Condors notebook: Defenseman Ryan to play for AHL's Barons
| Thursday, Nov 18 2010 09:53 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 18 2010 10:23 PM
Las Vegas (6-3-1) at Condors (6-7-1)
Time/place: 7 p.m. Rabobank Arena
Radio: 970 AM
Condors record: 6-7-1
Notes: The Wranglers ride into town on a 4-0-1 streak. Ned Lukacevic leads the team in points with 10 ... winger Stephane Goulet leads the Condors in goals (6) and points (12) and is tied for the lead in plus/minus at plus 4 ... All fans at tonight's game receive the first of five trading card packets.
A scout for the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League was in the stands on Wednesday night at Rabobank Arena, lured by the amount of talent on the Victoria Salmon Kings.
At the end of the game, the scout was impressed by Bakersfield defenseman Joey Ryan, who has been called up to Oklahoma City and is expected to be in the lineup tonight when the Barons host Texas.
"He's strong, tough to play against, makes an impact and was one of the best players on the ice (Wednesday night)," Condors coach Marty Raymond said of Ryan. "He'll be gone for at least the weekend."
Ryan, a third-year pro, played 43 games in the AHL his first two seasons.
While the Condors have lost, at least temporally, a valuable piece of their defense, they could be gaining more firepower up front by tonight's game against Las Vegas.
Bakersfield has signed left wing Vyacheslav Trukhno, who will take to the ice as soon as his immigration paperwork is complete.
A fourth-round draft pick of Edmonton in 2005, Trukhno played his first three seasons in the AHL with the Springfield Falcons. He started this season in the Russia KHL.
Current Condors point leader Stephane Goulet played with Trukhno during part of the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons. Trukhno had 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) as a rookie and 26 points in each of the past two seasons.
"He will certainly help our hockey club," said Raymond. "He plays a good brand of hockey. He's good on the power play, has a lot of patience with the puck and is a very good offensive player."
The Condors have a new radio show. Condors Insider made it's debut Thursday from 6-7 p.m. on 970 AM. The show will air each Thursday, minus several dates due to the team's travel schedule and other conflicts. Dates with no show include Thanksgiving, Dec. 23, Dec. 30, Feb. 10 and Mar. 10. Condors Insider will be hosted by Condors broadcasters Kevin Bartl and Bob Mills.
Unlike the previous Coaches Show, which aired from local eateries, the new show airs from the radio studio which enables listeners to call in (716-0970).
"We have never been able to take phone callers in the past, so that's a new element of the show that I think fans will enjoy, and we're going to try some different things this season. We hope fans tune in and call in as well," said Bartl.
The Las Vegas Wranglers will be without the services of goaltender Michael Ouzas (5-1, 2.14 GAA, .924 save percentage) tonight against the Condors as he has been called up to the Houston Aeros, Bakersfield's AHL affiliate.
Bakersfield goaltender Josh Tordjman, assisnged to the Condors by Houston, is in the midst of a six-game suspension and was not available for the call-up and Raymond suggested Ouzas to the Aeros.
"It's good for the kid," Raymond said. "They wanted a good goalie. I called (Las Vegas coach Ryan Mougenal) and told him. He was OK with it. It's not like they don't have another good goaltender."
Joe Fallon, the Wranglers other goaltender, is 1-2-1 with a 2.00 GAA and .938 save percentage.
