Falcons Drop Season Opener
October 13, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. â The Taylor Cup Champion Fresno Falcons didn't quite open the 2002-03 season the way they would have liked, falling to the Bakersfield Condors, 4-0, in the opening game for both clubs. Paul Willett notched a pair of power play goals for the Condors as they avenged an opening night loss handed to them by the Falcons one year ago.
The two teams started the game by skating to over 16 minutes of scoreless hockey before Bakersfield's Jeff Goldie found the back of the net for his first goal of the season at the 16:38 mark of the period, giving the Condors the early 1-0 lead. Then with just one minute remaining in the second period, Willett extended the Condors lead to 2-0 with his first goal of the evening, as Bakersfield took a two-goal cushion into the final period of play. Willed added his second goal of the contest at the 8:04 mark of the third period to give the Condors a 3-0 lead and Paul Rosebush sealed the victory with an empty net goal in the closing minutes of the game.
Despite firing 35 shots on Bakersfield netminder Kevin St. Pierre, the Falcons were unable to get anything past him. Falcons goaltender Terry Friesen was solid in net as well, stopping 17 of the 20 shots he faced while between the pipes. Fresno biggest undoing was their inability to get anything going on the power player, failing to score on all 10 of their power play chances. The Condors on the other hand converted on two of their eight power play opportunities.
The team will now head back to Fresno for the 2002-03 home opener at Selland Arena on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m. against the Idaho Steelheads in a Taylor Cup Finals re-match. Friday's game will feature the championship banner raising ceremony as well as the championship ring ceremony. The first 5,000 fans at Friday night's game will receive a free championship poster courtesy of Carl's Jr., KSEE 24, 95.7 The Fox and The Fresno Bee. Ticket are on sale now at the Selland Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Season ticket packages are also still available for as low as $100. Call the Falcons offices at 485-PUCK (7825) for more information.
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ECHL Stories from October 13, 2002
- Gulls Beat Ice Dogs 5-4 - San Diego Gulls
- Bombers Record First Win, Top Nailers, 4-1 - Dayton Bombers
- IceGators slip past âBlades in season-opener - Louisiana IceGators
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- All Along the Coast - ECHL
- Mississippi Opens with Win at Baton Rouge - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- St. Pierre, Condors Skunk Defending Champs, 4-0 - Bakersfield Condors
- Falcons Drop Season Opener - Fresno Falcons
- Grizzlies Fall to 0-2 - Utah Grizzlies
- Gulls Blank Ice Dogs, 6-0 - San Diego Gulls
- Roanoke Stops The Titans In A Shootout - Trenton Devils
- Power Play Woes Cost Aces - Alaska Aces
- Sea Wolves Eat Fish - Baton Rouge Kingfish
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