Junior Condors take flight in 2016-17

CONDORSTOWN, Calif. – The Bakersfield Condors, in partnership with the Kern County Hockey Club, announced today that the travel youth hockey program in Bakersfield previously called the Bakersfield Dragons will begin play in 2016-17 as the Bakersfield Junior Condors. The move will help expand the identity of the youth hockey program, putting it on a national scale, and shows the commitment of the organization to growing the game throughout the community.

The Condors will provide jerseys for all players in year one and fund a number of scholarships in future years to families needing financial aid.

“To be able to create the synergy between the Condors, being just one step away from the NHL,and now the Jr. Condors throughout youth hockey is tremendous,” said Condors Team President Matthew Riley. “Former Condors players coach at all levels while our current players attend practices as well. To be able to have everyone under the Condors identity is a win-win for the community and should attract more kids and attention to youth hockey in Bakersfield.”

“Since 1997 the Kern County Hockey Club has always had an unofficial association with the Bakersfield Condors with our players and families growing up as Condors fans,” said KCHC President Emmanuel Strategos. “The time has come to make that association official. We look forward to wearing the Condors colors and representing our community with dignity in competition while uniting hockey in Condorstown.”

ABOUT THE BAKERSFIELD JUNIOR CONDORS

• Former Condors are head coaches at all levels of the Bakersfield Junior Condors program including: Kevin Barrett, Jamie Cooke, Scott Hay, Mike Hofstrand, Andrew Ianiero, Glen Mears, Paul Rosebush, and Paul Willett
• Tryouts for Midget AA (16u) are this Saturday and Sunday, June 4 & 5
• Tryouts for Mites (8u), Squirts (10u), Peewee (12u), Bantam (14u), and Midget A (16u) are next Saturday and Sunday, June 11 & 12 at the SJCH Ice Sports Center of Bakersfield; click here for more information
• The organization was founded as a nonprofit in 1997, has served all levels of hockey which continue to grow the game in Bakersfield, and just last season had three teams advance to the state tournament with nearly 100 players active in the program
• All teams compete in the Southern California Amateur Hockey Association (SCAHA), which has grown to over 20 organizations and includes the San Diego Junior Gulls, Ontario Junior Reign, Los Angeles Junior Kings, and Anaheim Junior Ducks
• About the facility: the SJCH Ice Sports Center of Bakersfield is the home rink for the Bakersfield Junior Condors and the official practice facility of the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, located directly behind Rabobank Arena in downtown Bakersfield