Captain Venedam and Hofstrand to Return
June 6, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Today the Bakersfield Condors Professional Hockey Club announced they have agreed to terms with forwards Sean Venedam and Mike Hofstrand for the upcoming season. The two centers are the first players to sign with the team for the upcoming 2006-07season.
Sean Venedam led the Condors to the Pacific Division Finals with 29 goals and 21 assists in 46 games during the regular season. He added one goal and 13 assists in 14 playoff games. Despite missing 26 games to injury last season, the 29-year-old captain recorded his 200th career goal on January 7th, 2006.
"Sean was a big part of our success last year and we wanted him back for the 06-07 season. He's well-liked in the community and he's one of our premier leaders," said Condors Head Coach Marty Raymond. "It was a must to have Sean back."
Prior to joining the Condors last season, Venedam played in the United Hockey League with the Fort Wayne Komets for three seasons from 2002-03 until the 2004-05 season where he amassed 66 goals and 123 assists for 189 points. Venedam also played five years in the ECHL from 1997-98 until the 2001-02 season, when he hoisted the Kelly Cup as a member of the Greenville Grrrowl. Venedam won two consecutive championships, in his career, carving his name on the Kelly Cup in the ECHL in 2002 and the Colonial Cup in the UHL in 2003. He reached the Colonial Cup Finals in 2004-05 with Fort Wayne.
Mike Hofstrand, 29, is returning to the Condors lineup for the third consecutive season. Last season, the alternate captain helped take the team to the Pacific Division Finals where he tallied one goal and three assists in 14 games. In 71 regular season games he recorded 19 goals, 22 assists and 50 penalty minutes. In the 2004-05 season, Hofstrand only played 37 games with the Condors due to injury.
"Mike brings a lot of leadership to the locker room. He's professional on and off the ice," said Raymond. "Night after night, he plays great against the top line. All around he's a great player to have back."
Prior to joining the Condors, the British Columbia native spent one season playing for the Stuttgart Wizards of the Germany Oberliga South in 2003-04; where he posted 22 goals, 43 assists for 65 points and finished second on the team in goals, assists and points. He also played in back-to-back seasons for the Elmira Jackals of the UHL from 2001 to 2003. P>Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Professional Hockey Players' Association, player contracts cannot be approved or registered by the ECHL until June 6.
For more information or to reserve season tickets, mini-plans and book group outings contact the Condors office at 324-PUCK (7825). Condors season ticket packages start as low as $30 The Condors 2006-07 season will begin in October.
ECHL Stories from June 6, 2006
- Detroit Tigers select eighteen players on first day - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Captain Venedam and Hofstrand to Return - Bakersfield Condors
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- Wranglers receive Power from South Carolina - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Future Consideration Trade Complete - South Carolina Stingrays
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