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Truelson turns in sweater, skates

Veteran abruptly retires at end of Wednesday's practice

The Bakersfield Californian | Thursday, Oct 9 2008 11:19 PM

Last Updated: Thursday, Oct 9 2008 11:19 PM

Defenseman Kevin Truelson has decided to hang up his skates and enter the business world.

Truelson, who signed to play a fourth year for the Condors this summer, informed the coaching staff of his decision following practice on Wednesday and has been suspended by the team.

The Condors fell 5-4 to Las Vegas in a shootout in a preseason game Thursday night in Las Vegas.

The Condors travel to Ontario tonight for a preseason game against the Reign and host Las Vegas on Saturday night.

“He said he wasn’t having fun any more and it was time to move on with his life,” Condors coach Marty Raymond said of Truelson. “We have to respect that.” Truelson, 27, scored 144 points in 189 games for the Condors over the past three seasons and was one of the top scoring defensemen in the league each of those seasons. Truelson’s departure leaves the Condors without a proven offensive defenseman just over a week before the ECHL regular season gets under way.

“Someone’s departure always brings someone forward,” Raymond said. “It’s never easy to replace that many points but someone else will have to step up.” Raymond cited defensemen Martin Frechette, Chris Kaufman and Tom Morrow as players who could step up and produce from the point position. Frechette had 26 points (all assists as a rookie last season), Morrow had 18 points in Germany and Kaufman produced points at Robert Morris University before joining the Condors late last season.

Rookie Sean Hurley, just assigned to the Condors from the Iowa Chops, led Brown University in defenseman scoring each of the past four seasons. In the first preseason game Tuesday, Andrew Ianiero, Alexander Hult, Tyler Michel and Dave Bonk scored goals for the Condors.

Matt McKnight, who had a first-period goal for the Wranglers, was the only player to score in the shootout.

“We came back and settled down in the second period (after trailing 3-1) and played good hockey,” Raymond said. “I liked what I saw. “All the guys battling to make the team played well and we have five more forwards to get into the mix (tonight) with Mark Derlago and company. Overall we had a good effort.”