Condors Talk - CondorsTalk's Blog - Bakersfield.com

Sharp headed to NHL, Donally headed to Bako

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:28:51 PST

Rookie center MacGregor Sharp got the call about an hour after Bakersfield's 4-3 shootout victory over Ontario early Wednesday afternoon.
Anaheim vice-president of hockey operations David McNab told him he was being called up to Anaheim where he most likely will play in his first National Hockey League game on Thursday night as the Ducks, who have a couple of players fighting injuries, host the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Sharp had a shootout goal on Wednesday and is second on the team in points with 14 in 15 games.
“He's pumped,” Condors coach Marty Raymond said. “That's good for our kids, too. It shows what can happen.”
Sharp, 24, is the third Condors player recalled directly to the National Hockey League this season, joining goaltender Justin Pogge and left wing Kyle Calder, who is currently with the Ducks.
While Sharp is departing, another Anaheim prospect, left wing Ryan Donally, has been reassigned by Anaheim to the Condors from the San Antonio Rampage in the AHL and is working his way toward Bakersfield.
Donally (6-4, 227) is in his fourth professional season and has skated in 190 professional games, 124 of which have been in the AHL. He played four games this season with the Rampage, recording 16 penalty minutes.
The gritty winger played parts of two seasons for the Las Vegas Wranglers in the ECHL, amassing 37 points and 176 penalty minutes in 53 games during the 2007-08 season.
Donally will give the Condors a physical presence they have lacked in many games this season.
Donally's assignment to Bakersfield apparently ends an agreement with Phoneix to put players in San Antonio as the three other Ducks prospects there have been reassigned to Toronto in the AHL.

Calder makes Ducks debut

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:35:23 PST

Went into the basement for three days of R&R and there’s been plenty happening during my extended break.

Not surprisingly, NHL veteran Kyle Calder was recalled by the Ducks after spending a couple of weeks with the Condors where he had three goals, three assists and a plus-4 rating in five games.

Calder was recalled on Saturday (after scoring a goal and going plus-two in Bakersfield’s 3-2 overtime winner over Alaska on Friday night in Anchorage) and made his debut as a Duck on Monday.

He was interviewed after the morning skate by The Orange County Register, logged 11 1/2 minutes of ice time (including several shifts alongside Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf) in Anaheim's 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh, and was interviewed on television after the first period.

“That's where I wanted to be all year,” Calder told The Register. “It's good to be back. There are long roads and long rides ahead for a lot of people. It's a tougher road, but it's good to be back.”

Calder got his chance due to injuries to Saku Koivu and Ryan Carter.

“It's an opportunity and it's a great opportunity,” Calder told The Register. “I just have to come in here and play my game and do the things that make me the player that I am. Wherever they want to play me or whatever situation it is, I feel comfortable with whatever. Do it and do it to my best.”

That’s pretty much what he said about playing in Bakersfield: doing his best and helping out in any way he could.

Certainly a player of Calder’s caliber didn’t really belong in Bakersfield and the ECHL but it was sure fun watching his play while he was here.

And who knows, with the Ducks not having an AHL affiliate, Bakersfield may not have seen the last of Calder.

Fisher released, Guyer signed

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:44:03 PST

The Condors released veteran defenseman Shaun Fisher on Wednesday and signed forward Gino Guyer.
Fischer, who did not play on Tuesday night in Bakersfield’s 3-2 win over Stockton, has played in more than 500 minor league games. He had five assists in 11 games for the Condors but appeared to struggle at times with the speed of the ECHL and led the Condors in minor penalties with 13, fifth most in the league.
When Anaheim sent defenseman Mark Mitera to the Condors on Saturday a move needed to be made as that gave the Condors nine D-men.
“Sadly enough we had to release him,” said Condors coach Marty Raymond. “We have lots of young people who need to play and at this point of his career he needs to play and he wasn’t going to get the ice time.”
As for Guyer, Raymond said: "The Ducks like him and I like him so that’s a good combination.”
Guyer, 26, was a fifth-round draft pick of Dallas in 2003 and played four years at the University of Minnesota. A fourth-year pro, he played in Phoenix last season, netting 38 points in 71 games.
Raymond said Guyer would make the trip to Alaska where the Condors face the Aces on Friday and Saturday nights.

