Condors host Ontario

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CONDORSTOWN, Calif. – The Bakersfield Condors look to string together a perfect AHL Opening Weekend tonight on Dignity Health Home Ice at Rabobank Arena against the visiting Ontario Reign. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. (5:45 p.m. for season ticket members). Fans are encouraged to arrive early to receive their favorite NFL team’s deflated football.
GAME: Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers) v. Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings)
PROMOTION: First 2,000 fans, 17 and under, receive their choice of nine NFL teams’ deflated footballs presented by Eyewitness News and Dignity Health. The nine teams include the 49ers, Raiders, Chargers, Seahawks, Steelers, Cowboys, Packers, Broncos, and of course, the masters of deflation, the Patriots.
HIGH SCHOOL QUARTERBACKS: Eight local high school quarterbacks, including Iowa St. commit and Ridgeview star Lawrence White will take center stage in the first intermission for a throwing competition. He’ll be joined by quarterbacks from Bakersfield High, Highland, Centennial, Mira Monte, Shafter, Garces, and Frontier. Come out and support your school! Don’t worry, we’ll inflate the footballs to legal PSI.
TIME: 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m. / 5:45 p.m. for season ticket members)
BROADCAST: Video (AHL Live) | Radio (98.5 The FOX FM – this weekend only) | MOBILE (iHeartRadio App – 98.5 The FOX FM
What’s for dinner?: Club Room: Chili Verde, Rice and Beans, Ensalada Fresca, Chipotle Sour Cream, Buenelos // Tap Room: Baked Potato Bar, Dinner Salad

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Bakersfield saved the drama for late in the third period as LW Andrew Miller scored the game’s lone goal with under two minutes remaining to give the Condors a 1-0 opening night victory over Grand Rapids. G Laurent Brossoit stopped all 31 shots he faced. RW Iiro Pakarinen had the assist on the Miller goal.

Ontario had the night off last night and makes their AHL debut tonight.

ANOTHER SHUTOUT FOR BROSSOIT
Bakersfield has become accustomed to the exploits of G Laurent Brossoit. Including his stint in the ECHL with the Condors, two seasons ago, the Surrey, BC native now has 10 career shutouts in a Bakersfield sweater (inlcuding playoffs). His 31-save shutout last night was the fifth of his AHL career as he had four in Oklahoma City a season ago.

COMING OR GOING
Bakersfield returns four of the five leading scorers from the Oilers’ top AHL team a season ago including Miller, RW Matt Ford, LW Ryan Hamilton, and D Brad Hunt. On the flip side, the Ontario Reign return just two of their top six scorers from the Manchester team which captured the AHL’s Calder Cup a season ago. LW Michael Mersch, had 45 points in 76 games last season and finished fourth on the team in scoring while RW Sean Backman had 44 points in 76 games and finished fifth on the team. The Reign will also be without G J-F Berube, who backstopped the Monarchs to the Calder Cup last season as he was claimed off waivers by the New York Islanders earlier in the week.

CONDORS NOTES
LW Andrew Miller scored the first AHL goal in Condors history. He had 27 last season to lead the Oklahoma City Barons in that department… RW Iiro Pakarinen led the Condors a night ago with five shots… Rookie D Darnell Nurse paced all Condors defensemen with four shots and was +1… C Leon Draisaitl was denied on a penalty shot in the second period after being hauled down on a breakaway… LW Braden Christoffer was the lone Condor to make his professional debut last night and registered three shots.

REIGN NOTES
Ontario does bring back Manchester’s penalty-minute leader in F Paul Bissonnette, who had 167 PIMs a season ago… Mersch tied for the team lead with 22 points (13g-9a) in the playoffs last year… The Reign are led by second-year head coach Mike Stothers

TRANSACTIONS
10/5 – C Leon Draisaitl assigned by Edmonton (NHL)
10/5 – G Ben Scrivens assigned by Edmonton (NHL)
10/4 – D Nikita Nikitin assigned by Edmonton (NHL)

EA SPORTS ’16 GIVEAWAY NEXT SATURDAY, OCT. 17
Since the Condors are now proud members of the AHL, they are featured in NHL ’16. 30 lucky fans will take home either NHL ’16, FIFA ’16, or Madden NFL ’16 simply by coming to the game and entering to win. Presented by My45 and Hot 94.1 FM. Call 324-PUCK (7825) for more information on how to save money.
BECOME A CONDORS MEMBER; SAVE MONEY AND HAVE EVEN MORE FUN
Join the Condors on their historic move to the American Hockey League in 2015-16. Become a ticket member and enjoy all of the great benefits by contacting the Condors at 324-PUCK (7825) orclick here for more information. Single-game tickets for Opening Weekend are on sale now at Axs.com or by clicking here.