Bakersfield Condors
Encyclopedia
The Bakersfield Condors are a minor league ice hockey
team based in Bakersfield, California
. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the ECHL
's Western Conference. The Condors join the Houston Aeros
as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild
in the National Hockey League
. The Condors play home games at Rabobank Arena
in Bakersfield, until recently known as Centennial Garden.
Originally known as the Bakersfield Fog, the team was founded in 1995 as a charter member of the West Coast Hockey League
. The team assumed its current name in 1998 when it moved into the new Centennial Garden. The Condors, and other West Coast Hockey League affiliates, joined the ECHL in 2003.
For the 2008–09 season, the Condors announced an affiliation with the Anaheim Ducks
of the National Hockey League on May 21, 2008. They became the Ducks secondary affiliate, after the Iowa Chops of the American Hockey League
. In the following 2009–10 season, the Condors became the Ducks primary affiliate after the Chops were suspended from operations. As a result the Condors started the season with a handful of the Ducks prospects and finished the season first in the Pacific to capture their first division title. On July 12, 2010, the Ducks opted to move closer to their east coast AHL affiliate and cut ties with the Condors after two seasons.
On August 25, 2010, the Condors secured their second ever NHL franchise affiliate by partnering with the Minnesota Wild
for the 2010–11 season.
Records as of September 1, 2010.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, PTS = Points, PCT = Winning Percentage, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
- Played one game as goaltender for the Condors in the 2001-02 season, finishing with a win, a 5.00 GAA and a 0.857 save percentage. Baker's dreams of playing professional hockey were cut short due to a tumor that inhibited his ability to build enough muscle for the sport. His book "They Don't Play Hockey In Heaven" tells the story of his experience with the Condors.
were briefly suspended in 2009 for an "internal matter", which was reported at the time to be due to anti-Semitic comments made by both men toward then-Condor Jason Bailey
, a Jew. The team didn't publicly acknowledge the reason for the suspensions until after the season, when GM Matthew Riley stated that "all parties involved were satisfied with the action that was taken." However, in January of 2011, the Anaheim Ducks, Condors, Raymond and Pederson were named in a lawsuit filed by Bailey's lawyer, Keith Fink
, alleging that his client faced "a barrage of anti-Semitic, offensive and degrading verbal attacks regarding his Jewish faith" during this time with the team. On January 27, ESPN.com
released details of court documents in which Fink alleges that Condors' owner Jonathan Fleisig failed to take action after being informed of the issue: promising Bailey's father that the Raymond and Pederson would both be fired, but then failing to do so. The documents also state that Raymond allegedly told Bailey his ex-wife was Jewish "and that she was a 'bitch' for taking all of his money."
, making it the longest playoff run in Condors history. The condors did it again the following year, defeating Fresno, but then lost in round 2 to the Alaska Aces in four games.
(who was playing that season in the ECHL due to the NHL strike) hard, sending him hip first into the sharp opening of the bench door at the exact moment the trainer opened it for a line change. The resulting injury, a broken pelvis, knocked Gomez out of the rest of the playoffs, and resulted in Langdone being given a boarding penalty and a one-game suspension. The incident drew a rather negative reaction due to Gomez' status as an NHL all star.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team based in Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
's Western Conference. The Condors join the Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. The Condors play home games at Rabobank Arena
Rabobank Arena
Rabobank Arena is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena, Bakersfield, California, USA. Located downtown at the corner of Truxtun Avenue and N Street, it was built in 1998, and was originally known as Centennial Garden. The city-owned arena sold naming rights to the Dutch cooperative bank Rabobank in...
in Bakersfield, until recently known as Centennial Garden.
Originally known as the Bakersfield Fog, the team was founded in 1995 as a charter member of the West Coast Hockey League
West Coast Hockey League
The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington...
. The team assumed its current name in 1998 when it moved into the new Centennial Garden. The Condors, and other West Coast Hockey League affiliates, joined the ECHL in 2003.
