Lizon and Stoflet among quintet added to Condors Roster

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Rookies Gagne, Smith, and Stinziani to come to Condorstown

Bakersfield, Calif. – The Bakersfield Condors, host of the 2010-11 ECHL All-Star Classic and ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, have signed five more players for the 2010-11 season. RW Erick Lizon and D Evan Stoflet both return from last season’s roster, while rookies F Karl Gagne, RW Michael Stinziani, and RW Carter Smith have also agreed to terms. The announcement was made today by Head Coach Marty Raymond.

Lizon, 24, returns to Erick LizonCondorstown after leading the team with 204 PIM and 18 fighting majors in 2009-10. It was the highest penalty minute total for any Condor since Jon Mirasty set the club record in 2003-04 with 358. Lizon skated in 59 games with the Condors last season, and added six points on three goals and three assists to go with his penalty minute total. In 194 professional games, Lizon has 34 points (13g, 21a) and 523 PIM.

Stoflet, 26, will also be back with the Condors this season. He started the 2009-10 year with the Utah Grizzlies before being traded to the Condors, along with Jason Dale, in December, 2009. Stoflet picked up nine assists along with 43 PIM in 49 regular season games with the Condors. He also added a goal and three assists for four points and a team leading +4 rating in 10 playoff games. Stoflet has played 157 games in his professional career, scoring four Evan Stofletgoals and 27 assists for 31 points and 120 PIM.

What Marty says:

“Lizon adds a lot of toughness and we needed to add some toughness to our lineup. He has aspirations to move up to the next level, and we know he’ll work hard. Stoflet is a good force for us. He is a safe, defensive defenseman.”

Gagne, 26, returns from overseas for his first stint of North American professional hockey. A native of Saint-Neree, Quebec, Gagne has spent the previous three seasons in the Italian and French leagues. Gagne’s most productive season came in 2007-08 with Neumarket/Egna of the Italian 2nd Division when he collected 101 points (36g, 65a) in 41 games. He has collected 154 points in 78 international games. In 302 amateur games with the Moncton Wildcats and Quebec Remparts (QMJHL), and Concordia University (CIS), he scored 109 goals and 199 assists for 308 points.

Stinziani, 21, makes his professional debut with the Condors this season after five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Last season, Stinziani posted 41 points (18g, 23a) in 59 games. Stinziani captured a QMJHL Championship in 2007-08 with the Gatineau Olympiques. He also captured a World Championship Under 17 Gold Medal with Team Quebec in 2005-06. Stinziani had five points on three goals and two assists in six tournament games.

Smith, 22, embarks on his first pro season after completing a year with the University of Regina in the CIS, where he scored six goals and added two assists to go along with 18 PIM in 18 games. Smith played in the WHL for six years before attending Regina, showing improvement each year. During the 2008-09 season, Smith scored 38 points (20g, 18a) to go along with 114 PIM in 62 games with the Red Deer Rebels.

The Condors now have 19 players inked for the 2010-11 season: goaltender Peter Hirsch, defensemen Erik Burgdoerfer, Jay Cascalenda, Jason Lepine, Antonin Manavian, Stoflet, Sebastian Strom, and Yan Turcotte, forwards Jean-Marc Beaudoin, Adam Chorneyko, J.D. Corbin, Gagne, John Kemp, Lizon, Adam Naglich, Bobby Robins, Smith, Stinziani, and Mika Suoraniemi. Training camp opens for the Condors on Friday, Oct. 1. Click here to visit the Condors roster page.

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