Steelheads Steal 4-3 Win
April 5, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
Bakersfield, Calif. â Ben Keup and Dampy Brar scored just over four minutes apart late in the third period to beat the Condors 4-3 in front of 7,579 fans at Centennial Garden on Friday night. The Condors are winless in seven straight games against first place Idaho.
Two goals in the span of a minute and one second during the first period staked Idaho to the 2-0 lead. Joe Rybar scored his 27th of the season at 6:48, and Keup scored his 16th of the season and first of the game at 7:49. The Condors came alive after that, and went on to take the shots lead after 20 minutes 10-9.
In the second period, Bakersfield started early, getting a goal from Guy Dupuis just 42 seconds in to cut the lead in half. Later, in the middle of an 11-3 run in shots, Paul Willett notched his second point of the night and 24th goal of the season at 9:27. The tally came on the power play and tied the game at 2-2. Shots were 24-20 in favor of the Condors after two periods.
Bakersfield took their first lead of the game early in the third period, when rookie Mike Wirll banged in his first career goal at 5:15 of the final stanza to make it 3-2. The lead did not last, however, as Bakersfield got into penalty trouble. The Steelheads, who entered the night with the best power play in the league, had four advantages in the third period, one of which led to the tying goal by Keup. He swept in Idaho's third tally of the night at 12:02, while Brar dulled the crowd with his 15th goal of the season to reclaim the lead 4-3.
The Condors failed to gain ground on San Diego, who lost tonight 3-2 at home to Anchorage, and remain two points behind the Gulls in the standings. Willett, however, took over the league lead in points with his effort, putting him at 84 points on the season.
During the first intermission, it was revealed that Condors mascot Colonel Claw'd has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. Nothing is known for certain about the alleged perpetrators, though they were wearing Gulls jerseys. He is being held for $10,000 ransom, which Junior Achievement has offered to help to raise through playoff ticket sales. Details are to come on Saturday.
Bakersfield hosts Idaho again on Saturday night in the final match of the regular season. The first 2,000 fans will receive a Condors 5th Anniversary Cap, sponsored by Real Rock 104.3 and R.A. Kleiner Insurance. Game time is 7:00pm.
Individual tickets can be purchased at the Centennial Garden box office, which opens at 10:00am Monday through Saturday, by calling Ticketmaster at 322-2525, online at ticketmaster.com or stopping by any Ticketmaster location. Season and group tickets may be purchased by calling 324-PUCK (7825) or by visiting the Condors office next to Centennial Garden. Individual tickets for the opening round of the Taylor Cup Playoffs go on sale at 10:00am on Friday, April 4th. Group outings of 20 or more are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Condors office at 324-PUCK (7825). The Condors will host the San Diego Gulls on April 11th and 12th at Centennial Garden.
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ECHL Stories from April 5, 2003
- Falcons End Regular Season on Winning Note - Fresno Falcons
- Generals Win 3-2, Look to Close out Express - Greensboro Generals
- Gulls Out-Gun Anchorage, 6-4 - San Diego Gulls
- IceGators advance to SW Division Finals with 3-1 win - Louisiana IceGators
- Sea Wolves Sweep Ice Pilots, Winning 5-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- IceGators advance with 3-1 win - Louisiana IceGators
- IceGators Eliminate RiverBlades - Arkansas RiverBlades
- Cyclones Take 2-1 Series Lead in Sudden Death - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Pride take game one in Charleston 3-0 - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Colonel Claw'd's Ransom To Raise Money For Junior Achievement - Bakersfield Condors
- Falcons Lose in Shootout - Fresno Falcons
- Storm's Doug Teskey Named Sun National Bank Saver Of The Month - ECHL
- Chiefs' Dominic Forget Named Sher-Wood Player Of The Month - ECHL
- All Along the Coast - ECHL
- Eklund Called Up to Springfield - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Ice Dogs Trade Goals, Win in Shootout - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Anchorage Rises Up, Stuns San Diego - Alaska Aces
- Val Bitsoi Wins Ford Focus At Grizzlies Game - Utah Grizzlies
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- Grizzlies End Home Drought With Late Victory Over Griffins - Utah Grizzlies
- Condors Add Three To Roster - Bakersfield Condors
- Buddy Smith Named ECHL MVP - ECHL
- Buddy Smith Named ECHL Most Valuable Player - Arkansas RiverBlades
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Buzak to Retire - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Pederson Named Forward of the Year - San Diego Gulls
- Inferno win Game two, 6-4 at the Carolina Coliseum - Greenville Grrrowl
- Sea Wolves Power Past Ice Pilots, 5-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Steelheads Steal 4-3 Win - Bakersfield Condors
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