Condors Close Regular Season with 41 Wins
April 7, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
Last Week
Tuesday, April 1
Falcons out-gun Condors
Fresno scored on the first shot of the game just 18 seconds after the opening face off to take the lead, and never lost it en route to a 7-5 triumph over the Condors at Selland Arena on Tuesday. RW Jason Ralph and LW J.J. Wrobel both scored twice, while LW Jeff Goldie notched a power play goal. All Falcons tallies came at even strength. Netminder Beau Fritz stopped 27 of 34 Fresno shots, while the Falcons beat the Condors in regulation for just the second time in 16 games. It was the last road game of the regular season for the Condors, whose road record finishes at 18-14-4. Bakersfield won the season series with their Highway 99 rivals, 13-2-1.
Friday, April 4 Attendance: 7,579
Third period comeback, part 1
Idaho won on Friday night in a back and forth contest, 4-3. They took a 2-0 lead with first period goals just 1:01 apart and led heading into the second period. Bakersfield came back, however, with goals by D Guy Dupuis (4th) and C Paul Willett (24th) to tie the game heading into the third frame. Rookie RW Mike Wirll notched his first career goal at 5:15 to put the Condors in front, but it didn't last. Winger Ben Keup tied the game on the power play at 12:02, and with 3:35 remaining in regulation, RW Dampy Brar tallied his 15th goal of the season to give Idaho the lead, and eventually the win. The Condors outshot Idaho 35-29.
Saturday, April 5 Attendance: 5,820
Third period comeback, part 2
This time Bakersfield came back in the final frame, beating the first-place Steelheads 4-2 in their last game of the regular season. After a scoreless first period, Idaho put two tallies on the board in the second stanza to lead 2-0 entering the third. C Paul Willett scored his 25th goal of the season at 3:39 to cut the lead in half, and RW Jason Ralph notched his 28th goal to tie the match at 9:54. The game appeared destined for a shootout, when RW Christian Skoryna blasted home his 27th of the season with just 41 seconds left on the clock. D Wes Swinson added an empty net goal to make the final score 4-2.
This Week
The Condors will host Games 1 and 2 of the opening round of the Taylor Cup Playoffs against the San Diego Gulls, despite finishing in third place, this Friday and Saturday night. Everyone in attendance will receive Condors Thunderstix on Friday.
Game 2, the following night, will feature a "Jersey Off Our Backs" raffle and auction for the team's Go Army Warm Up Jerseys. All post season games are sponsored by KGET-TV 17, Clear Channel Radio and the Active 20/30 Club. The Active 20/30 Club will collect the proceeds from the jersey auction and make a contribution to local children's charities. In addition, everyone in attendance will have the chance to win one of five to be given away.
Bakersfield finished the season 7-5-2 against San Diego. All games, home and away, can be heard live on KGEO AM 1230, with "Condors Countdown" starting 15 minutes prior to face off, with Condors Broadcaster Kevin Bartl handling the play-by-play. Both games this weekend will be televised live on Bright House Networks (formerly Time Warner Cable) Ch. 21.
Individual tickets can be purchased at the Centennial Garden Box Office, by calling Ticketmaster at 322-2525, online at www.ticketmaster.com or stopping by any Ticketmaster location. Season and group tickets may be purchased by calling 324-PUCK (7825) or by visiting the Condors office next to Centennial Garden.
Notes
· C Paul Willett recorded 2g-4a-6pts in three games to overtake both C Dean Larson and RW Yvan Corbin of Anchorage for the league's scoring title.
· The WCHL had 12 players finish the season at +20 or better (plus/minus). Seven of them played for the Condors.
· G Joel Martin recorded his first professional victory on Saturday night. He last played for the Condors on January 10th, then returned to the junior ranks with the Calgary Hitmen. He made 34 saves.
· Two of the three penalty shots awarded this season were given to Condors. RW Mike Wirll did not score on his chance on Saturday night.
· F Nate Anderson was one of only four rookies in the league all season to score a shorthanded goal.
· The Condors, as a team, led the league in both shorthanded goals (15) and shots per game (32.60).
Quote of the Week
"It was a team effort, I didn't do this by myself." â Condors Captain Paul Willett, in regards to his scoring title this season.
League leaders (Final) Stat League rank
Team 15 shorthanded goals 1st
5,600 fans/game 2nd
32.60 shots/game 1st
Nate Anderson 14 goals 3rd Rookies
+12 plus/minus 4th Rookies
.133 shooting % 2nd Rookies
Shawn Byram 65 points t-12th
Jamie Cooke 4 shorthanded goals 2nd
7 game winning goals t-2nd
Guy Dupuis 36 points, 32 assists 4th Defensemen
+23 plus/minus t-4th (t-2nd Defensemen)
190 shots 2nd Defensemen
Quinn Fair +23 plus/minus t-4th (t-2nd Defensemen)
Jeff Goldie 61 points 18th
Jason Jackman 30 points 3rd Rookies
20 assists 1st Rookies
+22 plus/minus 2nd Rookies
Jonas Lennartsson +38 plus/minus 2nd (1st Defensemen, Rookies)
Jason Ralph 64 points t-14th
+39 plus/minus 1st
5 shorthanded goals 1st
.189 shooting % 5th
Christian Skoryna 80 points 4th
53 assists 4th
Jon Sorg 27 assists 5th Defensemen
Kevin St. Pierre .929 save % 1st
1543 saves 1st
36 wins 1st
3315 minutes 1st
2.14 GAA 1st
4 shutouts 2nd
Paul Willett 85 points 1st
60 assists t-1st
228 shots 5th
ECHL Stories from April 7, 2003
- Inferno sweep Grrrowl three-games-to-none to advance to Division finals - Greenville Grrrowl
- Larson Named Best Player in Two Publications - Alaska Aces
- Grizzlies Lose A Pair Of Defenseman - Utah Grizzlies
- Help! Colonel Claw'd has been Kidnapped; KGET Support the Troops Rally, Saturday - Bakersfield Condors
- Black out for Season; Another Rookie Signed - San Diego Gulls
- Idaho's Scott Swanson Named 2002-03 WCHL Outstanding De fenseman - Idaho Steelheads
- Unbeaten Week Ends Regular Season - Fresno Falcons
- Komets sweep Beacons, Jackals up next - Fort Wayne Komets
- Condors Close Regular Season with 41 Wins - Bakersfield Condors
- Steelheads Support Idaho's Troops - Idaho Steelheads
- Steelheads Kick off White Out Week - Idaho Steelheads
- Cincinnati Meets Toledo in Second Round of 2003 Kelly Cup Playoffs - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Generals Playoff Intelligence Report - Greensboro Generals
- Storm Tracks - Toledo Walleye
- Road To Taylor Cup Begins in Bakersfield - San Diego Gulls
- SW Division Finals schedule announced - Louisiana IceGators
- Schedule Announced for Southwest Division Finals - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Bullies Hold Two Games to None Lead - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Express in First Round Battle with Greensboro - Roanoke Express
- Thank You For A Great Season - Arkansas RiverBlades
- Mississippi Faces Louisiana in Southwest Division Finals - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Stingrays Face Elimination Tonight - South Carolina Stingrays
- All Along The Coast - ECHL
- Storm Sweep Men from Playoff Picture - Burlington
- Gingras Called Up to Springfield - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Season Ends With Series Lost to Mississippi - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Forget Named ECHL Player of the Month - Johnstown Chiefs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
