Seven-year-old Matthew Scott Clendenen had a chance to meet a professional hockey player.
He then dropped the ceremonial first puck.
For Matthew, it was a big moment during the March 20 Condors game against the Tacoma Sabercats at Centennial Garden.
He replaced his grandmother, who was supposed to drop the puck because she is a representative of Univision, a sponsor of the Bakersfield Condors.
During the game, the team held its chuck-a-puck event, in which fans throw foam rubber pucks onto the ice, aiming for a target. No one won the prize offered that night, which was a Playstation 2.
The Condors won the game 6-4, making it the 26th win for the Condors this season.
However, despite their success, the Condors are ranked fourth in the Southern Division of the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL).
Condors’ center, Jason Firth, completed a hat trick in the game. He scored three goals, two of which were in the first five minutes of hockey action.
The Condors have two mascots, Colonel Claw’d and Condor Cal, who cheered on the players and kept the crowd involved.
They also entertain the crowd during the breaks before the Zamboni smoothed the ice in preparation for the next period.
The Condors are battling for the 2002 Taylor Cup.
The team is playing in a first round best of five series against first place San Diego Gulls.
The playoffs began April 12 in San Diego. The Condors lost 5-2.
The Taylor Cup is the WCHL’s version of the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup.