Condors swing deadline deal for potent scorer Lemieux

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Bakersfield Condors, ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, announced they have traded the rights to LW Brad Snetsinger to the Florida Everblades in exchange for the rights to C Francis Lemieux. Both players are currently in the American Hockey League.

Lemieux, 27, is playing for the Connecticut Whale right now, while Snetsinger is in Binghamton. The Sherbrooke, Quebec, native is second in the ECHL in scoring, with 73 points (28g-45a) in just 56 games. He was signed to an AHL deal by the Whale last week. Last season, Lemieux recorded nine goals and 12 Lemieuxpoints in 13 games with the Las Vegas Wranglers, while also playing in the AHL with Grand Rapids and in Austria.

The 5-11, 185-pound center spent the first four seasons of his pro career entirely in the AHL, winning a Calder Cup Championship with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2007. With nine games this season between Connecticut and Manitoba, Lemieux has over 250 career contests in the AHL and 113 points. Prior to turning pro, he played four seasons of major junior hockey in Chicoutimi, Quebec, scoring 99 goals and 250 points.

“With Francis we have an opportunity to have one of the best players in the ECHL play for us,” said Head Coach Marty Raymond, who also indicated Lemieux would not make it to Bakersfield until potentially after Connecticut’s season has concluded. “He has been one of the league’s leading scorers all season. At the same time, we hate to lose a guy like Brad, who’s been very good for us, but we needed a center and we could potentially have a lot of wingers come playoff time.”

Snetsinger was leading the Condors in scoring at the time of his signing with the Binghamton Senators in February. He was acquired just before Christmas from Utah, and in 52 combined games he amassed 16 goals and 44 points. In 26 games with Bakersfield, the Ajax, Ontario, native had 6g-15a-21pts.

Upcoming Schedule:
The Condors continue their home stand on Friday and Saturday, both against the Idaho Steelheads. Friday is Street Hockey Stick and Puck Giveaway night, sponsored by Hot 94.1 and Three Way Automotive Group. Saturday is St. Patty’s Day Jersey Off Our Backs Raffle and Auction Night, sponsored by McDonald’s, and Charlie Sheen Night as well, providing a whole slew of ticket and other specials.

Visit http://bakersfieldcondors.com/web/category/schedule/ for more information and the Condors promotional schedule.

Get Tickets:
Group tickets are a great way to add to your Condors experience! All you need is 20 family, friends and coworkers to get discounted tickets starting at just $7. Groups get a P.A. Announcement as well as prizes for each group. All members of Lower Level groups also get a Condors hat.

Individual tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster and the Rabobank Arena Box Office. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, with extended hours on game and event days. You can also call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or visit them online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket packages start at just $28! Call the Condors office at 324-PUCK(7825) or go online to www.bakersfieldcondors.com for more information.