ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Raymond, Dupuis come close

April 16, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


Bakersfield, Calif. - The ECHL office announced earlier this week the recipients of the Coach of the Year and Defenseman of the Year awards for 2004- 05. Bakersfield's Head Coach Marty Raymond and D Guy Dupuis finished second in both categories.

Raymond, 40, is in his first full season as head coach for the Condors, and has been responsible for one of the largest single-season improvements in ECHL history. The Condors finished 31 points better than last season, racking up 40 wins and 90 points. Only a late-season slump held Bakersfield back from home ice advantage in the playoffs, and the Condors held down the top spot in the West Division for the majority of the season. Raymond finished second in the voting among his peers for the John Brophy Award, given out to the league's Coach of the Year, to Toledo's Nick Vitucci.

The John Brophy Award is named in honor of John Brophy, coached more seasons than any other coach in ECHL history with Hampton Roads from 1989-2000 and Wheeling from 2001-03, compiling a career record of 480-323-79 in the regular season and 55- 39 in the postseason. Hampton Roads reached the postseason in each of his 11 seasons behind the bench, winning back-to-back titles in 1991 and 1992 and an ECHL record third title in 1998. His three ECHL titles are the most in league history and he is also the all-time leader among ECHL coaches in regular season games (878) and regular season wins (480) and postseason games (94) and wins (55).

Dupuis, 34, finished second in voting by the league's coaches for the Defenseman of the Year to Ray DiLauro of the Wheeling Nailers. Both DiLauro and Dupuis were selected First Team All-EHCHL last week. Dupuis led all ECHL defensemen in shots on goal and was second overall, establishing a new Bakersfield record with 291 (Jamie Cooke, 275, 2000- 01) while playing in all 72 games. He finished 5th among all defensemen with 45 points and sixth with 34 assists. His +27 is second among the league's blueliners and fifth overall.

DiLauro led ECHL defensemen with 24 power-play assists and four shorthand assists and tied for the lead with 33 power-play points while ranking second among defensemen with 40 assists and 52 points in 72 games. Selected in the ninth round (246th overall) by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, DiLauro finished tied for the overall league lead in power-play points and shorthand assists and tied for fourth in power-play assists.

The Aces and Condors meet again tonight in Game 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the Rabobank Arena. Bakersfield trails in the best-of-five series two games to one. Tonight, Bakersfield native and American Idol star Amy Adams will be singing the National Anthem as well as performing during the first intermission. She will be available for photos and autographs as well. The "Rolling Blackout" continues as fans are asked to wear black to the game, and brand-new, long-sleeve Condors Kelly Cup Playoff t-shirts are available for sale as well at merchandise stands during the game.

Check out the Bakersfield Condors Statistics



ECHL Stories from April 16, 2005


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