STOCKTON, Calif. – The Bakersfield Condors finished second in the conference, with an overall record of 38-29-4-1 and 81 points. The Condors will face the seventh place team, Victoria Salmon Kings (34-32-40-2, 74 points) beginning April 7 at Victoria. This marks the Condors’ first ever Pacific Division title in their 12 year history.
The Condors ended the season 7-0 at home and 6-4 in their last ten games, including a three game end of the season win streak. They are 6-4-0-1 against Victoria so far this season. This will mark the second time these two teams face off in the post-season. In 2008, Victoria took the series 4-2 in the National Conference Quarterfinals.
In the net for the Condors is Timo Pielmeier. He’s been strong this season with 27-22-4-1, and a goal and three assists this season, with 3.29 goals against average and .883 save percentage. Pielmeier finished first among goaltenders in this conference for wins. The second goalie is Jean-Philippe Levasseur who has just returned from AHL Springfield Falcons, where he posted 3.59 goals against average and .896 save percentage in 25 games. In his five games with the Condor’s, he has 3.63 goals against average and .903save percentage.
Bakersfield has had success with their offensive lines and among the players to watch are: Stephane Goulet (29 goals, 40 assists), Ryan Menei (18 goals, 35 assists), and Adam Naglich (16 goals, 23 assists). Goulet is the point leader on the team with 69.
Defensively watch for Eric Regan (16 goals, 34 assists), and Sasha Polukok (13 goals, 26 assists). Regan leads the team in points among the d-men.
Victoria makes their fourth consecutive year in the post-season, having lost in the first round then the second round in the last two appearances. Offensively players like Chad Painchaud (30 goals, 38 assists), Wes Goldie (44 goals, 18 assists), Matt Siddall (20 goals, 29 assists) have been solid for the Salmon Kings. Goldie was second in the league in goals scored.
The Salmon Kings have solid blue-liners in Jimmy Sharrow (12 goals, 35 assists), and Patrick Coulombe (9 goals, 17 assists). Sharrow is the point leader among defenders and was named to the 2010 All-ECHL second team in March.
Among the Salmon Kings goal minders Glenn Fisher appeared in 29 games, and finished the season with 12-12, 3 shutouts, 3.35 goals against average and .895 save percentage.
Additionally, listed on the roster for the net is Matt Keetley. Keetley appeared in nine games, with a 2-7 record, both wins were shutouts. He posted 3.84 goals against average and .880 save percentage.
The best-of-five National Conference quarterfinal series will begin at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Center in Victoria on Wednesday, April 7. Game two will be on Thursday, April 8th, again in Victoria. The final three games (four and five as necessary) will move to Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield on April 10, 11 and 12.
PREDICTION: Bakersfield finished the season strong and is most likely still reveling in their momentous division win. Although Victoria is looking to break the cycle of fall out of the post season early, I look for Bakersfield to win the series 3-2. Don’t expect the Salmon Kings to leave with out a fight, the Condors will definitely have to work hard and smart to win.
And what about the only other team in the conference not mentioned as moving ahead to the post season. Well they have things to be proud of too. Ontario may have finished in last place, and out of the playoff contention, but they have something else they can be proud of; the best attendance in the league. The Reign sold-out their last home game leading to their overall season average of 6,451, a 10.2 percent increase over last season. The ECHL welcomed over 3 million fans this season, marking a third consecutive annual increase in fans, including 51 sell-outs.
Ironically, Ontario goaltender Curtis Darling made some history of his own this season, finishing with the most minutes in the net (3,483 minutes), most saves (1,640) and most losses (25) for the season. Darling posted 2.86 goals against average and .908 save percentage, which placed him seventh league wide.
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
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