Fukufuji back in Bakersfield
August 6, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors, official ECHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, announced today they have agreed to terms with goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji. The announcement was made by Condors Head Coach Marty Raymond.
Fukufuji, 25, has played more minutes between the pipes for Bakersfield than any goaltender in the history of the team. The 2008-09 campaign will be his third in Bakersfield. Last season he overcame a shaky start to carry the team into the post season, finishing with a record of 18-18-1, a .500 win percentage on a team that finished 13 games below .500 on the season. His 3.39 goals against average and .899 save percentage both led the team.
It was at the end of the season that Fukufuji shined for the Condors. His 7-2-0 record down the stretch was accompanied by a 2.38 GAA and a .930 save percentage, and helped guide the team to a playoff spot. Fukufuji was a workhorse after returning from Injured Reserve in mid-February, appearing in 22 of the team's last 23 games of the regular season, making 19 starts. In the playoffs, he went 2-4 while starting every game, and made 31 or more saves in each outing, highlighted by a 39-save overtime victory in Game 1 and a 55-save overtime loss in Game 6, both on the road in Victoria.
2008-3-29 fukufujiFukufuji's name is highlighted throughout the Condors record book, having climbed the ranks in almost every career category as the 2007-08 season progressed. He stands as the club's all-time leader in wins (45), saves (2,401), minutes (4,944), appearances (90), and is tied for the club record with four shutouts. He ranks fourth in career save percentage (.910) and seventh with a 2.72 goals against average (GAA).
In 2004, the Los Angeles Kings drafted Fukufuji and assigned him to Bakersfield. He starred in his rookie season with the Condors, compiling a 27-9-5 record with a 2.48 GAA and .919 save percentage, with three shutouts, before a late-season injury sidelined him for the post-season. He became the talk of the hockey world in 2006-07 when he became the first Japanese-born player in National Hockey League history, manning the crease in four games for the Kings.
"After the playoffs that Fuj had, we felt we wanted to bring him back," said Raymond. "We feel that that is the Fukufuji we had in net with us in 2004-05 and we'll have in net for us this year. He showed poise and confidence and he was the goalie we know him to be, and we're happy to have him back."
Fukufuji is the tenth player announced by the Condors for the 2008-09 season, joining C Dave Bonk, D Martin Frechette, RW Liam Huculak, F Tylor Michel, F Dale Reinhardt, LW Dany Roussin, C Dan Rudisuela, C Ryan Salvis and D Tyler Scott.
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