Condors and Ice Dogs in Back-and-Forth Battle
Published on April 17, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
Game One - Tuesday, April 11th
CONDORS 3 vs. Long Beach 1
Attendance: 4,437
Mathieu Brunelle's second period goal would prove to be the game winner as the Bakersfield Condors captured Game One of their best-of-seven Kelly Cup Pacific Division Semifinal series. Long Beach's Sean McAslan scored the only Ice Dogs goal in the first period with a wrist shot from the top of the slot. Condor forward Mike Hofstrand tied the game on the power play in the opening moments of the second period. Brunelle pushed a backhand shot through the legs of Long Beach goaltender Greg Hewitt to give Bakersfield a 2-1 lead heading into the third. Condor defenseman Steve Howard added an insurance goal with a wrister from the left point for the game's final score of 3-1.
Game Two - Friday, April 14th
CONDORS 4 vs. Long Beach 5
Attendance: 6,586
Ash Goldie, Mike Vellinga, Cory Urquhart and Mac Faulkner of Long Beach all scored in the opening frame as the Ice Dogs took a 4-1 lead into the first intermission. Condors goals by Dave Bonk and Mathieu Brunelle cut the Bakersfield deficit to 4-3 entering the third period, but a wrist shot by Long Beach's Michael Lambert extended the Ice Dogs lead back to two with over 11 minutes remaining in the game. Josh Liebenow made it a one-goal game for the Condor with 55 seconds left, but Lambert's goal would prove to be the game-winner.
Game Three - Saturday, April 15th
CONDORS 6 @ Long Beach 3
Bakersfield and Long Beach traded their first goals just 25 seconds apart in the game's opening moments with tallies by Kevin Kotyluk and Sean McAslan. The Condors took advantage of a James Sanford checking from behind major penalty and scored two power play goals in the next five minutes for a 4-2 lead after 20 minutes. Bakersfield held the Ice Dogs to a season-low 19 shots on goal for the 6- 3 win in front of 1,131 fans at the Long Beach Arena.
Game Four - Sunday, April 16th
CONDORS 4 @ Long Beach 5
Jason Beeman extended the Long Beach lead to 4-2 just 30 seconds into the third period with a shot past netminder Ryan Munce. Following the goal, Marty Magers replaced Munce in goal for the Condors. 42 seconds later, Alexandre Bolduc stamped his return to the Condors with a wrist shot off a pass from Sean Venedam. With 6:57 remaining in regulation, Kevin St. Jacques collected a quick pass and fired a shot past Halak to tie the game at 4- 4. In overtime, Christian Larrivee snuck a wrist shot under the left pad of Magers to give Long Beach the 5-4 victory.
Series Summary
The best-of-seven series is tied up at two games apiece heading into Wednesday night's Game Five in Long Beach. Game Six will take place in Bakersfield on Friday, April 21st at 7:00pm. If necessary, the Condors will host the deciding Game Seven on Saturday, April 22nd.
Notes from the Nest
-6,586 fans passed through the turnstiles for Friday's Game Two at the Rabobank Arena, marking the largest crowd for any city so far in the 2006 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
-The Condors post-season attendance average of 5,511 ranks second in the ECHL.
-Dave Bonk has scored seven points (4g, 3a) in four playoff games. Bonk trails Idaho's Garett Bembridge and David Bararuk for the post-season scoring lead.
-Kevin Kotyluk leads the ECHL with a plus-minus rating of +8 during the post-season. Steve Howard ranks second with a +7 and Shaun Fisher ranks third in the league with a +6 rating.
-Wednesday appears to be a good day for the crucial Game Five; Bakersfield sports a flawless record of 8-0-0 on Wednesdays.
Rewriting the History Books
-Dave Bonk has tied Glen Mears for most points by a Condor in a single post-season with seven.
-Mathieu Brunelle currently ranks fifth all-time in franchise history with eight career playoff points in Bakersfield.
-The previous franchise high for highest plus- minus in a post-season is +3, achieved by four different players (last: Brett Lutes in the 2005 Kelly Cup Playoffs).
-Brunelle's two career game-winning goals are the most by an individual in franchise history.
Recent Transactions
The Manitoba Moose reassigned forward Alexandre Bolduc to Bakersfield in time for Sunday's Game Four in Long Beach. Bolduc scored a goal and an assist with a +2 rating in his return. On Friday, the Condors activated Andrew Ianiero from the 30- Day Injured Reserve.
