Falcons Agree to Terms with Two Returnees
July 9, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
FRESNO, CALIF. - The Fresno Falcons announced today that the team has agreed to terms with left wings Kenny Bernard and Igor Gongalsky for the 2008-09 season.
Bernard appeared in 70 of the Falcons 72 games as a rookie last season, scoring 15 goals and adding 26 assists for 41 points, while also accumulating 65 penalty minutes. The 23-year-old enjoyed most of his success in the second half of the season, tallying 13 of his goals and 20 of his assists after January 1. Bernard led the team last season with four shorthanded goals. Prior to turning pro, Bernard played four seasons at Ohio State University, scoring 43 points in 132 career games.
Gongalsky scored 43 points on 18 goals and 25 assists, and added 140 penalty minutes, in 63 games for the Falcons last season. The 22-year-old tallied his first professional hat trick on December 1 at Bakersfield, and was one of three Falcons' representatives in the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game in Stockton, where he tallied two assists in the National Conference's victory.
"We went into last year in a rebuilding mode and our goal was to add players that we would have return this year," Falcons head coach and general manager Matt Thomas said. "Both Kenny and Igor were instrumental to our success last season, and we look forward to them building on their successful rookie campaigns this season."
Opening Night 2008 at Selland Arena is set for Friday, October 24, when the Falcons host their arch-rivals, the Bakersfield Condors, at 7:35 p.m.
Season Ticket packages start at just $432, and are now available by calling the Falcons at (559) 485-7825.
Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier âAA' Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that will have 23 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 828 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Eighteen of the 23 teams have played at least five years in their current city.
The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.
ECHL Stories from July 9, 2008
- Royals Ink Affiliation Agreement with Toronto Maple Leafs - Reading Royals
- Local Native Adamek Returns to Thunder Blueline - Stockton Thunder
- Falcons Agree to Terms with Two Returnees - Fresno Falcons
- World Championships Has Five Former ECHL Players - 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.
Other Recent Fresno Falcons Stories