Condors get in extra workout

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:27:12 PST

So much for a day off.
The Condors played there games in as many nights Thursday through Saturday, including travel to and from Las Vegas.
Normally that would earn a well-deserved Sunday off.
But that wasn’t the case as Anaheim’s strength and conditioning coach made a trek to Bakersfield had had the boys working out in the gym.
That workout did, however, earn the team an optional practice on Monday. Nearly every player opted to take the ice.
Back on that ice was goaltender Justin Pogge, who had been on recall to Anaheim since Oct. 26. Condors coach Marty Raymond said Pogge would start on Tuesday night in a home game against Ontario. Pogge (2-1-0, 2.10 goal against, .923 save percentage) has not played since a 4-3 win at Victoria Oct. 24.

Ducks assign another first-round draft choice to Condors

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:23:58 PST

The Anaheim Ducks assigned defenseman Mark Mitera to the Condors on Saturday and he will be in the lineup tonight when the Condors play host to the Las Vegas Wranglers.
A first-round draft pick of the Ducks in 2007, Mitera had been in the American Hockey League with San Antonio where he had no points in five games.
Mitera, 22, played four years for the University of Michigan and was the top-scoring defenseman as junior with 23 points in 43 games. He captained the team as a senior but only played eight games due to a knee injury.
To make roster room for Mitera, Mathieu Aubin was moved to the 7-day IR from the 3-day IR and defenseman Patrik Prokop was played on 3-day IR.
Center Matt Myers, who has cleared immigration, has not been added to the team and will not play.
On another front, goaltender Justin Pogge, called up to Anaheim, could be back in Bakersfield early next week as Ducks coach Randy Carlye said Jean-Sebastien Giguere might be able to provide backup duties when the Ducks begin a four-game road trip in New Jersey on Wednesday.

Long day begins for Condors

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:49:45 PST

The Condors had a quick pre-game skate at Rabobank Arena this morning and jump on a bus around noon to head to Las Vegas for tonight’s game (Nov. 5).
The busing on the day of the game is new this year, as part of cost-saving measures being taken by many teams.
Line combinations:
Weller-Sexton-Sharp
Calder-Ianiero-Goulet
MacMillian-Naglich-Kemp
Lizon

Forward Matt Myers, 25, has completed his immigration process in Vancouver, B.C. and is expected to join the team in Las Vegas on Friday. He could then be added to the roster and be eligible to play. If so, it would be the first North American game for the Myers, who hails from Cardiff, Wales, and has played all his life in England.

Calder to mentor young players

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:47:26 PST

He’s got nearly 600 National Hockey League games to his credit over nine seasons and, at 30 years of age, Kyle Calder isn’t ready to call it quits.
But, after playing the last seven seasons exclusively in the NHL (plus a lockout year in Europe) Calder’s path back to the highest level of hockey has landed him in Bakersfield and the ECHL.
Calder, who found himself without a job this season after playing the last two seasons for the Los Angeles Kings, was signed by Anaheim last week and assigned to the Condors.
Technically, the ECHL is two steps below the NHL as 29 NHL uses the American Hockey League as their AAA affiliate. But the Anaheim Ducks are the lone NHL team without an AHL affiliate and have stocked the Condors with top-level prospects, including goaltender Jason Pogge, who has been on recall to Anaheim for the past week.
Now the Condors are the recipient of a gifted player, who may have something left to give at the NHL level and can certainly be a mentor toward the numerous young Anaheim prospects in Bakersfield.
Calder was invited to Anaheim’s training camp on a try-out basis, but was released in late September.
“I talked (with Anaheim) a little after camp and they showed some interest,” Calder said after being the last player off the ice following a practice session on Tuesday. “I just kept skating and was working out by myself. The opportunity came and I took advantage of it.”
Calder said there were other jobs out there, but called this “the right fit.”
Certainly it’s close to his home in Southern California, which is undoubtedly a key factor. And it’s just over two hours away from Anaheim, should the Ducks come a-callin.
Until that time Calder says he plans on being a mentor for the numerous Anaheim prospects assigned to Bakersfield season. And, he plans on having fun.
“I’ve had a lot of success and a lot of fun, it’s an enjoyable game,” Calder said. “It’s something I've done my whole life. Hockey has always been a passion of mine and I just have to treat it like that. It’s a blast out here.”
Bakersfield got a little “love” from ESPN.com on Monday (item No. 5) about the Ducks not having their own AHL affiliate. “It's not a healthy situation,” Murray told ESPN.com. “I hate it, I hate the feeling of it.”
In other news, goaltender Justin Pogge was in a backup role for Anaheim on Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins as J.S. Giguere remains on injured reserve.
The Ducks are calling Giguere “day-to-day” which means Pogge is “day-to-day” which means Condors coach Marty Raymond might have to find a goaltender as the Condors have play Las Vegas three times in three days starting on Thursday.

