SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Fun, but cold. Those were the comments from most of the fans that attended the first ever minor league hockey game on the west coast. The Stockton Heat defeated their rival Bakersfield Condors 3-2 on outdoor ice in Sacramento before 9,357 fans at Raley Field.
Heat players line up for the National Anthem – Photo by Jack Lima
“We had great fan support, including Stockton fans that made their way up,” said General Manager Brad Pascall.
“It was an exciting time for the players and staff and a special opportunity to get to play outdoors. To get the win was the cherry on top.” Pascall continued, “The feedback from everyone was that the ice was good. It was better than we expected coming in. Ice conditions weren’t an issue for the play.”
The night before, the game was delayed due to rain. But this night conditions were great. The sky cleared and it was a cool 47 degrees Fahrenheit. (See the story about the game delay here.)
The pregame ceremony included a puck drop by Mike Sophia, Director of Sacramento’s Sports Commission; Terry Harper, five-time Stanley Cup Champion; and Steve Carlson, former hockey player and most notably one of the Hanson Brothers from the movie Slap Shot.
(Left to Right) Turner Elson-Heat, Mike Sophis, Terry Harper, Steve Carlson and Ryan Hamilton participate in the Ceremonial Puck Drop – Photo by Jack Lima
The Condors opened the scoring at 5:12 into the first period. Kyle Platzer’s shot ricocheted off of a Heat player near the crease past Joni Ortio in the net. His goal was assisted by Greg Chase and Matthew Ford. The game remained 1-0, in favor of the Condors through the rest of the period, despite 18-11 shots on goal in favor of the Heat.
About the halfway marker of the periods, the teams exchanged ends. This is was arranged pre-game, as the goalies have a tendency to lose the puck in the darkness, since the baseball diamond only has seats on one end.
Joni Ortio makes a glove save – Photo by Jack Lima
The equalizer goal came 11:35 into the second period, when Derek Grant scored, beating Ben Scrivens in the Condors net. Emile Poirier and Ken Agostino were credited with the assists on the power play goal, after a shot from Agostino bounced off the post, and Poirier caught the rebound and redirected it to the opposite side to Grant pulling Scrivens off balance.
Stockton’s Olivier Kylington scored 7:26 into the third period to give the Heat the lead, and they never looked back. Kylington took the puck from deep in the corner, back out the front side of the net, and wristed it through Scrivens’ five-hole.
“I got the puck at the boards and I felt like I got a lot of time and got some space in the slot and made a pretty decent shot between his legs and it went in. It was a pretty good feeling,” said Kylington after the game.
Drew Shore scored an unassisted slap shot at 10:59 to extend the Heat’s lead to 3-1. Shore’s goal was from the slot, with a screen on Scriven’s that went into the net top shelf.
Kenny Agostino (15) and Andrew Miller (17) look to control the puck along the boards – Photo by Jack Lima
Platzer scored his second goal on a power play with 3:38 remaining in the game, but that would be the final goal, as despite a late advantage with Tyler Wotherspoon in the box for a holding call with 2:28 remaining, the Condors couldn’t solve Ortio in the net.
The Heat lead 38-35 shots on goal for the 3-2 win in the elements. Both teams went one for five on power play opportunities.
Stockton forward Austin Carroll spoke after the game, “It was so much fun. It brought back a lot of memories playing outside on outdoor rinks. It was good to get the two points.”
Austin Carroll (20) checks Dillon Simpson – Photo by Jack Lima
“I thought we played well and it’s nice to get on the win side of these games,” said Heat Coach Ryan Huska. “It was different for sure. But that’s what made it awesome. The people were a little bit further away and the glass was all frosted up.
It had a different feel; but it was supposed to.”
“I’ll never forget this experience. It’s pretty neat. You think about playing an outdoor game in California. It was cold on the bench,” said Huska.
Drew Shore said after the game, “It was a great experience. It was something I’ve never done before, or been a part of, so obviously it was a little weird with what happened last night, but it was an awesome experience and getting the win made it even better.”
Shore will have some great memories, including scoring a goal, “I think when it got dark out, after the first period that was my favorite part. With all the lights and stuff, it was pretty cool coming out for the second period and it was a blast.”
Derek Grant also commented after the game. “It was daylight when we went out there and it faded into the night which is pretty cool. The ice wasn’t too bad for how it was earlier today. I think we did a good job sticking with our game-plan and we were able to get the two points.”
During the intermissions, the ice crew worked hard trying to get the fog off the glass, but minutes later, it was back. Our PHN photographer was situated right on the ice, between the two team benches for the duration of the game and brings us these great game shots. As you can see from the shots, the players almost appeared to be playing alone, with the fogged glass separating them from the rest of the world.
Turner Elson (13) moves the puck as Ryan Hamilton (12) tries to stick check – Photo by Jack Lima
Matthew Ford (11) looks for the puck in front of Joni Ortio – Photo by Jack Lima
Kenny Agostiono’s (15) shot hits the goal post as Condor Goalie Ben Scrivens looks for the rebound – Photo by Jack Lima
Josh Currie (36) and Freddie Hamilton (11) fight for puck during faceoff – Photo by Jack Lima
Jakub Nakladal (33) fights Andrew Miller (17) for position in front of Heat Goalie Joni Ortio – Photo by Jack Lima
Heat players watch the action from the bench – Photo by Jack Lima
Heat Goalie Joni Ortio makes a kick save and Pat Sieloff (10) looks on – Photo by Jack Lima
Dillon Simpson (18) tries to clear the puck away from Turner Elson (13) – Photo by Jack Lima
Derek Grant (27) looks to tip a shot from Kenny Agostino (15) – Photo by Jack Lima
Derek Grant (27) controls the puck as Dillion Simpson (18) defends – Photo by Jack Lima
Condor Goalie Ben Scrivens covers a rebound as Matthew Ford (11) and David Musil (6) provide support – Photo by Jack Lima
Blair Riley moves the puck up ice – Photo by Jack Lima
Post game handshake between Kale Kessy (22) and Joni Ortio (31) – Photo by Jack Lima
Post game hand shake – Photo by Jack Lima
Heat players salute the crowd after the game – Photo by Jack Lima
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