Injury Report
Brian Collins (30-Day from Mar. 14th) and Reagan Leslie (30-Day from Mar. 31st) both occupy the 30-Day Injured Reserve while Nathan Tennant (placed on IR Apr. 7th) and Eric Neilson (placed on IR Apr. 11th) are eligible to return from the 7-Day Injured Reserve.
Buy Tickets
On Friday, April 21st, the Condors host the Long Beach Ice Dogs in Game Six of the Kelly Cup Playoffs sponsored by KGET-TV 17 and The New AT&T. All fans in attendance will receive a Condors Blackout Foam Rally Stick. All fans are encouraged to "Blackout" the Ice Dogs by wearing black to the game. If necessary, Game Seven will take place at the Rabobank Arena on Saturday, April 22nd at 7:00pm.
ECHL Playoff Leaders
-Dave Bonk - 7 points (3rd)
-Dave Bonk - 4 goals (T-3rd)
-Mathieu Brunelle - 6 points (T-4th)
-Mathieu Brunelle - 2 game-winning goals (T-1st)
-Kevin Kotyluk - +8 plus-minus rating (1st)
-Steve Howard - +7 plus-minus rating (2nd overall, 1st among defensemen)
-Steve Howard - 4 points (T-3rd among defensemen)
-Shaun Fisher - +6 plus-minus rating (3rd overall, 2nd among defensemen)
-Shaun Fisher - 4 assists (T-2nd among defesemen)
-Bakersfield - 6,586 single game attendance: April 14th (1st - Kelly Cup Playoffs)
-Bakersfield - 5,511 fans/game (2nd)
Regular Season League Leaders - Final
-Sean Venedam - 3 PPG in one game (ECHL season-high)
-Sean Venedam - 16 power play goals (T-2nd)
-Alexandre Bolduc - 3 shorthanded goals (T-1st among rookies)
-Alexandre Bolduc - 4 shorthanded points (T-3rd among rookies)
-Andrew Ianiero - 4 shorthanded assists (T-1st)
-Kevin Truelson - 47 points (T-5th among defensemen)
-Kevin Truelson - 249 shots on goal (1st among defensemen)
-Ryan Munce - 30 wins (5th)
-Ryan Munce - 3234 minutes (1st)
-Ryan Munce - 1705 saves (1st)
-Ryan Munce - 8 shootout wins (1st)
-Ryan Munce - 4 overtime wins (T-2nd)
-Ryan Munce - .808 shootout percentage (2nd)
-Bakersfield - 5,603 fans/game (5th)
Kelly Cup Playoffs - First Round vs. Long Beach (All Times Pacific)
Game Five - Wednesday, April 19th @ Long Beach (7:00pm)
Game Six - Friday, April 21st @ Bakersfield (7:00pm)
Game Seven* - Saturday, April 22nd @ Bakersfield (7:00pm)
* - if necessary
Last Week
Last Week's Record (2-2)
Overall Record (42-28-6)
ECHL Stories from April 17, 2006
- Game Six tonight - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Steelheads fall to Wranglers 5-2; series extended to six games - Idaho Steelheads
- Wranglers force Game Six in Vegas on Tuesday with 5-2 win - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Jersey auction raises $14,000 for local boy; Kids Club helps clean up Bakersfield - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors and Ice Dogs in Back-and-Forth Battle - Bakersfield Condors
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Storm weekly - Toledo Walleye
- 'Blades get Tuma back from AHL - Florida Everblades
- Steelheads Game Preview: West Division Semi-Finals, Game Five - Idaho Steelheads
- Reading's Rome Fined - ECHL
- Titans Riveting Reading Program makes impact in community - Trenton Devils
- San Diego Loses Tough Series To Fresno; Returns To Action In October - San Diego Gulls
- Liffiton Is 300th Former ECHL Player To Play In NHL - ECHL
- Gladiators Weekly Update - Atlanta Gladiators
- Jason Christie Returns Grizzlies To Winning Ways In 2005-2006 - Utah Grizzlies
- All-Star Hambly rejoins Wranglers for game five - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Adam Keefe Back To Storm - Toledo Walleye
- Royals' Playoff Game Day Broadcasts Live on ESPN Radio And The Internet - Reading Royals
- Everblades Weekly - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Condors Fall in Overtime in Game Four - Bakersfield Condors
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