ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Condors are ECHL-best 12-3-1 in last 16 games

Published on March 9, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors furthered their pursuit of the Kelly Cup playoffs with a 2-1-0 record on the week, extending their league-best stretch to 12-3-1 in their last 16 games. The Condors kick off four straight games against the Utah Grizzlies at home this Friday, and only trail Utah by two points in the National Conference standings.

The Condors sit in 4th place in the Pacific Division at 26-29-7 with 59 points in the standings. The Condors lead the Phoenix RoadRunners by four points in the National Conference standings, but still trail Phoenix in winning percentage, which is the deciding factor for a playoff berth.

THIS WEEK (ALL TIMES PACIFIC):

Friday, March 13 vs. Utah (7 p.m.)

Saturday, March 14 vs. Utah (7 p.m.)

WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):

Wednesday, March 4

CONDORS 8 vs. Utah 4

Attn: 3,586

F Tylor Michel (left) netted his first career hat trick to lead the Condors to an 8-4 trouncing of the Utah Grizzlies on Wednesday. LW Mark Derlago also scored twice and F Andrew Ianiero, RW Liam Huculak and C Bruce Graham chipped in with a goal apiece for Bakersfield. G Dave McKee took over in net after G Yutaka Fukufuji exited early with an injury, and stopped 23 of 27 shots for the win.

Friday, March 6

Condors 6 vs. STOCKTON 3

G Dave McKee made 39 saves to backstop the Condors to the 6-3 victory in Stockton on Saturday, extending Bakersfield's winning streak to four straight games. RW Mike Wirll (right) scored a pair of goals and led the way with three points, while LW Mark Derlago, F Tylor Michel, F Matt Pope, and F Dave Bonk also lit the lamp for the Condors.

Saturday, March 7

ONTARIO 7 vs. Condors 3

Ontario scored three goals in both the second and third periods to take the 7-3 win on Saturday. The Condors received one goal in each period, scored by C Bruce Graham, F Andrew Ianiero and RW Liam Huculak (left), and G Dave McKee stopped 33 shots in the loss.

PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES:

The Condors are 5th in the league in average attendance at 5,503 fans per game.

F Matt Pope (right) has been loaned to the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League. The rookie is expected to make his AHL debut this Tuesday against the Portland Pirates. Click here for the story.

Pope will be the eighth Condor to spend time with an AHL club this season: D Andrew Thomas (Iowa, Nov. 17 - Feb. 14), LW Mark Derlago (Manitoba, Nov. 25 - Jan. 14), F Matt Caruana (Iowa, Dec. 1 - Present), C Charlie Kronschnabel (Iowa, Dec. 26 - Present), RW Chad Painchaud (Iowa, Feb. 26 - Present), RW Jason Bailey (Iowa, several), G Dave McKee (Iowa, several).

LW Mark Derlago (right) was named the ECHL Player of the Month for February, after leading the league with 26 points (10g-16a) in 14 games last month.

RW Mike Wirll was named ECHL Player of the Week (Feb. 23 - March 1) last Tuesday for the second time in three weeks. The Condors became the first recorded team in ECHL history to win the Player of the Week three times in a row, as RW Chad Painchaud won it in between Wirll's awards.

G Yutaka Fukufuji was named a runner-up for both the ECHL Saver of the Month (February) and Goalie of the Week (Feb. 23 - March 1) awards last week. He has gone 8-1-0 with a .909 save percentage during the Condors 12-3-1 stretch since Feb. 6.

Fukufuji is currently on a six-game winning streak and has not lost a game since Feb. 10.

Four Condors rank in the top 9 in league scoring: F Dave Bonk (right) (4th - 66pts), RW Chad Painchaud (t-5th - 64pts), F Matt Pope (t-7th - 63pts) and LW Mark Derlago (t-9th - 61pts).

The Condors had a six-game road winning streak come to an end last Saturday and had not lost on the road since Feb. 10. They fell just one game shy of equaling the team record of seven straight road wins.

D Jay Langager was placed on the 3-IR on Saturday and is eligible to be activated on Tuesday. G Yutaka Fukufuji remains on the 7-IR and is eligible to be activated on Thursday. C Brett Pilkington and LW Bobby Bolt remain on the 30-IR, though both are eligible to be activated.

FREE JERSEYS AT THE NEST THIS WEEKEND:

The Condors return to the Mercy and Memorial Hospitals Home Ice at Rabobank Arena for a pair of games against the Utah Grizzlies on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14. On Friday is the #10 Matt Pope Youth Jersey Giveaway, sponsored by KGET-TV 17, La Preciosa 105.3 and McDonald's. The first 2,000 kids, 12-and-under, will receive a youth jersey of the Condors rookie sniper!

Then on Saturday, the Condors and Grizzlies face off again for the 'What Could Have Been' Jersey Off Our Backs Raffle and Auction, sponsored by KUZZ 107.9 and Bud Light. Come take a look at what could have been, as the Condors will sport Bakersfield Brontos Specialty Jerseys in honor of the team name that was a finalist along with the Condors 11 years ago! The game-worn sweaters will be auctioned off after the game, plus everyone in attendance has the chance to win one of five to be given away! All proceeds from the jersey auction will benefit the Petroleum Shrine Club.

Doors open at 6 p.m., the puck drops at 7 p.m. both nights. 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.

GET TICKETS

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 - 5,503 (5th)

F Dave Bonk - 66 points (4th)

F Dave Bonk - 43 assists (5th)

RW Chad Painchaud - 64 points (t-5th)

RW Chad Painchaud - 44 assists (t-2nd)

F Matt Pope - 63 points (t-3rd rookies, t-7th overall)

F Matt Pope - 30 goals (4th rookies)

F Matt Pope - 13 power play goals (t-2nd rookies, t-4th overall)

LW Mark Derlago - 61 points (t-9th)

Condors Power Play - 19.3% (1st National Conference, 5th overall)

CONDORS LEADERS:

Points- F Dave Bonk (66)

Goals- F Matt Pope (30)

Assists- RW Chad Painchaud (44)

PIM- RW Liam Huculak (134)

Plus/Minus- LW Mark Derlago and D Andrew Thomas (+5)

GAA- G Yutaka Fukufuji (3.48)

Save Percentage- G Yutaka Fukufuji (.902)

Check out the Bakersfield Condors Statistics

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ECHL Stories from March 9, 2009


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