Post Game: Grizzlies 2, Condors 1 (SO)

Welcome back, J.P.!

While we really don't blame Engelage for the losing streak lately (even if you have a good goalie, you still have to play in front of him), having Lamoureux back in net definitely gave the boys a boost. J.P. stopped 44 of the 45 shots he saw with style. And his work in the shutout was perfect. With the Grizzlies tallying only 17 shots on goal in the entire contest and allowing almost 3 times as many, it's undeniable that Lamoureux saved the day.

Also, assists on Matt Clarke's goal? New guy Reber and Lamoureux. Very nice.

Thumbs up to Paul McIlveen on the only shootout goal of the contest. Sweet shot . . . and that's really all we have to say about that.

On to the playoffs.

Stars of the Game -

1. UTA - J. Lamoureux
2. UTA - M. Clarke
3. UTA - P. McIlveen

Links -
post game || J.P. Lamoureux Leads Utah To 2-1 Shootout Win
gamesheet || Bakersfield at Utah - 4/2/11
highlights || Game Highlights 4/2/11 vs Bakersfield
interview || Leigh Mendleson 4/2/11 post game
interview || Matt Reber 4/2/11 intermission

Post Game: Condors 3, Grizzlies 1

Grizzlies lose.

In some sort of sick April Fool's day twist, the Grizzlies played surprisingly well but still lost to the Condors 3-1 in front of a record high crowd. There were a few breakdowns - which of course lead to Bakersfield's goals - and some missed chances, but otherwise not much that we have to complain about.

Great job by both goalies. Engelage had some help in front of the net and only allowed 2 goals on 33 shots. However, we do have to give some respect to Condor's goalie Stewart who had a wildly successful game, stopping 39 of the 40 Grizzlies' shots he saw. Damn.

The boys played some good defense and had a much better effort on the forecheck than we've seen in their recent losing streak. While the first goal from Bakersfield came in the 1st, Utah was able to calm things down and keep the Condors at bay until the 3rd. The Grizzlies' sole goal was shorthanded from Carpentier and Carroll who were probably happy to get such an essential goal after getting their asses kicked so heinously on the road.

Nice job on the PK; would love to see the power play come together again.

Get the win tomorrow to close out the season, boys.

Stars of the Game -

1. BAK - S. Goulet
2. UTA - H. Carpentier
3. BAK - B. Stewart

Links -
post game || Record-High Crowd Sees Grizzlies Fall 3-1
gamesheet || Bakersfield at Utah - 4/1/11
highlights || Game Highlights 4/1/11 vs Bakersfield
interview || Leigh Mendleson 4/1/11 post game
interview || David Schulz 4/1/11 intermission

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Bakersfield Condors

Well, this is it. The Grizzlies' last two games of the regular season will be played this weekend at the Maverik Center. Two more games for the team to convince us that the playoffs will be something to look forward to, and not a volcanic meltdown. We're hoping by Saturday night we're partying like it's 1999 as opposed to the last days of Pompeii.

Let's face it, the Grizzlies have been less than stellar in their last few games. In fact, they've only won 2 of their last 10, which isn't exactly ideal going into the post season. That's not to say they couldn't come out and blow away their first round opponent, but it helps to be on a little bit of a streak that isn't losing. We have faith, however, that they can take care of these last two games and get a better streak started. We'd hate to see them just give up after everything they've accomplished this season.

Utah does have a lot of injuries right now, and has been playing somewhat shorthanded. Last weekend there were 6 players that were not able to go to Anchorage with the team, and they were again without 5 of those players on Wednesday in Idaho. As of writing this post, we have no information on whether or not any of those players will be back this weekend, but we do know that JP Lamoureux has returned from Abbotsford to help out. That will be a welcome reinforcement for the team. Also, the Grizzlies have signed forward Matt Reber of Dartmouth to an amateur tryout. If we had to guess, we'd say that means Utah is still shorthanded. Welcome, Matt. (Pun intended.)

The Condors are at the top of their division, and have won 8 of their last 10 games, but they lost their last two. The last time Utah and Bakersfield squared off was in December - a win for Utah - so it's been a while. (That sounded... not how we meant it. Whatev.) After looking at some weird stats, our advice to Utah would be to not let Bakersfield score first, and to be ahead at the end of the 2nd period. Bakersfield's record when scoring first is 26-8-2. When the Grizzlies are ahead at the end of the 2nd, their record is 23-0-1. Pretty solid as weird statistics go. Utah has beaten Bakersfield 6 times this season out of 8. Also pretty solid. We're pretty sure they can get two more wins.

We're not going through the standings again this week. The Grizzlies are in, and that's all that matters at this point. Win or lose, once Saturday's game is done the slate is clean. No wins, no losses, no streaks - just a shot at the championship, just like everyone else who made it this far. We're just hoping for some entertaining hockey this weekend, a solid effort, and a couple of good warm-up games for the playoffs.

We heard a rumor that the playoffs could start as early as Monday, but to be honest, we're not even sure where we heard it, so don't hold us to that. We also heard that there will be an open skate after the game on Friday night. That was from the Grizzlies on twitter, so we're pretty sure that one is legit. $2 skate rental if you want to participate.