Condors get in a little golf

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:35:57 PST

A day of golf was on the agenda for the Condors on Monday, but not until after a one-hour skate at Rabobank Arena in the morning.
Then it was off to Rio Bravo Country Club for the club’s 12th annual charity event. Proceeds benefit Kern Bridges Youth Homes.
On the ice, the Condors are a bit thin due to injuries to forwards Mathieu Aubin and Maxime Macenauer.
Condors coach Marty Raymond said on Monday that he expected Aubin to be out “at least a week” and that “it doesn’t look good” for Macenauer, who is scheduled for an MRI on his left knee on Tuesday.
Macenauer, assigned to the team by the Ducks, had five points in seven games.
NHL vet Kyle Calder skated with the team Monday morning and will play when the Condors begins a three-game set against Las Vegas on Thursday. The first two games are in Vegas with the finale on Saturday night in Bakersfield.
As for how long goaltender Justin Pogge might be on recall to Anaheim, Raymond said that he would check with the Ducks later on Monday.
The Condors might be able to get forward Matt Myers into the lineup in the near future. Myers has been inactive as an immigration sanfu is being handled. Much like Yutaka Fukufuji last year, Myers entered the country without the proper work visa. He now has to leave the country, secure the proper visa, and return.
Raymond said there was a possibility that might happen by this weekend.

Loss stung, injuries might hurt more

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:11:43 PDT

Sure, a 6-3 loss to Utah on home ice Friday night stung, as it should, but not as bad as a pair of injuries to forwards Mathieu Aubin and Maxime Macenauer.
Aubin left during the second period and Macenauer went hard into the boards with just over six minutes remaining in the game and was helped from the ice while not putting any weight on his left leg.
Condors coach Marty Raymond confirmed both were “lower-body injuries” and was meeting with a team doctor long after the game ended.
As for the game, it was the sloppiest yet for the Condors, who looked pretty good for the first 10 minutes and pretty bad for the next 50.
Rookie Timo Pielmeir had a rough night as he allowed five goals on 22 shots (the final goal went into an empty net). But Raymond emphasized it was a team effort in losing, noting a lack of physical play, turnovers, individualism and an effort to be too fancy.
The loss came after two straight wins, it’s still way early in the season and most teams have yet to hit a stride.
Even in a fairly disjointed effort, there talent on the Condors can clearly be seen. There are certain to be growing pains, especially early on.
The Condors will try to rebound Saturday night when they travel to Ontario. The Reign lost their home opener to Las Vegas, 4-3, on Friday night.
Raymond said NHL veteran Kyle Calder, who had just a been assigned to the team by Anaheim, would not be in the lineup tonight, as he is with his wife, who gave birth on Friday morning to their third child.

Calder OK'ed to play, but fatherhood calls

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:21:16 PDT

With immigration paperwork finished, NHL veteran Kyle Calder would have been in the lineup for the Condors on Friday night against the Utah Grizzlies were it not for the birth of his third child.
Condors coach Marty Raymond said Calder’s wife gave birth to a boy early Friday morning and he will be stay in with her in Southern California. Raymond said Calder would be “doubtful” for Saturday night’s game in Ontario against the Reign.
The lines for tonight's game against the Grizzlies will remain the same as on Wednesday:
Aubin-Macenauer-Ianiero
Weller-Sharp-Sexton
MacMillian-Naglich-Goulet
Kemp will be the 10th forward with Erik Lizon a scratch. Raymond said Lizon will see action Saturday night in Ontario.
Also, no word on how long goaltender Justin Pogge will remain with the Anaheim Ducks. Anaheim goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere has not skated with the team this week.

