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Hockey Operations Bios
BAKERSFIELD CONDORS COACHING STAFF
Head Coach Jay Woodcroft
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Woodcroft was named the second head coach in Condors AHL history on April 27, 2018. He received an extension through 2022.
In his first season (2018-19) behind the bench in Bakersfield, Woodcroft led the team to its first-ever AHL Pacific Division title, regular season Western Conference title, AHL Calder Cup Playoffs berth, and Calder Cup Playoffs series victory. The team’s 42 wins were the most-ever for the Condors organization. During the season, the team won 17 consecutive games, all in regulation or overtime, tied for the second longest streak in AHL history. Five Condors made their NHL debuts in 2018-19 with Edmonton.
The Condors captured their second division title in 2020-21, defeating the Henderson Silver Knights two games to one. In his tenure, 10 players have made their NHL debuts with the Edmonton Oilers, most recently with the promotion of C Ryan McLeod.
The Toronto native spent 13 seasons in the NHL coaching ranks, including three in Edmonton and seven in San Jose. Prior to joining San Jose, Woodcroft spent three seasons on the Detroit Red Wings coaching staff from 2005-08, including their 2008 Stanley Cup Championship season. Internationally, Woodcroft won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2015 Men’s World Championships.
Woodcroft has been a part of 428 regular season wins, five Western Conference titles, six Division titles, three Presidents’ Trophies and a Stanley Cup championship. He graduated from the University of Alabama-Huntsville, where he was an Academic All-American and graduated with a degree in finance.
Assistant Coach Dave Manson
Dave Manson was announced as an assistant coach with the Condors on June 4, 2018. Under his tutelege, D Caleb Jones made his NHL debut in 2018-19, William Lagesson in 2019-20, and the Condors finished fourth in goals against per game in the AHL. The team had the top penalty killing unit in 2020-21. Manson worked with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 2011-18 as both an assistant and associate coach. It was his second stint with the Raiders after being an assistant coach with the team from 2002-09. During his most recent time with the Raiders he helped develop first-round NHL selections C Leon Draisaitl (#3, EDM, 2014), D Josh Morrissey (#13, WPG, 2013), and C Mark McNeill (#18, CHI, 2011).
As a player, the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native played 1,103 NHL games for Chicago, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Phoenix, Montreal, Dallas, and Toronto. The d-man notched 390 points (102g-288a) and 2,792 penalty minutes over his 16-year NHL career. His penalty minutes total is 13th most all-time in NHL history. He was drafted in the 1st round, 11th overall of the 1985 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. His son Josh is a d-man with the Anaheim Ducks.
Assistant Coach Colin Chaulk
Colin Chaulk joined the Condors prior to the 2021-22 season and works with the team’s forward group. He was most recently an assistant coach in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Belleville Senators in 2019-20. Prior to that season, he was head coach of the Brampton Beast (2015-19), and an assistant coach with the Kalamazoo Wings (2013-15) and Fort Wayne Komets (2012-13).
The 2019-20 season for the Senators was their most successful in team history with a .643 points percentage and captured their first division title. Chaulk led the Beast to two playoff appearances including a 40-win season in 2016-17.
His playing career spanned 15 seasons and included time in the AHL, IHL, UHL, ECHL, CHL, and overseas in Italy. Most notably, the 44-year old spent a decade with the Fort Wayne Komets where he won a UHL Colonial Cup, three IHL Turner Cups, and was a CHL champion in 2011-12. His number 91 was retired by the Komets in 2017 and he ranks third all-time in scoring in the organization’s 70-year history.
Goaltending Coach Sylvain Rodrigue
Sylvain Rodrigue enters his eighth season in the Oilers organization and his sixth full-time in Bakersfield. His work in 2018-19 included rookie goaltender Shane Starrett being named AHL Goaltender of Month (Feb.) and to the All-Rookie and Second All-Star Teams. Also, G Stuart Skinner led the league in wins in 2020-21 and was twice named goaltender of the month. Rodrigue,served as a Goaltending Consultant for the DEL’s Berlin Eisbären, a member of Germany’s top elite league and Fribourg Gotteron of the Swiss Elite League prior to joining the Oilers. He won the DEL championship with Berlin in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. He was also a member of Berlin’s European trophy championship team in 2010-11.
The Montreal, Quebec native has also worked with HC Lugano (LNA – Swiss Elite League), AIK (Swedish Elite League) and Dusseldorf (DEL – German Elite League) since 2009-10.
Before heading to Europe, Rodrigue worked with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 20032009 and was also a goaltending instructor at Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence Goaltending Camp in 2009.
HOCKEY OPERATIONS STAFF
Video Coordinator Noah Segall Head Athletic Trainer Chad Drown
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Brian Ganz
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