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Grover's Addition Could Be
Source Of Condors Turnaround

March 25, 2009

By Mike Griffith
Californian Staff Writer
The Bakersfield Californian

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Defenseman Donny Grover can laugh about it now, but he wasn't laughing back in early January when he learned the Cincinnati Cyclones were trading him to Bakersfield.

"It hit me off guard," Grover said. "I was playing really well and thought 'what the hell? These guys are in last place. I'm not going.'"

Grover's first inclination was to seek employment in Europe, where he spent the last half of the previous season, but after talking with Condors coach Marty Raymond, he decided to give the Condors a try.

Once Grover, 25, arrived in Bakersfield and got a few games under his belt he wondered why the Condors hadn't been winning.

"I couldn't believe this team was in last place with so many good players," Grover said. "Our forwards could be the best group of forwards I've ever played with and it was baffling as to why they hadn't won more games."

Thirty-two games after his arrival the Condors are among the hottest teams in the ECHL.

Bakersfield is 16-4-1 over its last 21 games, has climbed to .500 for the first time since Oct. 29 and is in control of its playoff destiny.

"The first few games after I got here we were struggling but I just kind of think we came together as a team and everybody started doing their jobs," Grover said. "Scorers are helping out the D, guy like (defenseman) Chris Kaufman are helping out by scoring a goal and (captain) Jay Langager got in just before me and really helped out with the leadership."

When the Condors started winning in early February, they had the services of Matt Pope (63 points) and Chad Painchaud (64 points), who are both now in the American Hockey League. The Condors have continued to win without them which is not surprising to Grover, who cited Mike Wirll and Bruce Graham as two of several players who have stepped up their play.

"I played against Mike Wirll and Bruce Graham a couple of years ago and they were really hard to play against," he said. "I knew (from) playing against them they were good and I was kind of surprised they didn't have the numbers.

"Maybe the first half of the season didn't go too well for them, sort of like it didn't go too well for me."

Wirll has been on top of his game recently, netting 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) over the last 21 games. Graham has 15 points during that time and Grover has helped out from his defensive position with 14 points, including the game-winning goal 24 seconds into overtime against Stockton on Saturday night.

"It was a great play by everyone on the ice (which led to a 3-on-2 rush)," Grover said of his latest goal. "(Dave) Bonk moved the puck over to me, it hit their D-man and I pulled it aside and whacked it in," he said. "We were playing for .500 and wanted that win. It was also our first overtime win and now we have the confidence we can win in any situation."

The Condors have five games left to secure a playoff position and Grover sees no reason the team should falter.

"Our confidence level is high," he said. "For a while only the first line was scoring but now everyone is chipping in," he said. "Now if one guy is not having a good night others are there to step up. Whether it's scoring goals or (Liam) Huculak and (Jason) Bailey going out and fighting, it's all about the team right now."

And about that move to Bakersfield.

"It's turned out great," Grover said.

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