Ducks assign veteran NHL'er to Bakersfield

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:30:41 PDT

The Ducks have assigned veteran National Hockey League left wing Kyle Calder to the Condors after signing him to a one-year deal.
Calder, who has 292 points in 576 NHL games, played for the Kings the past two seasons. He was invited to Anaheim’s training camp on a tryout basis last month but was released on Sept. 26.
Selected by Chicago in the fifth round of the 1997 Entry Draft, Calder has played nine seasons in the NHL, recording two 20-goals seasons (2003-04 and 2005-06 with Chicago).
Calder, 30, will practice with the team on Thursday, but won't see action until next week.
“He'll play in Vegas (Nov. 5),” said David McNab, Anaheim's senior vice president of hockey operations, who was watching the Condors play Ontario on Wednesday night.
Asked if it was a conditioning assignment, McNab said: “No, he's been assigned to Bakersfield.”

Pielmeier looks good, Pogge back

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:01:32 PDT

As rookie goaltender Timo Pielmeier was working his way toward stopping 29 shots in Bakersfield’s 2-1 win over Victoria on Wednesday night, fellow goaltender Justin Pogge was already en route to Victoria Island.
After summoning Pogge to Anaheim as the Condors headed to Victoria on Tuesday, the Ducks had him back on plane Wednesday evening as it turned out Anaheim goaltender J.P. Giguere, who had a groin strain, was good to go.
The close-but-no-cigar situation shows just how close Pogge, and other players assigned to Bakersfield by Anaheim, could be to seeing NHL action this season.
Condors coach Marty Raymond said he was proud of the effort of his team after a long travel day. The Condors left Bakersfield at 4 a.m. for a early-morning flight out of Fresno, where they sat until a 1 p.m. flight due to miscommunicated travel changes. The team, due to arrive in Victoria around noon, ended up on the island at 7 p.m.
“It was a pretty good effort, considering what happened,” Raymond said.
And a really good effort for Pielmeier, who rebounded after a tough pro debut.
“I’m very happy with Timo,” Raymond said. “He needed that type of game. It shows he has confidence and is a good goaltender. He kept us in the game in the first period.”
Raymond wouldn’t say which goaltender would be in net on Friday night, but with Pogge obviously just one injury away from Anaheim, it’s a good bet the No. 3 goaltender in Anaheim’s system could be getting the nod.

Ducks recall goaltender Pogge

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:38:01 PDT

So much for Justin Pogge starting tonight’s game in Victoria for the Condors.
He’ll be in Anaheim tonight to possibly serve in a back-up role as the Ducks host the Dallas Stars. Pogge didn't even make it to Victoria. He was summoned by the Ducks as the team landed in Seattle on Tuesday morning, and headed south from there.
Pogge may fill in for J.S. Giguere who left the ice in the middle of a practice session on Tuesday with what he said on Wednesday was a groin strain. Giguere did not participate in the Wednesday morning skate, but told the Orange County Register that he thought he would be good to go tonight. Pogge, 23, appeared in two games with the Condors this season, posting a 1-0-0 record with a 0.75 goals-against average and .950 save percentage. He recorded a shutout in Bakersfield’s season opener, stopping all 15 shots he faced in a 5-0 victory on Oct. 16 vs. Ontario.
With Pogge gone, the goaltending duties fall on the shoulders or rookie Timo Pielmeier, who allowed seven goals on 19 shots in 40 minutes of play in his pro debut last Saturday.
It was certainly an off-night for Pielmeier, who was impressive in NHL and AHL exhibition games before joining the Condors. Pielmeier also had a good outing in a preseason win against Stockton.
The Condors will need Pielmeier to be back on his game tonight against an offensively-gifted Victoria team, which is coming off three close losses in Alaska.

Goaltenders get extra attention

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:46:38 PDT

Anaheim goaltending consultant Pete Peeters was in Bakersfield on Monday, working with goaltenders Justin Pogge and Timo Pielmeier.
And, no, the visit was not prompted by Pielmeier's less-than-stellar pro debut on Saturday. It was set up on Thursday, before the season got under way.
Peeters worked with the goaltenders during an 85-minute team practice, then spent another 45 minutes after that on specific work for the goaltenders.
“We’re building blocks,” Peeters said of his work with the goaltenders. “I can’t teach anybody how to stop the puck. God gives you that talent or he doesn’t.”
What Peeters, a four-time NHL All-Star goaltender in the early 1980s, can do, is try to make it easier for the goaltenders to stop the puck.
“There is definitely ways to go about making the job easier,” he said. “Today we were working on angles and how to change angles. That’s basically what all those lines were out on the ice.”
Peeters said there will be more, longer visits upcoming this season.
“Basically, now that I know where our goalies are going to be for the year I’ll probably be in on a regular basis to work with them probably a week at a time,” he said.
The Condors head out early Tuesday morning for Victoria where they begin a three-game set against the Salmmon Kings on Wednesday.