Two games left in the regular season - we can't believe it. Games Friday and Saturday at 7:00 pm at the Maverik Center. Time to get serious.

Post Game: Grizzlies 4, Condors 1

Well worth the weather.

There's not much left to say about this one. It was a great team game for a solid win. Everyone was present on the ice tonight, which made for some exciting hockey. We think Colley put it best in his post game: "When you have a great team game, you don't want to just pick out individuals. I'd have to give 18 stars tonight."

The power play was back in full swing with the Grizzlies picking up 2 goals on the man advantage. Also, the penalty kill came out on top with the boys killing all 5 short-handed situations that Utah saw. 5-on-5 play was great as well, both on the forecheck and backcheck. And Engelage was solid in net, stopping 23 of 24. Can't really ask for much more.

Nice to see Timmy Crowder on a goal streak.

It sounds like Bakersfield was running their mouths a bit through the game. Really, Bakersfield? Don't know you know yet how these things end?

Next game at home starts early at 6:05pm.

Game Photos -



Stars of the Game -

1. UTA - T. May
2. UTA - K. Deeth
3. UTA - A. Engelage

Links -
post game || Grizzlies Score Four-Straight To Beat Bakersfield 4-1
gamesheet || Bakersfield at Utah - 12/29/10
highlights || Game Highlights 12/29/10 vs Bakersfield
photos || 12/29/10 - Utah Grizzlies vs Bakersfield Condors
interview || Kevin Colley 12/29/10 post game
interview || Riley Emmerson 12/29/10 intermission

Game Day: Bakersfield Condors

Bakersfield tonight.

The Grizzlies are fresh off a road win in Las Vegas, which saw Kevin Deeth tally up another 3 points. This makes the rookie 3 points in the last 3 games according to Adrian Denny's game day blog. So, Bakersfield will definitely have their eyes on the Gig Harbor native.


In order to beat the stats, Utah will want to score first against the Condors who are 10-3-1 when they tally the first goal. With the top ranked power play in the ECHL and a firepower defenseman like Nick Tuzzolino, the Grizzlies should have ample ability to accomplish scoring the first goal of the night.

The Condor to watch for in this series is Stephane Goulet, who has picked up 7 points against Utah so far this season. And while we're kind of getting sick of Bakersfield (as the boys have played them 8 times already this year), this game will also be Brad Snetsinger's return to Grizzlies ice, as he was traded to the Condors about a week ago.

The Grizzlies are advertising that if you brave the weather, you can get a free voucher to the January 12th game. Not a bad deal if you can make it there.

Puck drops at 7:05pm.

Post Game: Grizzlies 3, Bakersfield 2

Three straight wins is pretty damn awesome.

Utah did a great job controlling this game from start to finish. Even though Bakersfield outshot the Grizzlies 42 to 18, the defense stopped a lot of the Condor speed without penalty which lead to fewer genuine scoring chances. And while the Grizzlies captured a win in the Robobank Arena on Wednesday, the boys looked much stronger on the backcheck tonight.

But of course we don't want to undermine the brilliance of JP Lamoureux here, either. JP stopped 40 of 42, where the first goal he allowed was generated from a breakdown in defense giving Condors numbers and speed on the goalie and the second in a 6 on 4 situation. On top of the numbers, Lamoureux again pulled out the stops to save the Grizzlies from their mistakes with some spectacular saves that left us cheering in delight and the Condors scratching their heads.

On the scoring end, we saw a lovely power play goal from Ruegsegger in the 2nd to increase the Grizzlies lead to 3-0. We'd been waiting to see more from this kid, so this makes us quite satisfied. Congrats to Brock and Marcus as well for their goals.

Also wanted to shine on Chris Donovan for his grit. Several times, Donovan controlled the puck and forced Bakersfield to chase him down, allowing for his teammates to complete a line change. At one instance in the 2nd after hitting the ice, Chris regained the puck and kept four Condors busy in the corner for at least 5 seconds. Color us impressed.

Just one more! Grizzlies vs Reign - Sunday, 6pm.

Stars of the Game -

1. UTA - J. Lamoureux
2. BAK - V. Trukhno
3. BAK - S. Goulet

Links -

post game || Grizzlies Roll 3-2 In Bakersfield; Win Third-Straight
gamesheet || Utah at Bakersfield - 11/27/10
highlights || Game Highlights 11/27/10 at Bakersfield
interview || Jason Fredricks 11/27/10 intermission

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs State of California

The Grizzlies got a solid win in Bakersfield on Wednesday, had a quick Thanksgiving break, and tonight they'll pick up right where they left off. Well, maybe not right where they left off, since they'll be in Stockton on Friday, back to Bakersfield on Saturday, and make a stop in Ontario on Sunday before heading back to Utah. If you Mapquest that, it's about 1280 miles, so the guys should all have plenty of travel time to write letters to their families.

