Bakersfield.com Condors

ECHL notes: Postseason format to include 15 teams

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:40:55 PDT

Seven of the eight teams in the ECHL National Conference will advance to the playoffs next season while eight of the 12 teams in the American Conference will also advance to postseason play.

Those were some of the items hashed out at the annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting held in Henderson, Nev., last Thursday.

Condors sign 2 with knockout potential

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:26:03 PDT

Bakersfield Condors coach Marty Raymond went for a knockout Thursday. Raymond brought in a defenseman wih scoring punch and a forward with well, punch, with the signings of Pierre-Luc Lessard and Erick Lizon.

Lessard, 21, was selected in the fourth round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators in 2006. A five-year veteran defenseman of the Canadian junior hockey ranks, he recorded 42 goals and 134 assists for 176 points in 307 games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Lessard has recorded at least 10 goals in each of the past three seasons.

Condors extend offers to 5 players

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:18:58 PDT

The Bakersfield Californian

Five players from the Condors 2008-09 roster -- defenders Donny Grover and Jay Langager, right winger Liam Huculak, goalie Jerad Kaufmann and forward Matt Pope -- have received qualifying offers from the team, in accordance with the ECHL's July 1 deadline, the team announced.

Condors go 'blue' with signing of 2

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:32:26 PDT

In what could very well signal a change of direction, the Condors announced their first two player signings for the 2009-10 ECHL season -- a pair of rookies from Division I universities.

In years past the Condors were quick to re-sign established players such as Paul Willett, Paul Rosebush, Jamie Cooke and Sean Venedam.

Condors to open season at home against Ontario

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:38:32 PDT

The Bakersfield Condors will be seeing plenty of the Reign, Wranglers, Thunder and Salmon Kings during the 2009-2010 ECHL season.

Those four teams make up 48 of the 72 games on the upcoming schedule, which was released on Tuesday.

Condors place 19 on protected list

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:57:38 PDT

The Bakersfield Californian

In what is pretty much an adminstrative move, the Bakersfield Condors submitted their protected list to the ECHL. Bakersfield's list contains 19 players.

Californian staffer earns ECHL honor

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:46:01 PDT

Californian staff writer Mike Griffith was named as the 2008-09 recipient of the ECHL Outstanding Media Award.

The award is determined in a vote of league media members, media relations directors and broadcasters.

Local report: Fukufuji leaving Condors for team in The Netherlands

Tue, 26 May 2009 23:09:31 PDT

GOALTENDER YUTAKA FUKUFUJI, WHO SPENT THREE SEASONS WITH THE CONDORS, WILL NOT BE RETURNING FOR ANOTHER AS HE HAS SIGNED TO PLAY FOR THE TILBURG TRAPPERS IN THE NETHERLANDS.

THE TRAPPERS WILL BE COACHED BY FORMER CONDORS ASSISTANT MARK PEDERSON.

Condors losing assistant coach in budget cuts

Thu, 07 May 2009 23:11:28 PDT

Faced with an uncertain economic climate, the Bakersfield Condors have begun a cost-reduction process to cut 15 percent from an operating budget of approximately $3 million.

"No area will be left unscathed, from front-office staffing on down," said Condors President Matthew Riley. "Not any of us knows what the future holds so we have to be vigilant and responsible. Our goal is to be sure Bakersfield continues to have a hockey team."

Mike Griffith: Kern County a nostalgia racer's dream

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:40:17 PDT

Famoso, Buttonwillow to stage vintage events this weekend

Mike Griffith: Was NHL affiliation the beginning of the end for Condors?

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:09:26 PDT

So how about that NHL affiliation? After years of trying to secure an affiliation, the Condors partnered with the Anaheim Ducks this season in what team president Matthew Riley called a "landmark announcement" when it was made public on June 22, 2008.

Ten months and a season of hockey later, there is no doubt the affiliation didn't work out for the Condors as well as they had hoped.

Coach won't compromise values again

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:31:02 PDT

Condors coach Marty Raymond just finished his fifth complete season as head coach and it certainly was the most tumultuous of his tenure.

There were player defections, a first-time affiliation that didn't quite work out as envisioned, a dreadful start to the season, numerous player changes and a dramatic playoff run and seven-game loss to Las Vegas in the first round of the playoffs.

Condors out of playoffs

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:24:55 PDT

Season of advertisity finally catches up, Condors eliminated in first round for second straight season

Wranglers even series, force do-or-die game with Condors tonight

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:28:38 PDT

LAS VEGAS--There's nothing special about Bakersfield's special team play, and that fact alone is proving costly.

The Condors failed to capitalize on a two-man advantage while holding a 1-0 lead, then allowed a pair of Las Vegas power-play goals to turn the momentum on Tuesday night as the Wranglers stormed to a 3-1 victory to force a Game 7 today in the ECHL Pacific Division semifinal series.

Condors can wrap up playoff series with victory over Wranglers tonight

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:39:59 PDT

Californian staff writer

Las Vegas forward Sean Limpright threw down the gauntlet before the Wranglers had even left Bakersfield late Saturday night.