Condors Weekly: All-Star week ends with battle in Alaska

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Bakersfield Condors came out of the All-Star Break with a difficult trip to Alaska, claming a victory in the series finale before returning home. They hold a record of 22-20-1-1, with 46 points in the Pacific Division standings. They trail the 2nd place Stockton Thunder by five points in the division.

This weekend they take on the Ontario Reign for a home-and-home series, starting with Friday’s home game at 7 p.m.

This Week:
Friday vs. Ontario, 7 p.m.
Saturday @ Ontario, 7:05 p.m.

Week in review (home team in CAPS):

Wednesday, Jan. 26 

All-Stars 9 vs. CONDORS 3
Attn: 7,397
RW Erick Lizon, RW Pascal Morency and C Joel Broda paced the Condors attack, but the All-Stars proved to be too much to handle in a 9-3 defeat. Stockton F Mark Arcobello tallied a hat trick to take the game’s MVP honor, and Trenton F Ryan Ginand had two goals to lead the All-Stars.

Friday, Jan. 28
ACES 5 vs. Condors 4
The Condors battled back all night in the weekend opener, erasing an early 2-0 deficit and nearly came back from a 5-2 third period deficit. The comeback came up just short, however, on a night where the action didn’t end with the final buzzer. A brawl erupted with no time left on the clock, resulting in 182 minutes in penalties (244 total combined penalty minutes for the game) and 29 games lost to suspension between the two clubs.

Saturday, Jan. 29
ACES 4 vs. Condors 1
Stephane GouletBakersfield played just one player above the required amount to legally play, due to the suspensions handed out from Friday’s festivities, but jumped out to a 1-0 lead. RW Stephane Goulet gave Bakersfield the advantage early in the second. But it’s all they could muster, surrendering four straight, including three in the third, to suffer the loss.

Sunday, Jan. 30
Condors 3 vs. ACES 1
Still short from Friday’s suspensions, including Head Coach Marty Raymond for a second straight game, Bakersfield battled to salvage the weekend with a 3-1 triumph on Sunday. RW Stephane Goulet, LW Guillaume Lefebvre and LW Brad Snetsinger each scored for the Condors, while G Brian Stewart made 38 saves for the win.

Rullier departs, Gotto arrives:
The Condors suspended D Joe Rullier on Sunday after learning that he has accepted an offer to play with HC Slovan Bratislava in the Slovakian league. Rullier had 1g-6a-7pts and 74 penalty minutes in 19 games with the Condors.

Gotto, 25, was acquired over the weekend from the Toledo Walleye, completing a deal earlier in the season that sent D Jason Lepine to Toledo. Gotto has arrived in Bakersfield and joins the team this week.

Notes from the Nest:

  • The 162 PIM handed out to the Condors Friday night was a new team record, besting the old record of 120, set on Dec. 12, 2007 vs. Fresno, as was the 244 total minutes.
  • The Aces and Condors have had 140 all-time meetings, second only to the 142 all time games against the Fresno Falcons. The Aces come to town for the season series finale on Mar. 16.
  • RW Erick Lizon set a new Condors record with 40 penalty minutes on Friday, jettisoning himself to the top of the ECHL in that Erick Lizoncategory. He broke the old mark of 39, set by Craig Martin in 2000-01.
  • Lizon now has 370 PIM in his Condors career, passing Cory Banika to move into 10th place all-time in Condors history.
  • LW Guillaume Lefebvre notched his first goal as a Condor Sunday night, in his fourth game since being signed.
  • Three players: Eric Felde, Sam Tikka and J.J. Waldrop, filled in over the weekend for the Condors, who were shorthanded due to suspensions.
  • G Brian Stewart’s .922 save percentage would be good enough for third in the ECHL, but he has not played enough minutes to qualify for the league leaders. He has a 2.66 goals against average in the seven games he has played for Bakersfield.
  • A crowd of 7,397 showed up last Wednesday for the ECHL All-Star Classic. If that game was included in the attendance totals, the Condors per game average would be at 5,088.

Coming up this week:
The Condors return home on Friday, Feb. 4th to host the Ontario Reign at Rabobank Arena. The first 2,000 kids 12 and under will get a youth replica Condors All-Star jersey featuring #23 Erick Lizon, sponsored by ABC23, 105.3 La Preciosa and McDonald’s. Doors youth jerseysopen at 6 p.m., the puck drops at 7 p.m. 

The two teams battle again on Saturday from Ontario, with a game time of 7:05 p.m. Both games will be carried live on Fox Sports Radio 970 AM, as well as online at www.foxsports970am.com and through the iHeartRadio app on your smartphone. Saturday’s game will be joined in progress after the conclusion of the Lakers game.

Practice schedule:
Monday – OFF
Tuesday – gym (no on-ice practice) 
Wednesday – 10 a.m. (Rabobank Arena)
Thursday – 10 a.m. (R.A.)
Friday – 10 a.m. (R.A.)
             7 p.m. vs. ONT
Saturday – 10 a.m. (R.A.)
                 2 p.m. depart for game @ ONT
Sunday – OFF
*all times/locations schedule to change

League Leaders:
4,972 avg attendance: Condors, 5th
835 saves: G Josh Tordjman, 4th
.919 save pct: G Josh Tordjman, 5th
1,637 minutes: G Josh Tordjman, 5th
3 shutouts: G Josh Tordjman, t-1st
155 shots on goal: LW Brad Snetsinger, 4th
24.2% shooting pct: C Rylan Kaip, 2nd
166 PIM: RW Erick Lizon, 1st
4 shootout goals: LW Michael Gergen, 1st
7 goals: D J.F. David, t-5th (defensemen) 

Condors Leaders:
Points: LW Brad Snetsinger, 35
Goals: RW Stephane Goulet, 15
Assists: C Slava Trukhno, 23
PIM: RW Erick Lizon, 166
+/-: F Bobby Robins, +11
GAA: G Brian Stewart, 2.67
Save %: Stewart, .922
Wins: G Josh Tordjman, 14

Get Tickets:
Individual Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster and the Rabobank Arena Box Office. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with extended hours on game and event days. You can also call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or visit them online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket packages start at just $31.

Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more, and everyone who purchases a lower level group ticket gets a free hat! Contact the Condors office for more information or to reserve your group outing today! Call 324-PUCK(7825) or visit www.bakersfieldcondors.com.