Condors lay an egg

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:37:11 PDT

That was a pretty big egg the Condors laid Saturday night at Rabobank Arena, falling 8-2 to the Ontario Reign after drubbing that team 5-0 a night earlier.
I guess one good butt-kicking led to another.
It certainly was an inauspicious pro debut for 20-year old goaltender Timo Pielmeier, who allowed seven goals on 19 shots through two periods of play.
Yes, there were several of those he'd like to have back. But then again, it would have been nice if the defense hadn't left guys open again and again in the slot.
As Condors coach Marty Raymond said, Pielmeier will be fine.
So will the rest of the team.
The Condors had free rein of the ice on Friday night as Ontario had no answer for Bakersfield's quick transistion game.
Saturday, an Ontario trap clearly frustrated the Condors who refused to bend. Instead of dumping the puck deep, retrieving and cycling, the Condors, for the most part, continued to try and play an up-tempo game. It didn't turn out all that well.
Lesson learned. Sometimes gritty is better than fancy.
On the plus side, the Condors still managed to fired 36 shots on goal. Ontario goaltender Curtis Darling had a strong outing but the Condors failed to bury some great chances.
All in all, not a bad opening weekend. An impressive win and a loss that surely left an impression on the young team.
Now it's on to Victoria where the Condors better be ready for a surly bunch of Salmon Kings, who are coming off a pair of losses in Alaska.

Condors impress in opening-night win

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:18:12 PDT

There was a lot to like about Bakersfield's 5-0 opening night win on Friday against Ontario.
From goaltender Justin Pogge on out.
Not that Pogge had too work that hard, as the Condors out shot the Reign 38-15.
Which says a lot about the defense.
And how about that offense?
Defenseman Sasha Pokulok showed a willingness to jump up into the play, which resulted in two nice goals off some great passing.
Nine Condors had points with four rookies scoring their first professional points.
Captain Shawn Weller (starting his third pro year) had two assists but had the play of the game as far as I'm concerned came in the second period with the Condors leading 3-0. Defenseman Stu Bickel went down in the neutral zone which resulted in a 2-on-1 Reign rush. But Weller came flying seemingly out of nowhere on a backcheck, made it 2-on-2 and disrupted the entire Ontario flow. The Condors got control of the puck, the Reign were called for a delayed penalty as Bakersfield started its transition and the result was a goal by Pokulok to make it 4-zip. That goal never happens were it not for the extra effort put forth by Weller.
Yes, it's only one game, but what a game it was.
Well done.
Opening nights just don't get much better than this.

Condors add Sexton, release Peralta

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:47:30 PDT

The Condors released forward Sal Peralta Friday morning to open a roster spot for Dan Sexton. Sexton arrived in Bakersfield on Thursday evening and was officially assigned to the team by the Ducks on Friday. Sexton, who led Bowling Green in goals and points as a sophomore last season will make his pro debut tonight.
“Sal is a top two line type of player,” Condors coach Marty Raymond said, noting all of those roles were filled. “Circumstances are what they are.”
Four players assigned by the Ducks are on the top two lines. Anaheim's Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations, David McNab, watched the morning skate on Friday and will remain for tonight's game and Saturday night's game against Ontario.

