On Thursday, the Bakersfield Condors signed four players to two-way deals, as they continue to prepare for the 2024-25 AHL season. The news was confirmed on their official team site.
The four players signed included goaltender Brett Brouchu, blueliners Darren Brady and Tyler Inamoto, as well as forward Alex Swetlikoff. The Condors have been extremely busy of late, with them signing head coach Colin Chaulk to a contract extension and rounding out their coaching staff.
Brochu is arguably the standout signing of the four, with his career highlight to date being winning the Jim Rutherford Trophy in 2021-22, as the OHL's best goalie. He went 29-11-2 in 43 games, as he produced a .911 save percentage and 2.75 Goals Against Average (GAA).
The undrafted 21-year-old played three seasons with the OHL's London Knights in total. In that time he had a 89-34-4 record in 132 games, with a combined .910 save percentage and 2.67 GAA.
Brochu spent this past season with the ECHL's Fort Wayne Comets, going just 7-11-1 in 20 games but still producing an encouraging .920 save percentage and 2.66 GAA. He also made one loan appearance for the AHL's Manitoba Moose, saving all six shots he faced in 20 minutes of action.
Some veteran experience
Brady is the oldest player of the four, at 28-years-old. He played four seasons in the NCAA with Rochester Institute of Technology, which included 37 points, 52 penalty minutes and a 0 rating.
Since 2020-21, the Lake Orion, Michigan native has spent most of his time in the ECHL, including this past season, when he produced 21 points, 12 penalty minutes and a +1 rating in 50 games. However, he also has 54 career games in the AHL, including 50 in 2022-23 with the San Jose Barracuda, when he had nine points, 33 penalty minutes and a +5 rating.
Fellow defenceman Inamoto, is notable for being selected in the fifth round of the 2017 draft, by the Florida Panthers. Renowned at university for being physical and unafraid to get down and dirty, his leadership style also saw he named as an assistant captain for his final two years at the University of Wisconsin.
After leaving university, the 25-year-old had a solid 2022-23 campaign with the ECHL's Greenville Swap Rabbits, with eight points, 30 penalty minutes and a +5 rating in 36 games. He's also spent time in the AHL these past few seasons, with 15 combined games for the Ontario Reign, including six in 2023-24, when he produced two points, four penalty minutes and a -1 rating in six appearances.
A physical forward
Finally we turn to Swetlikoff, who played four seasons in the WHL. His best campaign was his final one in 2021-22, with the Everett Silvertips, when he produced career highs of 84 points and a +19 rating -- as well as 69 penalty minutes -- in 68 games.
Since then, the 23-year-old has spent two seasons mostly with the ECHL's Savannah Ghost Pirates, with 71 points and 114 penalty minutes in 92 total games. However, he also played 19 times for the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights this past season, albeit with just three points (all goals) and four penalty minutes.
The Condors are one of just two Pacific Division teams to qualify for the AHL playoffs in each of the past five seasons. They will be hoping to continue this streak in 2024-25, and it will be interesting to see how much their four new signings contribute.