First up for the weekend on Friday is Stockton, and they currently lead the Western Conference by one point. The Grizzlies are actually only one point behind them, but so are Alaska and Idaho. There is probably a way the Grizz could come out on top of the Conference by the end of this road trip, but it would involve some combination of other teams winning and losing, and quite frankly we're too lazy to figure it out. We do know, however, that beating Stockton would fit nicely into that combination. The Thunder have lost their last three games (one in a shootout) so they're not unbeatable, but they're also not going to give up the points without a good fight. Utah hasn't played Stockton yet this season, so they'll have to really keep their focus if they want a shot at the top spot in the west.

On Saturday, the Grizzlies show up in Bakersfield again looking for their second win there this week. Only two days ago, Brett Parnham scored twice for Utah in the first period, the second of which held up to be the game winner. We're hoping for a little deja-vu tomorrow. We figure Parnham has some make-up work to do for being out with injuries for so long. And we'll never complain about one of the Grizzlies scoring two goals in one game. Anyway, it's two more points in the standings toward that top spot, which we also won't complain about. So it looks as if two is the lucky number for the second game of the weekend.

Finally, the Grizz round out the California tour with a visit to the Ontario Reign. This will be the first time Utah plays Ontario this season. The next time will be next weekend in Utah, so the team could use this as a chance to get used to the Reign before they play again at home. We're sure we speak for all the fans when we say we'd really like to see a win at the Maverik Center. Anyway, the Reign are currently last in the conference, and have only won 3 of their last 10. However, like the Grizzlies, they play a pretty full schedule this weekend and will have two home games against Vegas before they host Utah on Sunday. And like the Grizzlies, we don't really know what their record will be by Sunday, so this should be an interesting match. Could this be the game that pushes the Grizzlies to the top of the Western Conference? We'd keep our fingers crossed, but that makes it hard to type, among other necessary things.

The Grizzlies have been up and down as of late, winning 5 of their last 10 games. They really haven't been able to get a solid streak going all season long. With a good win under their belts from Wednesday, and three more games in one weekend, maybe that streak is due. As Adrian Denny comments in his blog, the Grizzlies have had some really nice goaltending this season that has really helped them out in the standings. They may need it. Even though Stockton lost their last game, they outshot their opponent 43-13. Utah's defense will need to be on their toes if the team wants to start the weekend off right.

Tonight's game against Stockton starts at 8:30 pm. Tomorrow night's game in Bakersfield has an 8:00 pm puck drop, and Sunday's game will start at 6:00 pm. Here's hoping the Grizzlies make the Friday after Thanksgiving pretty black for California.

Post Game: Grizzlies 3, Condors 1

Well, hello Brett Parnham.

Grizzlies came out and played a full 60, which was nice to see after their home debacles. While the top of their 2nd period could still use some work, they were able to bounce back rather nicely and add a goal in the 3rd for the win.

The boys did a great job on the power play, with 2 of their 3 goals on the man advantage. Brett Parnham really turned things up, picking up both power play goals on his second game back. (We thought Tim Crowder had one of those, but it looks like they both went to Brett.) Marcus Carroll added his 3rd goal of the season to snatch the win from the Condors, 3-1. The Grizzlies had an additional goal, but it was waved off as the refs assessed it to be thrown in.

JP Lamoureux had a great comeback game, stopping 27 of 28 and earning himself the first star of the game. We also need to highlight Ferguson's fight, and his razzing of the crowd as he made his way off the ice. Nicely done.

Stars of the Game -

1. UTA - J. Lamoureux
2. UTA - B. Parnham
3. BAK - V. Trukhno

Links -

post game || Grizzlies Win 3-1 In Bakersfield
gamesheet || Utah at Bakersfield - 11/24/10
highlights || Game Highlights 11/24/10 at Bakersfield
interview || Andrew Engelage 11/24/10 intermission

On the Road Again . . .

The Grizzlies hit the road for the Thanksgiving holiday. The boys play 4 games in 5 nights, which is quite the schedule, but so far this season Utah has a better record on the road. Though, the Grizzlies have only played 4 games at home, so we don't know if that says much. They start out their road trip back in Bakersfield, which should make for an interesting match on Wednesday.

Since news is slow today, we decided to check on some former Grizzlies players in Europe.

James Sixsmith has picked up 6 points (2g, 4a) in 20 games with the Cologne Sharks in the DEL. We found this interview of Sixer on YouTube:



After looking up Sixsmith, we headed over to Croatia (figuratively speaking, of course) to check on the former Grizzlies captain Ryan Kinasewich.


Snatch has picked up 25 points (10g, 15a) in 20 games with the Medveščak Zagreb. We also found some clips of Ryan, but they've been dubbed so we can't be sure of what he's saying. We think we can hear ECHL and Utah Grizzlies in there somewhere . . .



In other ECHL news, former Steelheads goalie Richard Bachman picked up the Goalie of the Week award in the AHL. This doesn't surprise us for some reason . . . Bachman picked up all three wins in his 3 starts last week.

Best of luck on the road, Grizzlies!