Condors need to play the IR game

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:45:34 PDT

The Condors will have one more player assigned to them by Anaheim on Friday — forward rookie Dan Sexton who had been sitting in the stands with San Antonio in the American league. Sexton, 22, led Bowling Green University last season as a sophomore in goals (17) and points (39) and was signed by Anaheim. He will play tonight. That means the Condors (who now have 11 players assigned to them by Anaheim) will have to release a player or place one on the 21-day IR, a move many other teams in the league have utilized to start the season.
Players on IR do not count against the salary cap, but they do add significantly to the cost of team operation as their salaries must be paid. And while there are actually injured players often on IR, the unlimited 21-day slots (there is also one 3-day and one 7-day slot) afford teams the option of stockpiling players – especially earlier in the season.
The Condors play in the eight-team National Conference and all eight, including the Condors, have used the two regular IR slots. Five teams, however, are making good use of the 21day IR, led by Alaska with three players. Victoria, Stockton and Ontario each have two players on 21-day IR. Utah and Idaho, like the Condors, had no players on the season-opening 21-day IR.
The sound reason for stockpiling players on the 21-day IR early in the season is to protect yourself when the inevitable call-ups to the American league begin or the injury-bug hits. Call ups can leave a team short on players and (after 21 days) teams with excess players can merely active a player and skate full strength and not short-handed.
It will be decision time for Condors management on Friday — will coach Marty Raymond have to release a solid player today (that the team will certainly be able to utilize sometime this season) — or will management open up the purse strings a bit, and slow a player to be placed on 21-day IR.
Sadly, I think we know what the answer will be.
***
Raymond said on Thursday that Shawn Weller would serve as captain with four players rotating as assistant captains. “We’re going to have two assistants at home and two different ones on the road,” Raymond said. “I feel there can be a lot of leaders on this club. We have a lot of young guys on this club that played at a higher level, want to be playing and can bring something to the table.” Rotating assistants will be Eric Regan, Shaun Fisher, Andrew Ianiero and Mathieu Aubin
***
Justin Pogge will start in goal tonight. It will be the first-ever ECHL game for the fourth-year pro who has three years of AHL experience and seven games in the NHL

Opening day roster set

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:19:16 PDT

Bakersfield’s overstocking situation at goaltender was solved on Wednesday as the Anaheim Ducks recalled J.P. Levasseur and reassigned him to Laredo of the Central Hockey League.
That left two other Anaheim-assigned goaltenders on Bakersfield’s ECHL opening-day roster — Justin Pogge and Timo Pielmeier.
The Condors released forward Travis Granbois and placed forward Matthew Myers on inactive status to reach a 22-man opening-day roster (12 forwards, eight d-men and the two goaltenders).
Bakersfield opens ECHL play at home Friday night against Ontario.
Forwards:
Mathieu Aubin
Bobby Bolt
Andrew Ianiero
Stephane Goulet
Nick Kemp
Erick Lizon (3-day IR)
Maxime Macenauer
Logan MacMillan
Adam Naglich
Sal Peralta
MacGregor Sharp
Shawn Weller
Defensemen
John de Gray
Raymond Eichenlaub
Shaun Fisher
Pierre-Luc Lessard (7-day IR)
Patrik Prokop
Sasha Pokulok
Eric Regan

Condors pass preseason test

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:19:24 PDT

The Condors passed the preseason test with flying colors, going 2-0 as they beat the Stockton Thunder 5-3 on Friday night, but in the grand scheme of things that means absolutely nothing.
While it's always nice to win, the preseason is more for conditioning and getting to know each other for the players and for some, a chance to show the coaches you have earned a spot on the team.
Certainly there will be some tough decisions in the next few days for Condors coach Marty Raymond, which is a good thing.
The bulk of the team is going to be made up of players assigned to the team by the Anaheim Ducks (11 as of Saturday) and that's a good thing, too.
Third-year player Shawn Weller had a hat trick on Saturday, including a backhanded backhander (he was facing away from the net) and there is no doubt in my mind the Ducks stole this guy from Ottawa when they traded Jason Bailey (who struggled in Bakersfield last season) to Ottawa for Weller on Sept. 4.
While there is a great deal of talent that belongs the the Ducks, Condors coach Marty Raymond appears to have done a pretty good job in brining in his own recruits.
Erick Lizon displayed a knack for fighting and seems more than willing to fill that role, a role the Condors have lacked the last few seasons.
Fourth-year players Mathieu Aubin, Stephane Goulet and Shasha Pokulok should be impact players.
And who knows, there could be even more talent in the form of Ducks prospects winging their way to Bakersfield before the ECHL season opens on Friday.
Anaheim Vice President of Hockey Operations David McNab told me that the most important thing to the Ducks (who do not have their own AHL franchise this season) is that their prospects play. I know of at least one prospect that has been in the stands rather than on the ice for San Antonio in the AHL for the first four games.
It is certainly shaping up to be an interesting season.