Sexton helps Condors roll in opener
| Saturday, Oct 17 2009 12:26 AM
Last Updated Saturday, Oct 17 2009 12:28 AM
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Alex Horvath / The Californian Condors forward Andrew Ianiero looks to skate around Ontario Reign defender Chad Starling at Rabobank Arena.
Alex Horvath / The Californian Condors right wing Goulet against the Ontario Reign. Image is for extra photos to start building file for features.
Alex Horvath / The Californian Condors center MacGregor Sharp battles for a loose puck against the Ontario Reign. Image is for extra photos to start building file for features.
But the speedster out of Bowling Green University certainly knows his way around a 200-foot by 80-foot sheet of ice.
After spending a couple of weeks sitting in the stands at the American Hockey League level in San Antonio, Sexton arrived in Bakersfield on Thursday evening and made his first professional game on Friday night a memorable one.
Sexton scored a goal and added an assist as the Condors opened ECHL play with a 5-0 victory over Ontario Reign before 5,007 at Rabobank Arena.
"I can't believe this is my first game, I feel like I've been playing hockey for seven weeks," said Sexton, who started rookie camp in early September. "It was a lot of fun to get the first win."
As well as his first goal, which came midway through the second period and made it 3-0.
"It was a great pass from (Shaun) Weller," Sexton said.
"I knew I was going to fake the shot and if (Ontario goaltender Mike Zacharias) didn't fall for it, good for him."
Zacharias did and Sexton slipped in the goal.
"He's a buzzsaw and plays hard," Condors coach Marty Raymond said of Sexton. "He just goes and goes and goes. And he fits in with the team. Everybody worked hard tonight."
But Sexton, assigned to by the Anaheim Ducks, was just one of many bright spots for the Condors, who are stocked with 11 players from Anaheim.
Maxime Macenauer scored his first pro goal and Logan MacMillan and Adam Naglich got their first pro points in the form of assists.
The older dogs showed some bite as well.
Fourth-year defenseman Sasha Pokoluk scored a pair of goals and veteran Andrew Ianiero got the first goal of the season (his 87th as a Condor) 18:14 into the first period.
Both of Pokoluk's goals came in the second period off nice passes as he drove to the net.
"There are a lot of skilled, hard-working players on this team," said Pokulok. "We outworked them in the first period, got outworked in the first five minutes of the second period and then woke up."
Once fully awake, it was no contest.
The Condors wound up out shooting the Reign 38-15.
Bakersfield goaltender Justin Pogge saw sporadic action, but did make a couple of nice saves en route to the shut out.
"Pogge was solid," Raymond said. "He handles the puck very well and he was talking to the guys all night."
But Raymond cautioned against reading too much into the lopsided win.
"It's one game and we better be ready (tonight)," he said.
Notes
It's a good bet the Condors have the youngest team in the ECHL. Average age for the 22 players is 22.6. There are only two vets, Andrew Ianiero, 28, and Shaun Fisher, 30. There are three 20-year olds on the team and four 21-year olds. Eight of the players are true rookies and Stu Bickel, who played in the AHL last season but only got into 21 games, also qualifies for rookie status. Two other players have just one year of pro experience.
Rookie Timo Pielmeier, 20, will make his professional debut in goal tonight for the Condors.
Forward Nick Kemp and defenseman Patrik Prokop were healthy scratches.
The first 2,000 children age 12 and younger at tonight's game receive a free Baby Cal Paint-Your-Own-Bobblehead. Additionally, Ogie, the World's Fastest Golfer, will be appearing, attempting to set the world record for most golf balls hit in a 30-second span. Doors open at 7.
