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Hello, Hello Condorstown!
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We Hear Ya! |
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We have taken your concerns into account and
we have recently revamped our e-commerce news,
which will now allow you to subscribe to only the
information you want, such as player signings,
weekly promotion releases, the team’s week in review
and our bi-monthly newsletter.
To edit which information you’d like to receive,
click here and follow the instructions. Then
enter
your email address and click 'Go'. You will then be
directed to a page where you can login and change
your interest categories. Thanks for your interest!
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Condors Insider: Did You Know? |
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The Condors handed Alaska their first loss of the
season when they rallied to beat the Aces 7-5 Friday
night.
The Condors tied a franchise record with four
power-play goals on Friday night
The Condors are tied for 2nd most road wins in
the league and tied for 3rd in the league with five
road points.
Brett Lutes made his season debut in Alaska with
a goal and two assists.
Rane Carnegie made his Condors debut this
weekend and scored in the shootout Saturday night.
The Bakersfield franchise regular-season record
vs Alaska is 46-46-12; in ECHL play it’s 12-10-3.
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Mark Your Calendars! |
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Saturday, November 18th: Season ticket
holder “Meet the Team” party will be held
directly following the Condors game vs. the Idaho
Steelheads. After the game on Saturday all season
ticket holders will be invited to the lower level for the
exclusive Meet the Team Party. Season ticket
holders will be able to mingle with their favorite
players and collect autographs. Complimentary
beverages (non-alcoholic) and snacks will be
available. Access to the party is through the tan
doors behind section 110.
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Sean Venedam, Captain On and Off the Ice |
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Q: What does being Captain mean to you?
A: Wearing the “C” for such an
established organization is an honor and something
that I don't take for granted. There have been many
great players and people that have played in
Bakersfield and I'm more than privileged to be a part
of a very elite group of people.
Q: What would Head Coach Marty Raymond
say is your role as Captain?
A: Coach Marty Raymond is big on
respect, whether it is for yourself, your
teammates, the organization or the community. That
is one value that he demands out of all of us and I
think he believes that I can help relay that message.
He expects us to be a family and everyone to be
included. He wants to trust that this will happen and
it is one of my responsibilities that it does. A first-
year player is just as important as a tenth-year
player. Teams that don't believe this theory don't win.
Q: What in your opinion earned you the
position as Captain (don't be
afraid to toot your own horn!)?
A: One part of my game that I have
always
taken pride in is my work ethic. If it is practice in
January or off ice training in July, I always try to put
forth the same effort. There is really no sense in
doing something if you're not going to do it all out.
There is also no substitute for experience, in any
sport. I was fortunate enough to have captained
the Greenville Growl to an ECHL title in 2002. There
is no better feeling than to know that you have
helped lead a team to the ultimate goal, a
championship.
Q: What additional responsibilities does a
Captain have that other
players do not?
A: Off the ice, I think you have to be a
good listener. You have to be very approachable and
you have to be able to speak up when something has
to be said, positive or negative. You also have to be
yourself. Nobody likes a phony or someone who tries
to be someone they are not. On the ice, the role of
the Captain doesn't differ that much from the rest of
the team, other than the fact he acts as a liaison
between the officials and the coaching staff and he
must lead by example.
Q: You will spend 30-40 hours a week
dedicated to hockey. Can you divide this up and tell
fans how much time is spent on what?
A: We typically spend about 10 hours
practicing, 9 hours playing, on our last trip to Alaska,
20 hours traveling, 4 hours at the gym, 1-2 hours in
meetings, 1-2 hours doing promotional work for the
team within the community. If you are injured or hurt
you're looking at about another 3-5 hours rehabbing
with our trainer Jason Lindsay. My typical game day
routine consists of the following:
7:00am - Wake up
8:30am - Arrive at Rabobank Arena
9:45am - Take the ice for practice
11:00am - Leave the rink
11:45am - Go out for a pre-game meal with
Hofstrand and whoever else is willing to
eat, bacon, eggs, home fries toast and soup. (I know
that it sounds like a
strange pre-game meal, and it is. Most of the guys
will eat pasta and chicken)
1:00pm - Lay down for my pre-game nap
3:00pm - Wake up
4:30pm - Arrive at rink and tape sticks, check
skates, warm up, stretch, listen to
music, get a massage and go over the game plan
5:30pm - Team meeting
6:20pm - On-ice warm up
7:00pm - Let's go!
10:00pm - Post game meal
12:00am - Bed - it's much easier to sleep when
you win
2:00am - Bed - it's not so easy to sleep when
you lose
Mike Hofstrand and Kevin St. Jacques are
your alternate captains. Explain their roles and how
they compliment what you do?
