ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Condors Agree To Terms With Venedam and Kudelka

June 6, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors have agreed to terms with forward Sean Venedam and defenseman David Kudelka for the 2007- 08 season, head coach Marty Raymond announced Wednesday. Per club policy, terms of the deals were not announced.

Venedam, the 5-foot, 10-inch, 200-pound, team captain from Valley East, Ontario, led the Condors to one of their best seasons in franchise history, recording 74 points (27g, 47a) in 68 games. The 30- year-old forward helped guide the team to a playoff series win for the second consecutive season, notching six points (1g, 5a) in 10 games. Kudelka, a 6-foot, 3-inch, 197-pound native of Prerov, Czech Republic, anchored the blueline for Bakersfield with a strong physical presence and totaled three goals and eight assists in 50 regular season games. He jump- started the team's comeback from 0-2 down in the National Conference Quarterfinals against Fresno, scoring just 48 seconds into Game 3 to put the Condors ahead, and notching an empty-net goal with just 42 seconds remaining to seal the win.

"We are happy to have two committed individuals back," Raymond said. "Venedam and Kudelka are two examples of leadership and dedication that will help us improve next season."

In 2005-06, Venedam's first in Bakersfield, he netted 29 goals and 21 assists in 46 games during the regular season, and a goal and 13 assists in 14 playoff games. He is currently ninth all-time in regular season points for the Condors with 124, ranks first in playoff assists with 18 and points with 20, and recorded his 200th career goal on Jan. 7, 2006.

Prior to joining the Condors, 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 scored 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 with Fort Wayne in 2004-05 as well.

"For most teams, there is a two or three year building process before you win a championship," Venedam said. "We have been contenders for two years now and we have established ourselves as competitors. We are prepared and we expect to win."

Kudelka, 32, will return to the Condors for a third season. In addition to his early and late-game heroics in Game 3 against Fresno, he had three goals in only eight playoff contests, setting the Condors mark for defensemen in the postseason, and tying the Bakersfield franchise record. During the 2004-05 campaign with Bakersfield, Kudelka played 54 games, amassing five goals, 15 assists and 92 penalty minutes in the regular season, and tallying a goal and two assists in the playoffs.

Kudelka's professional career has taken him to six different teams in five leagues over the course of eight years. In addition to the Condors, Kudelka has played with the Znojemsti Excalibur Orli and Tinec Ocelari HC of the Czech League, the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the West Coast Hockey League, the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League and the Landshut EV of the 2.GBun League, accruing 24 goals, 87 assists and 563 penalty minutes in his eight-year career.

"It's great to be able to play another season in Bakersfield," Kudelka said. "I trust that Marty will help us build a great team and we will go farther than last year. The past two years we've been to the second round but the second round isn't enough. We want to win."

The Condors begin their 2007-08 10th Anniversary season Friday, October 19. For more information or to reserve season tickets, mini-plans and book group outings contact the Condors office at 324-PUCK (7825).

Notes From The Nest: Mike Hofstrand recently became a father for the first time when his son Hudson Michael Hofstrand was born on Friday, May 25.

Check out the Bakersfield Condors Statistics



ECHL Stories from June 6, 2007


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