ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Condors Win Three Straight

February 9, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


Last Week

Tuesday, February 3 Attendance: 2,787

Bakersfield squared off against Fresno on Tuesday night, looking for their seventh straight win against their Highway 99 rivals, but it was not to be. Despite scoring the first goal of the game, the Condors could not stop the Falcons attack. Fresno scored three straight and took a 3-1 victory, ending their seven game winless skid. Denis Ladouceur scored for Bakersfield in the loss.

Friday, February 6

Bakersfield got off to a quick start on Friday in Long Beach, with Todd Alexander scoring just 35 seconds in. That set the pace as the Condors reeled off four first period tallies to lead 4-1 after 20 minutes. The Condors hadn't won all season in Long Beach until this night, as they pounded home a 6-2 win. Paul Willett recorded four assists in the game while Paul Rosebush and Johan Astrom both scored twice to lead the Condors. The win brought their record to 3-2-1 on the year against their neighbors to the south.

Saturday, February 7

Bakersfield got back at Fresno on Saturday at the Save Mart Center, avenging their defeat four days earlier by handing the Falcons a 4-1 loss. Four different players scored for the Condors and nine players recorded a point, including Paul Willett, who notched a pair of helpers and Paul Rosebush and Mike Barrie, who both scored goals for the second straight night. Shane Bendera saw 21 shots in the third period alone, stopping all of them en route to a 38-save performance and his seventh win of the season.

Sunday, February 8, 2004 Attendance: 4,044

On Sunday, the Condors returned home for their third game in three days. Neither team could get on the board for 31 minutes, but Mike Barrie's breakaway tally triggered a four-goal second period that saw Bakersfield take a commanding lead. With the score tied at 1-1 late in the second, Jason Ralph and Paul Rosebush scored just 23 seconds apart for a 3-1 advantage. In the third, both teams exchanged tallies, but the Condors held on for the 4-2 victory, their third in a row.

Where We're At

The Condors are in fifth place in the Pacific Division, 14 points behind the Alaska Aces, whom they meet twice this week. In the last two weeks, Bakersfield has gained seven points on the Aces in their surge to reach playoff contention. Bakersfield leads sixth place Long Beach by seven points and Fresno by 11.

Condors Deal for Defenseman

Bakersfield completed a trade earlier in the week, obtaining second-year defenseman Valdemar Pelikovsky from the Alaska Aces in exchange for RW Dennis Ladouceur. Pelikovsky had eight points (2g-6a) and was +7 in 35 games with the Aces prior to the trade. While he did not record a point in two games this weekend with Bakersfield, he earned kudos for suiting up on Saturday night after traveling 2,200-miles in 11 hours the day of the game.

This week

The Condors host the Alaska Aces on Tuesday night for a 7:00pm start for Help for the Homeless Canned Food Drive Night, sponsored by KGEO AM 1230 and the Grocery Outlet. Anyone who donates a pair of canned good at the game can purchase a ticket for just $1. Bakersfield trails the Aces in the race for the playoffs and will be looking to gain ground on their Pacific Division foes.

On Friday night, the Long Beach Ice Dogs come to town for a 7:00pm start at Centennial Garden. The first 3,000 fans through the gates will receive a #29 Condors matchbox car, sponsored by KGET-TV 17, KUZZ 107.9 and Pepsi.

They finish the week with a Valentine's Day matchup against Alaska on Saturday night for the second meeting with the Aces in five days. The mascot Reggy (the newest personality of the former Phillie Phanatic), will entertain the audience as he makes his first appearance at Centennial Garden, sponsored by Bright House Networks, the Spanish Radio Group and 24Hour Fitness. There's no better way to say "I Love You" than bringing your Valentine to a Condors game.

All Condors games, home and away, can be heard on KGEO AM 1230, and online at www.bakersfieldcondors.com. "Condors Countdown" starts 15 minutes prior to game time, with Kevin Bartl handling the play-by-play.

Individual seats are on sale now, and may be purchased through the Centennial Garden box office, which opens at 10:00am Monday through Saturday. Tickets may also be purchased by phone through at 322-2525, online at www.ticketmaster.com or at any Ticketmaster location.

Notes from the Nest

· The Condors have won three games in a row for the first time all season. On Friday and Saturday, they won consecutive road games for the first time all season.

· Six different Condors recorded at least a point in all three games this weekend. C Andrew Ianiero had a four game point streak snapped on Sunday.

· On January 27th, the Condors trailed the Alaska Aces by 21 points in the standings. Since then, the Condors have gained seven points on Alaska, and trail the fourth and final playoff spot by 14 points.

· Bakersfield has scored the first goal in five of their last six games.

· Jon Mirasty extended his own Condors rookie penalty minute record, breaking the 200-PIM plateau this weekend. He leads all rookies and is fifth overall in the ECHL with 19 major penalties.

Quote of the Week

"I know it's his third in a row, but you can tell he's really been feeling it." – Condors Head Coach Paul Kelly, during Sunday's "Condors Countdown", referring to starting G Shane Bendera for the third straight night. Bendera has won five of his last six starts.

League Leaders (among all 31 teams)
Name Category Rank
Team 4,428 fans per game 9th
Team 28.33 shots allowed/game 8th
Jon Mirasty 19 major penalties 1st among rookies, 5th overall
203 penalty minutes 2nd among rookies

Condors team leaders

Goals
Astrom 19
Ralph 18
Riehl 16

Assists
Riehl 29
Ianiero 21
Fair 19

Points
Riehl 45
Ralph 35
Astrom 33

PIM
Mirasty 203
Rosebush 114
Ralph 109

Plus/Minus
Astrom +15
Riehl +12
Ianiero +11

Coming Up
Tuesday, February 10 vs. Alaska Aces, 7:00pm
Friday, February 13 vs. Long Beach Ice Dogs, 7:00pm
Saturday, February 14 vs. Alaska Aces, 7:00pm

Last Week
February 3, Fresno 3 @ CONDORS 1
February 6, Condors 6 @ LONG BEACH 2
February 7, Condors 4 @ FRESNO 1
February 8, CONDORS 4 vs. Trenton 2

Check out the Bakersfield Condors Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 9, 2004


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