The Condors carried their 40 wins and 90 points into their opening round match up against the first-place Alaska Aces in a hot-tempered five game series. Alaska took games 1 and 2 in Anchorage on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 12th and 13th, and returned home on Thursday, April 14th and gutted out a 3-2 win in front of over 5,000 fans. Connor James scored a power play goal to snap a 1-1 tie early in the third period and Ashlee Langdone scored the eventual game winning goal to push the series to a fourth game.

In Game 4 on Saturday, April 23rd, James took the lead again, adding two more tallies. The Condors lead of 3-1 heading into the third period evaporated, however, as Alaska fought back and tied the game with just three seconds remaining in regulation. Brad Mehalko's second goal of the game won it in overtime for the home team, sending a Condors playoff record crowd of over 6,000 into a frenzy and forcing a decisive Game 5 in Alaska.

Unfortunately, the big news from Game 4 wasn't the Condors victory, but an injury to NHL All-Star Scott Gomez, who was the ECHL leading scorer this season and a hometown favorite. Langdone's hit on Gomez sent the Anchorage native through an open door on the Aces bench, and Gomez sustained a fractured pubis bone, likely ending his season. Aces fans voiced their opinion of the hit from the North, booing vehemently when the Condors took the ice in Anchorage. Violent e-mails and death threats from the Anchorage faithful prompted heavy security for Bakersfield upon their arrival and throughout their stay for Game 5. It all created an air of distraction and a dark cloud over an otherwise entertaining and highly competitive series. In the end the Aces prevailed 6-2 in the final game, but it marked the final chapter of a great season in CondorsTown!

PLAY-OFF REFUNDS

Attention all full and 25 game plan season ticket holders: You will be receiving a letter from the Condors front office explaining the refund procedure for Playoff Game C. For your convenience, you are welcome to deduct the amount from your 2005-2006 balance, or you can receive a refund for this game. Please contact the Bakersfield Sports Entertainment office or your account manager via fax, email, or letter before May 31.

EXCLUSIVE SEASON TICKET HOLDER APPAREL

Don't forget, all 2005-2006 season ticket renewals are due by April 30th along with your 20% deposit. You will then be qualified for an exclusive season ticket holder gift. What could be better than guaranteeing your same great seats for another exciting season and having a choice between a Condors Fleece or Condors Wind Breaker Jacket? Both are special gifts that other fans won't have, so don't miss out!

Condors coach and defenseman finish second in voting for awards
The ECHL office announced 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. 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. 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-ECHL 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.

FINISHING UP WITH ONE LAST COACH'S SHOW

Fear not Condors fans, you still have one last chance to show your support and appreciation to the hardest working coach and radio broadcaster in the league. Voice of the Condors, Kevin Bartl, will be joined by Marty Raymond, and players D Chris Twedun, C Sylvain Deschatelets and C Kevin St. Jacques for one more hoorah at the Holiday Inn Select tonight. There will be food and drink specials as well as prizes from the Q Street Bistro. The "Condors Coach's Show" starts at 6:00pm and can be heard live on KGEO "Hot Talk" AM 1230.

The Bakersfield Condors would like to thank the fans and the community of Bakersfield, as well as all the sponsors for their support during the 2004-2005 season. Once again you, the fans of the Bakersfield Condors, have stood strong finishing the season off having collected an amazing 4,500 pounds (2.25 tons) of canned goods for the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter, as over a thousand Condors faithful sat inside the Rabobank Arena and cheered on their Condors in Game 5 of round one of the ECHL playoffs. The game was shown live on the arena video board thanks to the B2 Networks.

On April 8th and 9th the Condors held their second annual Silent Jersey Auction benefiting the Active 20- 30 Club. The event raised $13,450, with Kevin St. Jacques' jersey topping out at an impressive $2,700. During the 2004-2005 season the Condors held four jersey auctions raising an astonishing $72,500 for local charities.

The Condors and Blitz Team Store will be having amazing sales in store. Our esteemed merchandise director is cleaning out the closet and will be clearing out inventory at up to 50% off!! Don's miss this opportunity to grab some of this year's top items at blow out prices!!! Team store hours are still Tuesday- Saturday 11:30am-5:30pm. The Team Store is located at 1022 Truxtun Ave across the street from the Rabobank arena.

email: condors@bakersfieldcondors.com

phone: 661.324.PUCK (7825)

web: http://www.bakersfieldcondors.com