Condors' Weller a 'great leader of men'
| Thursday, Nov 19 2009 07:47 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 19 2009 09:08 PM
Alaska at Condors
When Tonight, 7 Where Rabobank Arena Radio (KGEO 91230 AM), 6:45 Condors record 9-6-0 Aces record 8-4-2 Series Bakersfield is 1-1-0 Notes This is the second game of a six-game home stand, the longest this season for Bakersfield, and begins a set of three games in three nights against the Aces ... The Condors gave up six goals in the first period in a 7-1 loss to Alaska in Anchorage last Saturday and have been outscored 24-12 in the first period through 15 games. "We've had some bad first periods and that's what we have to address," Condors coach Marty Raymond said. "We will be ready to play (tonight)." ... Justin Pogge (4-2-0) with a 2.59 GAA and .906 save percentage will start in goal for the Condors ... The first 3,000 fans at tonight's game receive a strip of six Condors trading cards.
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Felix Adamo / The Californian Stick bent and tongue out, Condor left winger Shawn Weller rifles a shot to the Ontario goal.
Shawn Weller had just completed a round of golf in early September when he noticed there were several missed calls from the Ottawa Senators on his phone.
A few minutes later he had the news.
"They told me I'd been traded to Anaheim and gave me the number of the guys to contact in Anaheim," said Weller, a Glens Falls, N.Y. native, who was drafted in the third round by the Senators in 2004 and played in their minor-league system for two years. "It was a complete shock. I was actually ready to go to Ottawa in the next day or two to start skating and training there before training camp."
A week later Weller was in Anaheim, wondering where he would be playing this season.
"As soon as I got traded to Anaheim I was thinking, obviously I'm probably not going to be in the NHL, so where am I going to end up?" Weller said.
With no American Hockey League affiliate, the Ducks scrambled to place players, ultimately putting the majority of their prospects, Weller included, with Bakersfield in the ECHL.
With anywhere from 10-12 NHL-contracted players assigned to them by Anaheim, the Condors are a sort of quasi-AHL team.
That can make them a target for other teams.
"Some teams may have a bit of a sour taste in their mouths," Weller said. "They get the feeling that we think we're an American League team in the East Coast Hockey League and every (game) people are gunning for us."
Which is exactly what Anaheim senior vice president of hockey operations David McNab said would happen, and why, McNab added, it is imperative for the players assigned to Bakersfield to be on top of their games and not pouting about being in the ECHL.
"He's been very professional," said Condors coach Marty Raymond of Weller, who is captain of the team. "He's certainly a great leader of men. This is a group of guys who are certainly going in the right direction and Shawn is a part of that process."
For his part, Weller said he's just trying to do the right things.
"I try to lead the team in the right direction," he said. "I'm a young guy (23). There are guys like AI (Andrew Ianiero) who have been around a while that guys look to for leadership. All I can do is try to lead by example and direct the team in the right direction."
Through 15 games, things are going fairly well for the Condors (who lead the tight Pacific Division at (9-6-0) as well as Weller, who is tied for second on the team in points with 14 and leads the team in power play goals with three.
"I get a lot of opportunity to play on the power play and get a lot of ice time here," Weller said, noting he's been fortunate to play with rookie linemates Dan Sexton and MacGregor Sharp (who was called up to Anaheim on Wednesday and made his NHL debut Thursday night against Tampa Bay).
"Sexton and Sharp are great players. When a guy like myself can play with players that good things are going to happen.
"All the boys are really happy (for Sharp). He's been playing great so far. To get the opportunity to go to the NHL is everyone's dream. To make the jump from the ECHL to the NHL for a guys who is a rookie, that must be an awesome feeling."
It's also a move that should ensure the rest of the players assigned to the Condors continue to put forth their best effort every game.
They all know there is a carrot dangling at the end of that string.
