Bakersfield Condors @ Valencia Flyers

On Friday Oct. 8th I was given the opportunity to watch my first junior game. The Bakersfield Condors traveled to Valencia to play the Flyers, only to be disappointed with the results.

For the first time I watched a game that wasn't at NHL status that spectators actually paid to see. The stands were almost full and the cafe above the rink was full as well, needless to say, the flyers have a great following for junior ice hockey.

Of course, the higher the level of play the more to expect from the game. The first whistle was blown at 19:20 in the first period and the clock was stopped just as frequently throughout the game.

The excellent defense from the Condors was no match for the even better offense brought by the Flyers. At the end of the game the score was 6-2 Valencia with 36 shots on goal to Bakersfield's 28.

Again, we have another example of kids playing at Ice Town going places with hockey. The starting goalie for the Flyers was Taylor Nelson, another kid who grew up playing in Riverside, CA.

But with a normal game with higher level of skill, the highlight of the game for me was seeing my first REAL hockey fight...and by real I mean, gloves and buckets off and fists flying.

The kid from Bakersfield, a lot bigger and older than the kid from Valencia, wailed on him, it was very intense (: