ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Condors continue winning ways over weekend

Published on March 2, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors won two of their three games last week, improving their record in the last 10 games to an ECHL best 8-1-1 and posting a 10-2-1 record in their last 13 contests. RW Mike Wirll netted his first hat trick of the season on Saturday and helped pace the offense with 5g-3a-8pts on the week.

The Condors sit in 4th place in the Pacific Division at 24-28-7 with 55 points in the standings, just four points behind the Stockton Thunder for 3rd place in the division and only five points behind the Las Vegas Wranglers for 2nd place. The Condors lead the Phoenix RoadRunners by two points for 8th place in the National Conference standings, though Phoenix has a slight advantage in winning percentage.

THIS WEEK (ALL TIMES PACIFIC):

Wednesday, March 4 vs. Utah (7 p.m.)

Friday, March 6 @ Stockton (7:30 p.m.)

Saturday, March 7 @ Ontario (7 p.m.)

WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):

Tuesday, Feb. 24

Alaska 5 vs. CONDORS 2

Attn: 4,373

C Bruce Graham (left) tied the game, 2-2, early in the third period, but Alaska responded with a pair of goals just 29 seconds apart midway through the frame and an empty-net goal late in the game to take the 5-2 win. D Chris Kaufman also scored for the Condors, and G Dave McKee stopped 23 of 27 shots in net.

Saturday, Feb. 28

Condors 6 vs. PHOENIX 3

RW Mike Wirll (right) scored his first hat trick of the season and F Dave Bonk had five assists to lead the Condors to a decisive 6-3 win in Phoenix on Saturday. The RoadRunners scored first early in the second period, but Bakersfield responded with five consecutive goals to open a 5-1 advantage early in the third period. After Phoenix tallied twice in the final frame, Wirll completed the hat trick with an empty net goal in the final minute to seal the win. LW Mark Derlago, D Donny Grover and D Chris Kaufman also scored for Bakersfield, and G Yutaka Fukufuji made 29 saves for the victory.

Sunday, March 1

CONDORS 4 vs. Las Vegas 3, SO

Attn: 4,505

Down 2-0 after one period, Bakersfield took a 3-2 lead early in the third, but needed the shootout to take down the Wranglers, 4-3. LW Mark Derlago (left) scored 38 seconds into the second stanza and RW Mike Wirll netted a pair of goals less than two minutes apart early in the third to put Bakersfield ahead. After the Vegas comeback in the final three minutes of regulation and a scoreless overtime, only Derlago scored in the shootout to lift the Condors to the win. G Yutaka Fukufuji stopped 32 of 35 shots, and all five shooters in the shootout, for his sixth straight win.

PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES:

The Condors are 3rd in the league in average attendance at 5,577 fans per game.

LW Mark Derlago led the ECHL with 25 points (10g-15a) in 14 games in February, and is the Condors nominee for ECHL Player of the Month.

RW Mike Wirll (5g-3a), LW Mark Derlago (2g-6a) and F Dave Bonk (0g-8a) all tied for the league lead in points last week.

Wirll scored his first hat trick of the season, part of a four-point night, on his 27th birthday in Phoenix on Saturday.

The line of Bonk (right), Derlago and Wirll accounted for every goal and assist on Sunday, including Derlago's shootout winner. Those three were also on the ice for all six Condors goals in Phoenix on Saturday, and combined for 7g-13a-20pts in Saturday and Sunday's wins.

The Condors have four players among the top eight point totals in the ECHL in scoring: RW Chad Painchaud (4th - 64pts), Bonk (t-5th - 62pts), F Matt Pope (7th - 60pts) and Derlago (t-8th - 56pts).

Painchaud was reassigned by Anaheim to Iowa (AHL) on Thursday and already has one assist in two games with the Chops.

G Yutaka Fukufuji (right) has won his last six starts. He is also a perfect 12-for-12 with a 2-0 record in shootouts this season.

Bakersfield earned 19 points in the standings in February, going 9-4-1 in 14 games.

The Condors have won five straight games on the road.

After starting 0-22-2 when trailing after two periods, the Condors have come back in the third period to win three times in the last eight games.

F Matt Pope (7-IR) and D Sean Hurley (3-IR) remain on the IR despite being eligible to be activated. LW Bobby Bolt also remains on the 30-IR, though he is eligible to be activated as well. C Brett Pilkington is on the 30-IR and is eligible to be activated on March 9.

STUDENT ID NIGHT, YOUTH JERSEY GIVEAWAY AND BRONTOS JERSEYS COMING UP:

The Condors are back at The Nest this Wednesday to host the Utah Grizzlies for High School / College ID Night, sponsored by 106.1 KRAB Radio. High school and college students can receive lower-level admission for just $1 by presenting their student ID at the Rabobank Arena Box Office! Doors open at 6 p.m., puck drops 7 p.m.

The Condors then head out on the road for a two-game trip on Friday in Stockton (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday in Ontario (7 p.m.). Saturday's game is the Condors Season Ticket Holder complimentary game in Ontario - simply cash in the voucher found in your season ticket book at the box office in Ontario.

After the trip, 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 the 13th 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 14th, 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 finished runner-up to 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. All Condors games are broadcast live on ESPN Radio 1230, B2 Networks and Bakersfieldcondors.com, and be sure to tune in 15 minutes early for Condors Countdown!

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 - 5,577 (3rd)

RW Chad Painchaud - 64 points (4th)

RW Chad Painchaud - 44 assists (2nd)

F Dave Bonk - 62 points (t-5th)

F Matt Pope - 29 goals (3rd rookies, 5th overall)

F Matt Pope - 60 points (3rd rookies, 7th overall)

F Matt Pope - 13 power play goals (t-1st rookies, t-3rd overall)

LW Mark Derlago - 56 points (t-8th)

Condors Power Play - 19.8% (1st National Conference, 5th overall)

CONDORS LEADERS:

Points- RW Chad Painchaud (64)

Goals- F Matt Pope (29)

Assists- RW Chad Painchaud (44)

PIM- RW Liam Huculak (123)

Plus/Minus- LW Mark Derlago (+2)

GAA- G Yutaka Fukufuji (3.49)

Save Percentage- G Yutaka Fukufuji (.902)

Check out the Bakersfield Condors Statistics

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ECHL Stories from March 2, 2009


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