For the 2008–09 season, the Condors announced an affiliation with the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League on May 21, 2008. They became the Ducks secondary affiliate, after the Iowa Chops of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. In the following 2009–10 season, the Condors became the Ducks primary affiliate after the Chops were suspended from operations. As a result the Condors started the season with a handful of the Ducks prospects and finished the season first in the Pacific to capture their first division title. On July 12, 2010, the Ducks opted to move closer to their east coast AHL affiliate and cut ties with the Condors after two seasons.
On August 25, 2010, the Condors secured their second ever NHL franchise affiliate by partnering with the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
for the 2010–11 season.
Season-by-season record
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
League | Division | GP | W | L | T | OTL | SOL | Pts | PCT | GF | GA | PIM | Coach(es) | Result |
| 1995–96 | WCHL West Coast Hockey League The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington... |
WCHL | 58 | 24 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 53 | 0.457 | 271 | 323 | 1439 | Keith Gretzky Keith Gretzky Keith Edward Gretzky is one of the brothers of famous ice hockey player, Wayne Gretzky. Keith was promoted to Director of Amateur Scouting for the Phoenix Coyotes on July 12, 2006, after serving the previous five seasons as an amateur scout for both the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and... |
Out of playoffs |
| 1996–97 | WCHL West Coast Hockey League The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington... |
WCHL | 64 | 33 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 71 | 0.555 | 345 | 325 | 2061 | Keith Gretzky | Lost in round 1 |
| 1997–98 | WCHL West Coast Hockey League The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington... |
WCHLS | 64 | 22 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 49 | 0.383 | 226 | 330 | 1949 | Keith Gretzky | Lost in round 1 |
| 1998–99 | WCHL West Coast Hockey League The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington... |
WCHLS | 70 | 21 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 51 | 0.364 | 213 | 308 | 2010 | Kevin MacDonald Kevin MacDonald (ice hockey) Kevin MacDonald is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional ice hockey player.With the exception of playing one game in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators during the 1993–94 NHL season, MacDonald was s career minor leaguer... |
Lost in round 1 |
| 1999–00 | WCHL West Coast Hockey League The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington... |
WCHLS | 72 | 34 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 77 | 0.535 | 244 | 272 | 2343 | Kevin MacDonald | Lost in round 1 |
| 2000–01 | WCHL West Coast Hockey League The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington... |
WCHLS | 72 | 26 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 62 | 0.431 | 220 | 273 | 2147 | Kevin MacDonald | Lost in round 1 |
| 2001–02 | WCHL West Coast Hockey League The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington... |
WCHLS | 72 | 32 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 69 | 0.479 | 213 | 237 | 1377 | Paul Kelly | Lost in round 1 |
| 2002–03 | WCHL West Coast Hockey League The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington... |
WCHL | 72 | 41 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 91 | 0.632 | 253 | 186 | 1625 | Paul Kelly | Lost in round 1 |
| 2003–04 2003-04 ECHL season The 2003-04 ECHL season was the 16th season of the ECHL. This season brought a major change in the ECHL as the ECHL Board of Governors approved membership applications from the Anchorage Aces, the Bakersfield Condors, the Fresno Falcons, the Idaho Steelheads, the Las Vegas Wranglers, the Long... |
ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
Pacific | 72 | 25 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 59 | 0.410 | 201 | 236 | 1750 | Paul Kelly, Marty Raymond Marty Raymond Marty Raymond is an Canadian professional ice hockey player who is the current head coach of the KHL Medveščak in the Austrian Hockey League... |
Out of playoffs |
| 2004–05 2004-05 ECHL season The 2004-05 ECHL season was the 17th season of the ECHL. This season marked uncharted territory for the ECHL as they established their first Canadian franchise, the Victoria Salmon Kings.... |
ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
West | 72 | 40 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 90 | 0.625 | 232 | 205 | 1691 | Marty Raymond | Lost in round 1 |
| 2005–06 2005-06 ECHL season The 2005–06 ECHL season is the 18th season of the East Coast Hockey League, ECHL, a professional ice-hockey league based in the United States. The season ran from late October, 2005 to early June, 2006... |
ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
Pacific | 72 | 40 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 86 | 0.597 | 221 | 222 | 1814 | Marty Raymond | Lost in round 3 |
| 2006–07 2006-07 ECHL season The 2006–07 ECHL season was the 19th season of the ECHL. Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions: the Texas Wildcatters and the Cincinnati Cyclones The 2006–07 ECHL season was the 19th season of the ECHL. Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions: the Texas Wildcatters (who had... |
ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
Pacific | 72 | 41 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 94 | 0.653 | 270 | 236 | 1556 | Marty Raymond | Lost in round 3 |
| 2007–08 2007-08 ECHL season The 2007–08 ECHL season was the 20th season of the ECHL.Two teams suspended operations at the end of the 2006–07 season, the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the Toledo Storm... |
ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
Pacific | 72 | 26 | 37 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 61 | 0.424 | 230 | 280 | 1772 | Marty Raymond | Lost in round 2 |
| 2008–09 | ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
Pacific | 72 | 33 | 31 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 74 | 0.514 | 246 | 263 | 1250 | Marty Raymond | Lost in round 1 |
| 2009–10 | ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
Pacific | 72 | 38 | 29 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 81 | 0.563 | 232 | 243 | 1270 | Marty Raymond | Lost in round 2 |
| 2010–11 | ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
Pacific | 2010-2011 ECHL Season | ||||||||||||
| Totals | 1,048 | 476 | 456 | 0 | 19 | 97 | 1003 | 0.510 | 3617 | 3939 | 26054 | 4 | 13 Playoff Seasons | ||
Records as of September 1, 2010.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, PTS = Points, PCT = Winning Percentage, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Current staff
| Title | STAFF MEMBER |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Matt O'Dette |
| Head Athletic Trainer | Jason Lindsey |
| Equipment Manager | John Doolan |
Team captains
- 2007–08 - Sean Venedam
- 2008–09 - Jay Langager
- 2009–10 - Shawn WellerShawn WellerShawn Weller is a professional ice hockey left winger playing for the St. John's Ice Caps of the American Hockey League...
- 2010-11 - Mika Suoraniemi / Andrew Ianero
NHLers
- 9 - C Connor JamesConnor JamesConnor James is a professional ice hockey centre currently with DEG Metro Stars of the German DEL.-Playing career:...
(2004–05) played in two games for the Los Angeles KingsLos Angeles KingsThe Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
during the 2005-06 season. - 44 - G Yutaka FukufujiYutaka Fukufujiis a Japanese ice hockey player currently with the Nikko Ice Bucks of the Asia League Ice Hockey. Fukufuji was the first Japanese player to appear in a National Hockey League game. He is the first Japanese citizen to be drafted as a goaltender in the NHL and second Japanese national to be...
(2004–05) was called up on emergency basis to the Los Angeles KingsLos Angeles KingsThe Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on December 15, 2006. On January 13, 2007 the Los Angeles Kings replaced goaltender Barry BrustBarry BrustBarry Brust is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Brust is currently a member of the Straubing Tigers of the German Ice Hockey League. Brust has played in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings...
with FukufujiYutaka Fukufujiis a Japanese ice hockey player currently with the Nikko Ice Bucks of the Asia League Ice Hockey. Fukufuji was the first Japanese player to appear in a National Hockey League game. He is the first Japanese citizen to be drafted as a goaltender in the NHL and second Japanese national to be...
in the third period of a game against the St. Louis Blues, thus becoming the first Japanese-born player to play in an NHL game.
