5 - ECHL
- Cyclones Receive St. Denis and Wyman From Hamilton - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Steelheads Announce Revised 2009 Schedule - Idaho Steelheads
- Grizzlies Home Four Nights This Week - Utah Grizzlies
- Bombers Recap - Dayton Bombers
- Stingrays Add Curry, Carbery to Roster - South Carolina Stingrays
- Thunder Roll Through Alaska, Descend on Phoenix Next - Stockton Thunder
- 'Canes Jerseys Worn by Blades up for Auction - Florida Everblades
- Salmon Kings Record Streak Is 13 Games - ECHL
- RoadRunners Acquire Cohen From Cincinnati - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Pack the House Night Less Than Two Weeks Away - South Carolina Stingrays
- Everblades Weekly - Florida Everblades
- Weekly Arrowhead - Johnstown Chiefs
- Cyclones Place Martin on Suspended List, Trade Cohen - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Phoenix Hosts Stockton Tuesday and Thursday at US Airways Center - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Sea Wolves Weekly - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Devils have a perfect week, head out to Ohio for a trio of games - Trenton Devils
- Gladiators Weekly Update - Atlanta Gladiators
- Cyclones Play Three At Home This Week - Cincinnati Cyclones
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