A Well Deserved Award

The ECHL named Brad Snetsinger of our Grizzlies as the player of the week. This is very well deserved, as he racked up 6 points last week: 4 goals and 2 assists. He led in points for both the Grizzlies and the ECHL. This included an awesome hat trick. Sher-Wood Hockey will donate a box of pucks to youth hockey in Utah. (Thanks to the Utah Grizzlies website for that pic)

The Grizzlies also captured sole possession of the lead in the Mountain Division, one point above Alaska. Way to go, boys! Keep up the hard work.

More to be proud of: even though the Grizz have only played 2 home games of their 11 so far this season, the two biggest crowds they played for were the home games! Currently we rank 5th in the ECHL for number of people attending games. Hooray for the fans! (I'm really not making this up, you can read it here.)

Apparently our games in Bakersfield this past weekend resulted in some fines and suspensions. Rylan Kaip was fined an undisclosed amount for a major penalty and game misconduct in Friday's game, while Josh Tordjman was fined and suspended 6! games for physical abuse of officials during Saturday's game. Boy, don't pick on those guys in the black and white striped shirts, they don't take kindly to it! After digging a little deeper, it appears Tordjman was already frustrated by a shot that hit him hard under his pads on his collarbone. After the trainer looked him over and Tordjman returned to net, an official told him he was ready even though he felt he wasn't. Then the winning shot by Jackman went in the net. Tordjman tossed his stick in the air, which then landed on an official's head. Oops. You've got to control your frustration a little better there! Someone is going to get hurt!

"You can't be tossing your stick," Condors coach Marty Raymond said. "But he told the referee he wasn't ready."

Post Game: Condors 4, Grizzlies 3

Grizzlies lose.

The boys looked amazing in the 1st, picking up two goals and dominating the puck. Utah piled on 11 SOG to Bakersfield's 6. However, the Grizzlies didn't look so hot in the 2nd.

We'd mentioned before that the boys have been starting out the 2nd period sloppy, yet so far they'd been fortunate enough to hold on until the opposing team lost the post-intermission momentum. But last night, the Condors picked up 2 goals before the halfway mark of the period to tie things up and snatch control away from Utah. We'd actually been waiting for one of the opposing teams to realize that the Grizzlies were slower in the beginning of the middle frame and take full advantage of that, so we weren't particularly surprised when the Condors figured it out.

We were a little surprised at some of the calls in the top of the 3rd, though. Yeah, if you were watching on the B2, you saw the leveling hit on Morency that took him out of the game . . . several hundred times. To us, it looked clean: Morency had the puck, his head was up, but the Grizzlies ended up shorthanded. Fair enough - this is the ECHL after all and we're not officials.

But honestly, Kaip . . . what was with the joke move on Tuzzolino before the puck dropped? Cute one, chief.

Utah improved on their power play, going 2 for 6 on the man advantage. I'm sure this was a relief to Colley after the 0 for 7 job the boys pulled on Wednesday. We'd like to see them keep improving on this tonight (and we're sure Colley would, too).

Stars of the Game -

*Wha? All from Bakersfield. Whatevs.

Links -
post game || Grizzlies fall 4-3 in Bakersfield
gamesheet || Utah at Bakersfield - 11/12/10
highlights || Game Highlights 11/12/10 at Bakersfield
interview || Matt Clarke 11/12/10 intermission

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Bakersfield Condors

The Grizzlies are still stuck in Bakersfield, right at the start of Tule fog season. Not that the fog has anything to do with this weekend's match up, but it came up when we Googled Bakersfield, and we thought it was kind of cool. Then again, according to Adrian Denny's game day blog, the Condors have been outscored 19-4 in their last four games. Maybe they are playing in a fog after all.

The thing to remember about fog, however, is that it eventually lifts, and when it does, the Condors are going to attack with the ferocity of seven suns. (Being stuck in fog will do that to you.) The Grizzlies need to be ready for this. After a strong showing on Wednesday, they need to be able to come out just as strong this weekend, if not stronger, if they want their four points. They're currently second in the division behind Alaska. Both have 14 points, but Alaska has played one less game.

Even though they were awesome in their last game, one thing the Grizz can improve on is their power play. They went 0-7 on Wednesday - more like a powerless play. Another thing Utah needs to watch out for is keeping the score at least tied through the first two periods. The Condors are 4-0-0 when leading after the second, so they're good at holding a lead and shutting it down in the third.

Riley Emmerson has been activated off the IR, so we expect him to return to the line up for Utah tonight. Kevin Deeth will be out - he's now on the IR. Brad Snetsinger has five points against the Condors already this season, so we're hoping he can keep up this trend. Another hat trick would be nice... but we'll take whatever we can get. Hopefully that's a couple of wins.

Both Friday and Saturday night's games start at 8:00 pm and will be broadcast on KFAN 1230 AM. You can also listen online, or watch online pay per view. Live scoring updates are also available on the ECHL website, or the Grizzlies' Twitter page.

We can see clearly now... six points for the Grizzlies emerging from the fog in Bakersfield.

Post Game: Grizzlies 4, Condors 2

Grizzlies win. Bakersfield looked so depressed we wanted to feel bad for them, but we figured turnabout is fair play.

