ECHL Pacific Division Update

CLOVIS , Ca. – The Fresno Falcons continued their dominance in the ECHL’s Pacific Division and hold a strong six point bulge despite some ups and downs since the last update. The first year Ontario Reign has continued their winning ways and is holding onto second place.
The Stockton Thunder, Bakersfield Condors, and Las Vegas Wranglers are separated by only two points.   Eight points separate second place from fifth. Needless to say this is a very competitive group of teams.
Let’s take a look at the current state of the Pacific Division (all stats and standings are as of December 9, 2008).
Fresno Falcons – The Falcons have been on a tear so far this season and have notched 31 points from 23 games to lead the division, and the National Conference, having overtaken the Alaska Aces for the conferences top spot. The Falcons are 7-3 in their last 10 games and have played very well most nights despite suffering a rash of injuries and call-ups to key players. They are leading the conference in penalty minutes with 592.
On offense Matt Stefanishion and Oren Eizenman have been leading the way of late. Jerret Konkle has also added some scoring punch over the past 10 games. The Falcons have struggled on the power play and are currently near the bottom of the ECHL.
On defense, the Falcons were relying heavily on Matt O’Dette who went down with a fractured hand mid-month. Fortunately, veteran Brad Brown returned from AHL call-up to help steady the remaining younger defenders. Kenny MacAulay has also been on an assist tear of late and is second on the Falcons in points with 15.
In goal the duties have largely fallen on the shoulders of Toronto prospect Michael Ouzas with the call-up of Joe Fallon to Rockford. Ouzas has put in a stellar performance most nights and made some unbelievable saves over the past two weeks. Ouzas also notched a pair of shutouts over Las Vegas and Ontario in November.
Prospect Watch – Stefanishion is currently the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He has been doing it all for the Falcons with his physical presence on the ice and ability to take over a game in all aspects when he’s revved up. Eizenman recently returned to Fresno after a call up to San Antonio. MacAulay has been playing solid defense and has been contributing consistently on offense. Ouzas has been turning in outstanding performances.
Ontario Reign – Ontario has been a pleasant surprise for an expansion team. They are currently sitting with a record of 12-9-1-1. They have been playing steady every night posting above average defensive numbers while receiving outstanding goaltending.

Up front, Joe Francisco and Geoff Walker are leading the way with 8 goals each. The Reign has a balanced attack and the scoring comes from solid teamwork, but the offensive output has not been great overall scoring just 58 goals.
On defense, the Reign scrambled as a team to block every shot and really protect the slot area, keeping shots to the outside for the most part. PJ Atherton has been leading the way with a very respectable +8 plus/minus rating on a team that doesn’t score much. Andrew Martens has also been solid with a +4 while adding 11 assists.
Goaltenders Jeff Zatkoff and John Murray have been steady at worst and remarkable at best. Murray impressed in a weekend in Fresno when hemade several diving saves on what looked like sure goals to keep the score closet in a hard fought 1-0 loss.
Prospect Watch – Walker and Francisco have been steady at putting the puck away. Zatkoff and Murray are both above average goaltenders. Murray recently won goaltender of the week honors.
Stockton Thunder – The Thunder are a team comprised mostly of players signed to a higher level and the resulting roster unrest keeps them from achieving their expectations. All in all they are working it out and have moved close to the .500 mark. The Thunder is a team that likes to express their physical side at time with Adam Huxley and Garet Hunt leading theway.
On offense the Thunder have lots of talent but don’t seem to have the smoothness up front that a more consistent lineup might provide but they do have a balanced attack. Of those on the current roster Adam Huxley and Mike Lalonde are leading the team in goals with 6 followed by Ryan MacMurchy at 5. Leading scorers Cory Urguhart and Ryan Huddy have been putting up consistent numbers but are both currently on AHL call up.
On Defense, the Thunder likes to swarm and clog the neutral zone making it very tough to get through. Good scoring chances against Stockton come few and far between.
In goal the Thunder have equal success with Brian Pitton and Andrew Perugini but it’s been an up and down ride for both so far this year.
Prospect Watch – Pitton has been outstanding at times, but not quite consistent, if that comes he may get a call. Leading scorers Cory Urquhart and Ryan Huddy are both on call up as of early December.
Bakersfield Condors – The Condors have been a Jekyll and Hyde team all year long. They will win a game or two and then go on a bit of a losing slide. The roster has seen some call ups and new faces keeping their fans guessing as to who is on the roster.
Bakersfield recently won a pair of games against the West division leading Alaska Aces in Anchorage, only to lose the third game of a three game set by a blowout score of 6-0. The Condors are currently in fourth place (19 points in 21 games).
The Condors leading scorer is Mark Derlago, who arrived in Bakersfield after staring the season with the Manitoba Moose (AHL). Derlago injected some life into the Condors on his arrival and notched 9 goals and 11 assists in just 12 games. Rookie Matt Pope has also been steady with 19 points in 18 games. Chad Painchaud and Dave Bonk have also contributed on a steady pace with 17 and 16 points respectively.
On defense, the recent addition of Kevin Truelson should help bolster the backline (which has been a problem) as well as adding some scoring touch. Tom Morrow has continued his steady play and is a force at clearing the crease.
The Condors have a dilemma in goal. The team is currently carrying three goaltenders, all of whom are solid. Dave McKee recently returned from a loan to the AHL. Ryan Nie came in during McKee’s absence and played well. Yutaka Fukufuji also recently returned to the Condors after facing some immigration issues early on. This will be a battle royal for playing time assuming McKee doesn’t get another quick call up.
Prospect Watch – McKee has been impressive and already earned one call up. Derlago has been up and down during his two seasons with the Condors and is currently in the AHL.
Las Vegas Wranglers – The Wranglers have shaken off a bit of their early season funk and are starting to creep their way up the division toward the .500 mark. They have been a consistently solid club every year, and this year may be no exception.
Early on, the Wranglers were having some serious problems putting the puck in the net, but things are starting to look more like a typical Wrangler team. Veteran Chris Ferraro is leading the pack on offense with 18 points, followed by Tyler Mosienko with 16 points. From there, the Wranglers are getting more balanced scoring throughout the roster to take the pressure off of the top guys.
Mike Madill has found his form on defense of and is leading the way as the Wranglers have cut down their goals against.
Vegas have a pleasant dilemma by carrying three top notch goalies in Brent Krahn, Kevin Lalande and John DeCaro. All have proven capable of being the team’s number one goalie.
Prospect Watch – Center Mike Hamilton and forward Matt Beaudoin have been up and down already this year as well as defenders Gord Baldwin and Brendan Straub. Look for one of the three goaltenders to get a crack at the next level.
Contact the author at Mike.Canady@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at chris.canady@prohockeynews.com.