ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Venedam Extends Goal Streak to Three Games in Loss

January 14, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


SAN DIEGO, Calif., - Sean Venedam's power play goal extended his goal streak to three games as the Bakersfield Condors fell to the San Diego Gulls 6-3 I front of 4,807 fans at the iPayOne Center.

The Condors opened up scoring on a delayed penalty, when Scott Basiuk fired a slapshot towards Gulls netminder Tom Lawson. The rebound took a ricochet hard off of Lawson's pads and into the slot where Dave Bonk buried a shot to give the Condors a 1-0 lead with 1:35 off the clock in the opening frame.

The Gulls answered back midway through the period off a shot by Jesse Bennefield. Ryan Munce made the initial save, but Darren Clark followed the rebound behind the net and sent a backhander off the right leg of Munce and across the goal line to tie the game at 1-1. San Diego would take a 2-1 lead on an odd-man rush, with Steve Hildenbrand taking the feed from Jesse Bennefield through the slot and into the net with 5:12 left in the period. Mark Wires assisted as the Gulls took a one-goal lead into the second period.

Bakersfield converted on their first power play of the evening as Kevin St. Jacques sent a pass through the slot and connected with Sean Venedam, who tapped the puck past Lawson to tie the game at 2-2 just 2:31 into the second period.

The Gulls retook the lead at the 13-minute mark of the period as Richard Keyes deked Munce outside the crease and lifted a shot under the crossbar. Hildenbrand and Lawson assisted to make it 4-2 San Diego.

Scott Borders brought the Condors back within one on a breakaway goal, splitting two defenders on a four-on-four and pushing the puck through Lawson's five-hole with 1:43 left in the second period.

Jesse Bennefield finished off an adept passing effort by the Gulls by banking a shot past Munce from above the Condors crease. Hildenbrand and Wires both assisted to return a two goal lead to San Diego. Pierre-Luc Sleigher's empty-netter with under a minute remaining capped the contest and brought the score to 6-3 Gulls.

Tom Lawson earned the win, stopping 32 of 35 Bakersfield shots. Ryan Munce was credited with the loss, despite making 25 saves on 30 shots faced.

Other notes: The Condors signed Ricky Massey as an emergency back-up goaltender. Massey has two seasons of Division I collegiate hockey experience with the Holy Cross Crusaders of the ECAC.

The Condors travel north to Fresno to take on the Falcons tomorrow, January 14th. The Condors then return home to host the Florida Everblades on Sunday, January 15th. All fans in attendance will receive a Condors Cheer Sign courtesy of Bright House Networks, Lennar Homes, Hot 94.1 and the Bakersfield Californian. Immediately following the game fans are invited downstairs to skate with the Condors. Participants are encouraged to bring their own skates, or skate rental will be available for $5 per pair, based on availability.

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ECHL Stories from January 14, 2006


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