While the talk of the night was definitely the Snetsinger hat trick, we also wanted to highlight the goaltending of the second star of the game. Engelage was solid throughout the show, stopping the first 24 shots he saw. It's hard to express how much solid goaltending has done for this Grizzlies team on the back end, but Andrew definitely carries his weight and more in every contest. Thumbs up.

We noticed Riley Armstrong shares his brother's habit for checking himself into the boards.

We couldn't help but notice that the boys started out the 2nd period a little sloppy yet again, but were fortunate enough to hold on until the shorthanded second goal put some wind in their sails. There were some pretty goals in this game. And of course, Brad Snetsinger with a hat trick, which means we get to post this:


Nicely done, Brad.

We could snark about the power play, but . . . we're not gonna.

And also, just a quick hats off to former Grizzly Vladimir Nikiforov for his power play goal which brought the Condors to 2.

The only question we were left with at the end of the night was - what in the hell is the goalie from Slap Shot doing in Bakersfield?


He did want to get traded after all . . .

Go Grizzlies!

Stars of the Game -

1. UTA - B. Snetsinger
2. UTA - A. Engelage
3. BAK - J. Lepine

Links -

post game || Grizzlies Continue To Roll On Road: Beat Bakersfield 4-2
gamesheet || Utah @ Bakersfield - 11/10/10
highlights || Game Highlights 11/10/10 at Bakersfield
interview || Paul Crowder 11/10/10 intermission

Game Day: Bakersfield Condors

The Grizzlies are in Bakersfield today.

While Bakersfield totally squashed the Grizzlies 5-0 in the home opener, Utah has had the time to gel over the last few weeks. The Grizzlies have collected at least a point when being within one goal of their opponents. They stand at a 3-0-2 unbeaten streak in single goal difference games, and Goalie Engelage is fifth in the ECHL in save percentages, touting a 0.927, so the Grizzlies will definitely be looking to him to make some big saves in the Golden State.

On the other hand Bakersfield has a winning record of 4-0-0 when leading after 2 periods, so the Grizzlies will have to keep on top of their game to stay ahead. The Condors also picked up defenseman Brandon Milnamow from the Idaho Steelheads, as we mentioned yesterday, to help pick up their back end as they have recently gone winless in 5 straight games. Adrian Denny put it in his game day blog "In the Condors case, they have got to be especially cranky after being shutout twice and outscored 15-2 in three games Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Stockton last weekend."

Yep. That would make just about anyone cranky.

It sounds like the Crowders/Carpentier line might be back together for this game, which we're excited to see after their performance in Las Vegas last Friday. Those boys can definitely score, now we look to the Grizzlies to focus on keeping the other team at bay after they grab a lead.

Puck drops at 8:00pm MST. Pregame starts at 7:40.

Post Game: Condors 5, Grizzlies 0

Well, no way to sugar coat it. This is not how we pictured the home opener. While the effort was there as demonstrated by the shot count, the talk of the night was the shots against vs goals allowed. As Colley called it in his post game, a couple of lucky bounces and a couple of minor breakdowns and the Grizzlies were down 4 goals.

And while we definitely missed the trademark Kinasewich slapper from the circle, we were much more impressed with the overall team effort. Since we bitched all last season about playing a full 60, it was more than a relief to see Gannon and the boys playing until the bitter end. Again, from Colley: "We can't be looking at the scoreboard and feeling sorry for ourselves that we're down 2-nil. We have to go to work." This has been Colley's message for the past few years and we feel like this season the Grizzlies have a team that can accomplish this.

And JP . . . Hey, buddy - it could be worse.


Stars of the Game -
Yeah . . . we're not posting these today (for Joni's sanity).

Game Photos -



Links -

post game || Condors Spoil Opening Night in Utah
gamesheet || Bakersfield at Utah - 10/22/10
interview || Kevin Colley 10/22/10 post game
photos || 10/22/10 - Utah Grizzlies vs Bakersfield Condors

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Bakersfield Condors

And now, we bring you... the Maverik Center.

Okay, so it's been around a while now, but for Grizzlies fans, this will be the first hockey game played in the newly-named arena. We're guessing it will be pretty much the same as the old E Center, but we're still excited. Mainly just for hockey. It has been way too long.

The name of the arena isn't the only thing that has changed for the Grizzlies, and we're really excited to get a good look at the new team on home ice. This weekend will be our only chance for a while too, because the Grizz take off for 8 straight road games come next week. So if you're starved for hockey like we are, you'd better get down to the ice Friday and Saturday.

The Grizzlies face the Bakersfield Condors for their home opener. The Condors have only played one game against Las Vegas so far this season, which was a 3-4 loss, so they're looking for their first win. The Grizzlies have not lost in regulation yet, and hope to continue that streak in front of their home fans.

There is a lot of optimism about this year's team, especially from Head Coach Kevin Colley. In an interview with Deseret News's Dan Rasmussen he said, "Our back end should be just as good, if not better, than anybody else in the Western Conference." We're not going to comment on anyone's back end, but we do like what we've heard about how hard this team works. We saw it ourselves in training camp. Finally we get a home game to see how it all works together on ice.

