ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Hot-Handed Hofstrand Gets Late Game-Winner

February 11, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


BOISE, Idaho - Mike Hofstrand's third-period goal off a Joel Irving rebound with 4:56 remaining proved to be the game-winner as the Bakersfield Condors defeated the Idaho Steelheads 3-2 in front of a sellout crowd of 5,182 fans at the Qwest Arena.

The Steelheads quickly exhibited their special teams prowess on an early Condors power play when D'Arcy McConvey led a shorthanded two-on-one alongside Garett Bembridge. McConvey took the shot himself in the Bakersfield slot and deposited the puck over goaltender Ryan Munce's left shoulder for the quick 1-0 lead just 3:53 into the game.

Bakersfield answered back two minutes later as Kevin St. Jacques found Sean Venedam in front of the net. Venedam pushed the puck past the open right side of Idaho netminder Steve Silverthorn to tie the game at 1-1.

Dan Hacker proved himself as the foil to Ryan Munce for the second consecutive game as he wristed a shot over Munce's left shoulder with Garett Bembridge and Roy Mitchell assisting. Hacker's goal made it 2-1 Idaho with 7:05 left in the first period.

Venedam notched his second goal of the evening when he received the puck in the near circle from St. Jacques and put it under the crossbar behind Silverthorn's left shoulder. Reagan Leslie assisted on the goal, tying the game at 2-2 with 8:33 remaining until the second intermission.

Both teams exchanged power play chances as both Silverthorn and Munce provided jaw-dropping saves on both sides of the ice. With 4:56 left in the game, Mike Hofstrand trailed on a 2-on-1 power play breakaway by Brian Collins and Joel Irving. Silverthorn saved Irving's backhand shot, and Hofstrand buried the rebound from the slot for the eventual game-winning goal and giving the Condors the 3-2 lead.

Ryan Munce picked up the victory, making 31 saves on 33 shots. Steve Silverthorn was credited with the loss despite stopping 26 of the Condors' 29 shots.

Other notes: Sean Venedam recorded his ninth multiple-goal game of the season and has recorded six points in his last two games. In addition to assisting on two Venedam goals tonight, Kevin St. Jacques was given an assist on a goal from Friday night's contest, thus extending his team-leading point streak to nine games. After combining for seven power play goals last night, the Condors and Steelheads went a combined 1-for-19. With the San Diego Gulls idle, the Condors took sole possession of 3rd place in the Pacific Division with the win, now leading the Gulls by two points with one game in hand.

Bakersfield returns home on Wednesday, February 15th against San Diego for Valentine's Day Part II and High School/College ID Night sponsored by WB-12 and the Big 96.5. High school and college students presenting a valid student ID at the box office that evening will receive admission starting at just $1.

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ECHL Stories from February 11, 2006


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