Condors Head Coach Marty Raymond Secured Through 2009-10 Season
Published on May 30, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors Professional Hockey Team today announced contract extensions for Head Coach Marty Raymond, Director of Hockey Operations Bob Bartlett, Assistant Coach Mark Pederson and Equipment Manager John Doolan. Raymond, who still had one year left on his previous contract, had his agreement extended through the 2009-10 season. Pederson and Bartlett each received a one-year extension beyond next season and will remain under contract through 2008- 09. Doolan received a two-year extension, also through the 2008-09 season. Collectively, the coaching staff has over 100 years of professional hockey experience.
"Marty and his staff have taken the Condors to places we've never been before," Condors President Matthew Riley said. "They have developed the Condors into one of the best and most exciting hockey teams in the ECHL, while also maintaining a commitment to excellence off the ice. I look forward to many more years of on and off-the-ice success under this leadership."
Last season, Raymond led the team to a record breaking year with a 41-19-12 record, setting single- season franchise records for most points overall (94), most points on the road (49), highest winning percentage overall (.653), most wins on the road (20) and tying the mark for most wins overall (41). Raymond, the fourth coach in Bakersfield history, surpassed Paul Kelly on Nov. 18, 2006 for most wins in franchise history with 93. He accomplished the feat having coached just 173 games, the fewest in franchise history. Raymond's total wins with the Condors stands at 127 in just over three seasons.
"Bakersfield is a great place to make a home," Raymond said. "The community is tremendous and you always have tons of support. I'm proud to be a part of this organization. We have a bunch of unfinished business and the ultimate goal remains to bring home the Kelly Cup to Condorstown."
Raymond's tenure with the team began in February 2002, when he was brought on as the team's associate coach. On Feb. 26, 2004, Raymond replaced Kelly as the head coach. In 2005-06, Raymond guided the Condors to a 40-26-6 record and the team's first home-ice advantage playoff series since 1999-00. Bakersfield went further into the playoffs than ever before, advancing to the Pacific Division Finals after dispatching the Long Beach Ice Dogs in seven games for the franchise's first postseason series win. He also led the team to a second seven-game series as the Condors took on the Fresno Falcons in the Pacific Division finals, becoming the first team ever to participate in two ECHL seven-game playoff series in the same season. This past season, the team came back from an 0-2 deficit in the National Conference Quarterfinals, beating Fresno four straight times to win the series before getting knocked out by Alaska in the conference semifinals.
Prior to coming to Bakersfield, Raymond led the Phoenix Mustangs of the West Coach Hockey League to a Taylor Cup Championship in the 1999-2000 season.
Bartlett and Pederson are both returning for their third seasons, while Doolan gets set for his sophomore campaign with the Condors.
Bartlett, a Lethbridge, Alberta native primarily serves as a consultant to the Condors coaching staff in scouting recruitment and all hockey operations decisions. He is also the team's liaison with NHL and AHL clubs. Bartlett has more than four decades of experience at the professional, semi-pro, college and junior hockey ranks, and has been a part of seven championship teams, including 1999-2000 when he helped Raymond assemble the Taylor Cup Championship team in Phoenix. He also worked as the scouting director for the Fresno Falcons, including their Taylor Cup Championship season in 2001-02, and assisted with the Las Vegas Wranglers during their strong ECHL debut in 2003-04.
At the junior hockey level, Bartlett served as general manager for the Western Hockey League's Lethbridge Hurricanes and helped lead the Hurricanes into the playoffs in four of his five years there, including an East Division Championship.
In 1964, Bartlett was a key member of the NCAA National Championship team at the University of North Dakota. He played three seasons with the Fighting Sioux, was selected the team's Most Valuable Player during their championship season and was voted into the UND Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
Pederson, a Saskatchewan native, was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. After winning a pair of Memorial Cups in the Western Hockey League as a junior, he made an impressive jump to the professional scene, finishing fourth in the American Hockey League in scoring his second season. He suited up in the NHL in parts of six seasons for the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings. Overall, he scored 35 goals and 85 points in 169 NHL games.
Pederson spent the bulk of his playing career in the American and International Hockey Leagues, and played six seasons overseas as well. He scored 30 or more goals six different times in his pro career in North America, including a 52-goal performance in 62 AHL games in 1993-94. Pederson returned stateside to play for the San Diego Gulls in 2002-03, and he finished second in the league with 39 goals and seventh with 72 points. The following year he led the ECHL with 44 goals and finished sixth with 81 points. Pederson retired during his 17th season.
Doolan's 30 years of experience includes time in the ECHL, AHL, UHL and IHL and the National Hockey League. His NHL experience includes six years with the New York Islanders. Doolan was selected as an equipment manager for the 1996 NHL All-Star Game and the 2000 IHL All-Star Game. Last season he was selected to represent the Condors at the ECHL All- Star Game, but opted-out of participating to focus on team success following the All-Star break.
The Condors, members of the ECHL, the Premier AA Hockey League, begin their 2007-08 Anniversary season Friday, October 19. To view the full 2007-08 schedule, click here.
Season tickets, mini plans and group outings are available NOW. For more information call 324-PUCK (7825), stop by the Condors office located at 1001 Truxtun Avenue or visit us online at www.bakersfieldcondors.com.
ECHL Stories from May 30, 2007
- Salmon Kings extend affiliation with Canucks - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Condors Head Coach Marty Raymond Secured Through 2009-10 Season - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors Head Coach Marty Raymond Secured Through 2009-10 Season - Bakersfield Condors
- XM Radio Broadcasts Game 5 Of Kelly Cup Finals Live - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
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.