The Grizz do have a lot of guys returning this season, but among the newcomers are previous ECHL Goaltender of the Year J. P. Lamoureux, and Stanley Cup winning defenseman Ric Jackman. (Read a little about Jackman's day with the Cup here.) They've also got a new assistant coach behind the bench - Leigh Mendelson. Welcome to all the newbies, and welcome back to all our guys from last season!

Don't forget - this Saturday is the annual Pink in the Rink promotion, where the guys wear pink jerseys in support of the fight against breast cancer, and the jerseys are auctioned off after the game. They also turn the ice pink, which makes it look kind of like the leftover milk after eating a bowl of Frankenberry cereal.

Home opener tonight - puck drops at 7:05 pm. See you there.

Post Game: Grizzlies 7, Condors 4

Utah piled on 7 goals for their 2 points, but the Condors definitely kept things interesting for the Grizzlies during this match up.

Bakersfield struck first for the second night in a row 5:01 into the 1st. The Grizzlies responded on the power play to tie things before the end of the period, 1-1. At the top of the 2nd, Perry gave Utah their first lead of the night, but the Condors were quick to respond and tie it once again, 2-2. The Grizzlies regained their lead with a goal from Clarke, then another from Hunter to build their lead before the end of the middle frame, 4-2.

In the 3rd, Utah increased their lead to 3 with a goal from May. The Condors quickly followed up with two of their own, bringing the deficit to a single goal, 5-4. But the Grizzlies tacked on two more goals, one from Sixsmith and the final goal from Kinasewich, to expand on their lead and seal the deal, 7-4.

From the official post game:

The Utah Grizzlies (32-28-4-5) defeated the Bakersfield Condors 7-4 Saturday night at the E-Center before 7,772 fans. The win guarantees Utah a winning season and their fourth season of .500 or better in the last five years.

Utah scored two goals in a 15-second span in the final 1:05 to break a 5-4 score and make it 7-4. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies Win Home Finale 7-4
highlights || Game Highlights 3/27/10 vs Bakersfield
gamesheet || Bakersfield at Utah - 3/27/10
photos || 3/27/10 - Utah Grizzlies vs Bakersfield Condors
interview || Kevin Colley 3/27/10 post game
interview || Tim Maxwell 3/27/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Photo of the Game:

2nd period - Marcus Carroll hustles for the puck after the faceoff.


Additional Photos: [Flickr]




Scoring Summary:

BAK A. Naglich (14), 5:01 1st period (Eichenlaub, Menei); Bakersfield 1, Grizzlies 0
UTA J. Sixsmith (23), 10:49 1st period (Maxwell, Hunter); Bakersfield 1, Grizzlies 1
UTA A. Perry (29), 2:31 2nd period (Vandermeer, Kinasewich); Bakersfield 1, Grizzlies 2
BAK D. Kissel (4), 3:13 2nd period (Ianiero, Goulet); Bakersfield 2, Grizzlies 2
UTA M. Clarke (4), 12:47 2nd period (Koskinen); Bakersfield 2, Grizzlies 3
UTA D. Hunter (16), 17:32 2nd period (Kinasewich, Vandermeer); Bakersfield 2, Grizzlies 4
UTA T. May (25), 2:56 3rd period (Sixsmith, Crowder); Bakersfield 2, Grizzlies 5
BAK A. Naglich (15), 4:22 3rd period (Kemp, Guyer); Bakersfield 3, Grizzlies 5
BAK M. Voakes (11), 17:40 3rd period (Kissel, Regan); Bakersfield 4, Grizzlies 5
UTA J. Sixsmith (24), 18:55 3rd period (Crowder); Bakersfield 4, Grizzlies 6
UTA R. Kinasewich (45), 19:10 3rd period; Bakersfield 4, Grizzlies 7


What Worked Well: Taking the puck to the net
Unfortunately, we don't have a replay of every goal, but a good handful of those goals came from taking the puck deep and right up to the net: Perry, May, Sixsmith - all had goals by swooping down right in front of the net. Nice work.

What Could Have Worked Better: Staying out of the box
The Grizzlies didn't allow Bakersfield as many chances as they did last night, but it's still something that could use a little improvement. There were also a couple of ill-timed penalties, including a shorthanded 5-on-3 situation that probably could have been avoided.

Who Made the Difference: James Sixsmith
While we saw a pretty sweet game from the Grizzlies, James Sixsmith definitely lead the pack tonight. With two goals and an assist on the gamewinner, Sixer was continually in the right place at the right time and propelling all the Grizzlies forward.


Stars of the Game:

1. UTA - J. Sixsmith
2. UTA - D. Hunter
3. UTA - P. Vandermeer


Additional Notes:

> Five Grizzlies had multiple point nights: James Sixsmith (2g, 1a), Dylan Hunter (1g 1a), Ryan Kinasewich (1g, 2a), Peter Vandermeer (2a), and Tim Crowder (2a).
> Mikko Koshkinen stopped 26 out of 30 shots and picked up an assist in the contest.
> Ryan Kinasewich picked up his 45th goal of the season and currently leads the league in goals.