- 49 - C Alexandre BolducAlexandre BolducAlexandre Bolduc is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
(2005–2007) Played 22 games with the Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
in the National Hockey League. - 31 - G Justin PoggeJustin PoggeJustin Pogge is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League. The Pirates are the top affiliate of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes...
(2009–2010) Played with the Anaheim DucksAnaheim DucksThe Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on an emergency basis while J.S. Giguere was injured. Is currently the Anaheim DucksAnaheim DucksThe Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
#3 Goalie and was the first ever condor to be recalled straight to the NHL. Before the DucksAnaheim DucksThe Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, PoggeJustin PoggeJustin Pogge is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League. The Pirates are the top affiliate of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes...
played with the Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
for seven game with a 1-4-1 record.
Notable players
Journalist Ken BakerKen Baker (entertainment journalist)
Kenneth Joel Baker is an American journalist, author, and television personality. In 2008, Baker became the Chief News Correspondent for E! News.- Early life and education :...
- Played one game as goaltender for the Condors in the 2001-02 season, finishing with a win, a 5.00 GAA and a 0.857 save percentage. Baker's dreams of playing professional hockey were cut short due to a tumor that inhibited his ability to build enough muscle for the sport. His book "They Don't Play Hockey In Heaven" tells the story of his experience with the Condors.
Retired numbers
- 16 - Paul Willett
- 17- Paul Rosebush
- 26 - Glen Mears
- 28 - Jamie Cooke
- 74 - Steve Dowhy
Lawsuit
Head coach Marty Raymond and former assistant coach Mark PedersonMark Pederson
Mark Pederson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played five seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings from 1989–90 until 1993–94. He was the head coach of the Tilburg Trappers of the...
were briefly suspended in 2009 for an "internal matter", which was reported at the time to be due to anti-Semitic comments made by both men toward then-Condor Jason Bailey
Jason Bailey (ice hockey)
-International:-External links:...
, a Jew. The team didn't publicly acknowledge the reason for the suspensions until after the season, when GM Matthew Riley stated that "all parties involved were satisfied with the action that was taken." However, in January of 2011, the Anaheim Ducks, Condors, Raymond and Pederson were named in a lawsuit filed by Bailey's lawyer, Keith Fink
Keith Fink
Keith Allen Fink is a victim's rights attorney in Los Angeles. He has been involved in several high profile cases involving Ellen DeGeneres and American Apparel.-Biography:...
, alleging that his client faced "a barrage of anti-Semitic, offensive and degrading verbal attacks regarding his Jewish faith" during this time with the team. On January 27, ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
released details of court documents in which Fink alleges that Condors' owner Jonathan Fleisig failed to take action after being informed of the issue: promising Bailey's father that the Raymond and Pederson would both be fired, but then failing to do so. The documents also state that Raymond allegedly told Bailey his ex-wife was Jewish "and that she was a 'bitch' for taking all of his money."
Team highs
The Condors advanced past the 1st Round of the playoffs for the first time in their history in the 2005–06 season. They defeated the Long Beach Ice Dogs in seven games. The Condors lost in the seventh game of the next round against the Fresno FalconsFresno Falcons
The Fresno Falcons are a defunct minor league hockey team. They were once members of the ECHL . They were located in Fresno, California.-Early history:...
, making it the longest playoff run in Condors history. The condors did it again the following year, defeating Fresno, but then lost in round 2 to the Alaska Aces in four games.
Infamous moments
In the 2004–05 ECHL playoffs, Condor Ashlee Langdone checked Alaska Ace Scott GomezScott Gomez
Scott Carlos Gomez is an American ice hockey center of both Mexican and Colombian descent, currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
(who was playing that season in the ECHL due to the NHL strike) hard, sending him hip first into the sharp opening of the bench door at the exact moment the trainer opened it for a line change. The resulting injury, a broken pelvis, knocked Gomez out of the rest of the playoffs, and resulted in Langdone being given a boarding penalty and a one-game suspension. The incident drew a rather negative reaction due to Gomez' status as an NHL all star.