Condors win wild contest in Ontario, 5-4

ONTARIO, Calif. – The Bakersfield Condors (1-0-0, 2pts) withstood a late Ontario Reign (0-1-0, 0pts) rally to prevail 5-4 in front of 6,325 fans at Citizens Business Bank Arena Friday night.

Bakersfield fought through a slow start offensively to take a 2-0 lead in the first period. LW Matt Marquardt (on the power play) and LW Jesse Gimblett scored just over three minutes apart late in the frame to give the visitors the advantage. Shots were 11-8 in favor of Ontario in the first, but G Bryan Pitton was equal to the task for the Condors.

The clubs exchanged tallies in a wild middle frame. Ontario got on the board at 3:35 on the power play, but 34 seconds later rookie RW Scott Freeman answered to make it 3-1. The Reign scored again at 7:05, only to be matched at 8:06 by rookie F Mike Kramer, with his first professional goal, to once again maintain the two-goal lead. Rookie F Francois Brisbois pulled the Reign back within one at 11:10, making it 4-3 Condors, and that’s how the period finished. Shots were 22-15 Ontario through 40 minutes.

The Reign tied it up in the third, with C Bill Bagron finishing off an odd-man rush to make it 4-4 at 11:32. But the Condors answered for a final time tonight, with F Mike Gergen chipping home a power play marker to make it 5-4, and bring about the final score.

Click here for the box score.

Condors Droppings:
The Condors are now (9-5-0) in Opening Nights in team history… Marquardt (1g-1a) and Gimblett (1g-1a) both had multi-point games… Matt O’Dette picks up his first win as a head coach… Power plays: BAK – 2/6; ONT – 1/9… Three Stars: 1. Gergen (BAK), 2. Brisbois (ONT), 3. Yeo (ONT).

FORE!!!!
The Condors host their 14th Annual Charity Golf Classic on Monday, Oct. 17 at Noon. This year’s event will be at RiverLakes Golf Course located at 5201 RiverLakes Dr. Teams are comprised of four entrants and a Condors player at a cost of $125 per person. Entry fee includes greens fees, cart, range balls, a sack lunch, one free putt in the putting contest, three free raffle tickets, specialty hat and a goodie bag. Non-Golfer Dinner Only tickets are available for $20. To download a Charity Golf Classic entry form, click here , or for more information call the Condors front office at 324-PUCK(7825).

Get Tickets:

The Condors home opener is Saturday, Oct. 15, when the Colorado Eagles come to town. The first 3,000 fans 5 and older will get a Condors Division Championship Banner, sponsored by 29 Eyewitness News, Fox Sports Radio 970 and American Business machines. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and game time is 7 p.m. Prior to the game, there will be a Party on the Plaza starting at 4 p.m., presented by the Downtown Business Association, with vendors, games, food and drinks and more.

Ticket packages for the 2011-12 season are now on sale, starting at just $48. The Condors will battle the rival Stockton Thunder in Bakersfield in preseason action on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. Visit www.BakersfieldCondors.com or call 324-PUCK(7825) for more information.

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