Post Game: Condors 5, Grizzlies 4 (OT)

Stunned. That's definitely how we felt after tonight's contest. From a stellar 1st to losing a lead twice to dropping the game in overtime, the boys ran out of steam in this surreal post-regulation loss.

Bakersfield picked up the first goal of the night. The Grizzlies responded with 3 of their own before the end of the initial frame, starting with a short-handed goal by Perry and extended with a goal by Crowder which increased Utah's lead, 3-1. The Grizzlies picked up a 4th goal in the 1st, but it was waved off for interference. The 2nd period remained scoreless for both teams, but in the 3rd the Condors picked up two quick goals to tie things up. The Grizzlies responded with another Perry goal to regain the lead again, but Bakersfield was ready and tied the game with a shorthanded goal to send it past regulation.

Bakersfield scored the game winner 3:38 into overtime to grab the two points. Utah picked up a point in the loss.

From the official post game:

The Bakersfield Condors defeated the Utah Grizzlies (31-28-4-5) 5-4 in overtime Friday night at the E-Center before 5,810 fans. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies Collect Point In 5-4 Overtime Loss
highlights || Game Highlights 3/26/10 vs Bakersfield
gamesheet || Bakersfield at Utah - 3/26/10
photos || 3/26/10 - Utah Grizzlies vs Bakersfield Condors
interview || Tim Crowder 3/26/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Photo of the Game:

1st period - Colley and the boys watch from the bench as Galbraith knocks one in.

Additional Photos: [Flickr]



Scoring Summary:

BAK R. Menei (17), 5:22 1st period (McCue, Pielmeier); Condors 1, Grizzlies 0
UTA A. Perry (27), 9:39 1st period (Clarke, Sixsmith); Condors 1, Grizzlies 1
UTA D. Hunter (15), 13:39 1st period (Kinasewich, Vandermeer); Condors 1, Grizzlies 2
UTA T. Crowder (10), 16:50 1st period (Galbraith, McJannet); Condors 1, Grizzlies 3
BAK D. Kissel (2), 0:38 3rd period (Pokulok, Regan); Condors 2, Grizzlies 3
BAK A. Ianiero (16), 10:41 3rd period; Condors 3, Grizzlies 3
UTA A. Perry (28), 14:06 3rd period (Kinasewich, Vandermeer); Condors 3, Grizzlies 4
BAK D. Kissel (3), 18:19 3rd period (Voakes, Pielmeier); Condors 4, Grizzlies 4
BAK S. Pokulok (12), 3:38 Overtime (Ianiero, Regan); Condors 5, Grizzlies 4


What Worked Well: Penalty Kill
Utah killed off 6 of the 7 penalties they saw, including a 5-on-3 situation which ultimately resulted in the shorthanded Perry goal in the 1st. And on a lot of the man advantages for the Condors, Bakersfield was never able to set things up. Very nicely done.

What Could Have Worked Better: 3rd period
By the 3rd period the boys weren't looking to win, they were looking to defend which left a lot of openings and lackadaisical play, and in the end just didn't cut it. We're used to seeing an awesome last 5 minutes of the game, so this was somewhat of a shock. Do it better.

Who Made the Difference: AJ Perry
No matter which way we looked at it, AJ Perry came out on top. 2 goals on 2 SOG, ending the game with a +2 and picking up 2 PIM, Perry was all over offense as well as defense and did a great job on both the PK and the 5-on-5. Perry's another one of those guys like Sixsmith or Hunter who are so damn consistant they can sometimes be overlooked. Just another great job by Perry.


Stars of the Game:

1. UTA - A. Perry
2. BAK - D. Kissel
3. BAK - S. Pokulok


Additional Notes:

> Three Grizzlies had mulitpoint nights: AJ Perry (2g), Ryan Kinasewich (2a), and Peter Vandermeer (2a).
> Mitch O'Keefe stopped 30 of 35 shots in the losing effort.
> James Sixsmith celebrated his 26th birthday tonight and celebrated with an assist. Happy birthday, James!

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Bakersfield Condors

First of all, we apologize for not having a write-up from the last game on the 24th. No one from our staff actually saw or heard the game. Okay, so there are only two of us, and one of us has a night job during the week. The other one of us was scratched from the lineup due to flu-like symptoms. We have no affiliates so we couldn't call anyone up to fill in for the night. And one of us got suspended a game for hitting ourselves in the head while getting in the car this morning, and will probably be out a couple of games with a concussion. (We're not telling you which one that was.) Grizzblog staff is not making the playoffs.





Anyway, on Wednesday night the Grizzlies beat Bakersfield 7-4 with Coach Colley in the press box. Apparently Colley got slapped with a one-game suspension. When we first heard about that, we were hoping it was for something like an elbow to the head, but it was only because of a paperwork mix-up. Not quite as exciting. He'll be back behind the bench this weekend.

Moving on to the weekend, the Grizzlies play their last two regular season games at the E Center on Friday and Saturday against the Bakersfield Condors. These two teams have met six times this season, and the Condors have won four of those six. With the last two games, the Grizzlies can even the season. Bakersfield is three points ahead of the Grizzlies in the playoff race, so if Utah can beat them twice in regulation this weekend, they can pass them. Utah has mostly looked good lately - they've won nine of their last eleven games at home - and we're hoping they are finally coming together (with five games left) after a revolving door of a season.