A: St. Jacques is the vocal one of the
team, he tries to keep everyone laughing and the
locker room relaxed. We call him the mayor because
he knows everyone in the community and could
probably sell ice to an Eskimo. Hofstrand is the
serious one. He takes great pride in the game and his
role in the hockey club. He often goes over practice
every morning before we actually hit the ice so that
we are all on the same page. Hofstrand is our union
representative and he is also responsible for the
television in the locker room among other things. We
all treat each other with great respect and will never
make a serious or conclusive decision without
consulting each other beforehand. We have all
become great friends and I think that scares coaches
Raymond and Pederson at times. I think they believe
that we are always up to no good (laughs).
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Condors Mailbag |
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The Condors’ Mailbag has been integrated into
the Condors website as a way to answer questions
regarding the team, front office and organization.
The coaches, players and front office will answer all
relative questions. The Condors’ Mailbag is displayed
on the Condors homepage. An archive of recently
asked questions can be found at
bakersfieldcondors.com.
Q: I just wanted to start out by saying
how much I enjoy the Condors games. You guys are
the best entertainment in town. I was thinking, since
most of the players are from Canada, wouldn't it be a
nice sign of respect to play the Canadian national
anthem at the games too?
A: We’re glad you enjoy the games. We
follow the same protocol as the rest of the ECHL, as
well as the AHL and NHL, in that the Canadian
anthem is only played when playing against a team
that’s based in Canada. Thanks for your thoughts!
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Sneak Peak into Next Week’s Games |
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Hey Condors fans join us as the Condors take on
the Long Beach Ice Dogs on Friday, Nov. 10 and the
Las Vegas Wranglers on Saturday, Nov. 11. Don’t
miss the expand-a-scroll giveaway on Friday and the
Veteran’s Day Jersey Raffle and Auction. Here is a
sneak peak at the jerseys Condors players will be
wearing next weekend. On Saturday five lucky fans
will have the chance to win a jersey off the back of
a Condor. Fans will also be able to bid on the jersey
of their choice, with proceeds going to Ronald Mc
Donald House.
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Condors Equipment Manager called the “Hockey Father" |
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Most Condors fans are familiar with the players,
but few in Condorstown would recognize the name
John Doolan. He’s the team’s equipment manager
and his main responsibility is keeping the
players “geared up” for practice and games. Doolan
has a 30-year background as a hockey equipment
manager including with the NHL New York Islanders.
John’s home in the off season is Kansas City, where
his wife, Joan, and three grown children, Casey,
Sean and Brendan, also reside.
Q: Is it difficult being away from your family
on a regular basis?
A: It is difficult, but I love my job. I’m still a
father to my family but all the players adopt me as
a “hockey father.” So they are my extended family.
Q: Why do they consider you a “hockey
father?”
A: Most of these kids have been given
everything since they started playing hockey. They
were never taught to do anything on their own.
They come to me and ask me things they would
normally ask their own fathers like, how to open a
checking account, buy a car, or check into an airport.
Q: Do you enjoy the fact that they look at
you similar to a father figure?
A: Yes, it’s nice. Occasionally, I receive
emails or calls from players I watched over during my
30-year career and they say, “I just talked to my
dad to see what he thinks. Now I want your
advice.”
Q: What do your children think of you being
like a father to the players?
A: They don’t mind. Most of the guys on the
team are about the same age as my kids. A lot of
the experiences I share with the team I encounter
with my kids and they are surprised that I know as
much about their interests as I do.
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Sponsor Highlight- U.S. Army |
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The Condors would like to welcome the U.S.
Army back on board for what is sure to be an
exciting season.
“We decided to partner with the Condors again,
because we wanted to take part in the Condors
philanthropic and educational opportunities,” said
Capt. Shawn Sanborn.
This season the U.S. ARMY will be sponsoring the
expand-a-scroll giveaway Nov 10. The Army is also
sponsoring the nightly chuck-a-puck contest, the
Condors camouflage pre-game jerseys, as well as the
Condors appropriately named mascot, Colonel Claw’d.
For more information on what the Army can do for
you, call 861-1524 or log onto GoArmy.com.
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This Week in Condors History |
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October 31, 1999: Paul Willett scores four goals
in 7-3 victory over Phoenix, Paul Willett named WCHL
Player of the Week
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November 4, 2001: Scott Hay named WCHL
Goaltender of the Week, Jamie Cooke named WCHL
Player of the Week.
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Happy Birthday Condors Staff |
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Happy Birthday Condors Staff
Jose Rivera – 11/3
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