As far as the playoff race goes, only Idaho is guaranteed a spot in the National Conference... still. For the rest of the teams, it's a toss-up. We may not know who is in until the last game of the season. It's almost like musical chairs, only nobody is taking any chairs away. We're not sure how that works, but musical chairs was always one of our least favorite party games, so the idea kind of makes us want to put on Rod Stewart, Minnie Riperton, or the chicken dance song just to torture whoever is in charge of the party.

The Grizz will be missing forward Simon Ferguson - he's been loaned to the Hershey Bears of the AHL. Malcom MacMillan has been activated from the IR, and is expected to be in the lineup.

Also, this weekend is Fan Appreciation Weekend, and if you're totally into Slap Shot, you can go have your picture taken with the Hanson brothers at the E Center on Saturday. We heard there are no guarantees, however, that they won't try to fight you. There will also be a post-game party at Chili's across from the E Center on Saturday where you can get posters signed by the entire team. And maybe even Adrian Denny. On Friday, there will be a post-game skate with the team, so bring your skates. For more information on this weekend's activities, see the Grizzlies official website.

Both Friday's and Saturday's games will start at 7:05 pm at the E Center. Come cheer the Grizzlies on in their final two home games of the season!

Around the League: ECHL 2/22/10

Bakersfield has been selected to host the 2011 ECHL All-Star Classic. This is the first time the All-Star game will be held in Bakersfield, who will be celebrating 16 years of ECHL hockey next season. The 2011 All-Star game is scheduled for January 26.

Bakersfield, who ranks in the top 20% of minor league hockey attendence nationwide and 5th in the ECHL, is an ideal setting for the 2011 Classic due to it's enthusiastic hockey fan base. Not only will Bakersfield receive the honor of hosting the match, but the competition draws fans from across the nation and generates over $1 million in revenue for the hosting town. This will be the second consecutive All-Star Classic to be held in a National Division city; the 2010 game was hosted by Ontario.

Three Utah Grizzlies attended this year's All-Star Classic in Ontario: Ryan Kinasewich, AJ Perry, and Vic Bartley. DVDs of this season's game can be purchased at the ECHL's website for $15.

And now for your other ECHL headlines . . .

American Conference
NORTH:

The Cincinnati Cyclones (35-17-1-2) are currently pushing double digits with an unbeaten streak of 10 games.

Forward Andrew Fournier of the Kalamazoo Wings (27-17-4-3) celebrates 100 games in his professional career.

Evan Rankin of the Toledo Walleye (28-23-1-3) scored five goals on February 19, against Charlotte. Ouch!

The Wheeling Nailers (27-25-2-2) are currently in the midst of a 4 game losing streak.


EAST:

League points leader Tyler Donati picked up his first career hat trick and is in the middle of a 9 game goal-scoring streak for the Elmira Jackals (30-18-3-2). That's the longest since Tom May's 10 game streak last season.

Olivier Labelle returned to the Reading Royals (25-23-1-3) lineup this week after being on the IR since January 23, and missing 8 games.

Matt Volkes of the Trenton Devils (22-23-4-5) scored four goals in the Devils' fourth straight win on February 21.

The Johnstown Chiefs (14-32-5-3) have partnered with the Johnstown Area Heritage Association for a Heritage Day which offers discounted tickets to visitors to the museum.


SOUTH:

The Carolina Stingrays (35-15-4-5) president is moving up to the AHL. Darren Abbott will take over as the AHL Monarch's president in February.

The Florida Everblades (28-19-4-5) currently hold the season record for games going to shootouts at 11 so far this season.

It's kind of old news by now, but the Charlotte Checkers (29-17-3-3) have officially received approval to move to the AHL next season.

The Gwinnett Gladiators (25-23-3-2) are holding their second blood drive of the season. The slogan? "Give Blood. Play Hockey. (Or just donate. It's less painful)"


National Conference
PACIFIC:

The Bakersfield Condors (28-18-4-1) have been selected to host the 2011 ECHL All-Star Game.

Brad Rowbotham of the SC Hockey Franchise Corporation signed an asset puchase agreement acquiring the Stockton Thunder (24-18-2-6) on Monday.

The Las Vegas Wranglers (22-24-4-2) signed defenseman Mat Deschamps to a contract this week.

The Ontario Reign (21-25-3-4) have won their last 3 games. Nice job for the Reign.


WEST:

Ashton Rome has returned to the Idaho Steelheads (34-12-1-4) from the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

The Victoria Salmon Kings (30-19-4-2) enjoyed their time this past week playing at the E-Center, which hosted the Winter Games in 2002.

Frank Doyle of the Alaska Aces (26-23-3-2) has signed a PTO with the AHL's Worcester Sharks.

Ryan Kinasewich, who currently ranks third in both point and goal leaders in the ECHL, returned to the Utah Grizzlies (24-21-2-5) this week from the AHL's Sound Tigers. Welcome back, Kinasewich!