The month of April sees the end of most hockey seasons whether amateur or professional. Last night saw the end of the Bakersfield Condors regular season. The Condors were a tale of two seasons this year. The first half of the season, the Condors were second last in the division sporting a record of 13 wins in their first 36 games. The second half was a complete turnaround with the Condors scoring 24 wins in their last 36 games.  What was the turnaround? For my money, it was the kids.

The young players on the team were healthy scratched, injured, given limited minutes both at evens and on speciality teams in the first half. It was clear that the coaching staff made a concerted effort to play the kids more and in more high leverage situations and the kids rewarded them with a tremendous second half. Below we highlight a couple of these youngsters who led the way in Bakersfield this week and for most of the second half.

Philp was a revelation the this year. He started slow as most of the kids did, but come the second half, he was a different player. In his last 36 games, he had 28 points including 13 goals. His 19 goals had him finish 16th in the AHL rookie goal scoring. He also ended up as the leading rookie scorer on Bakersfield ahead of Bourgault, Tullio and Savoie.

This week, he piled up three more goals. The prettiest was a one timer off a great set-up from Lavoie.

The other two were far more impressive to me because of the context of each goal. Both were scored into empty nets, which may not sound impressive. However, it was Philp, a 23 year old rookie, not Malone, not Hamblin, not McKegg who was out there when the other team pulled their goalie. It was Philp. Philp’s defensive instincts and his size along with his strong stick make him a natural defender. Watch this first empty goal from the center ice. Watch Philp take his guy all the way down to the net and eventually that causes a loose puck that is sent out of the zone. When it comes back in Philp wins the puck battle and sends it home. This clip is a forward coach’s dream.

The second empty netter actually illustrates something that surprised me which was Philp’s puck skills. He has much better puck skills and patience than I anticipated.

Philp finished his three game week with three goals and ten shots on net. He was unlucky to have more scoresheet success as evidenced by this clip. Philp again displays his quick offensive instincts and nearly finishes a great one timer.

I will have player summaries coming out on Oilersnation.com later this Spring, but let me give you a preview on Noah Philp. The 6’3″ right handed center showed what everyone expected: strong defensive instincts. Philp decided to show the world that he had offensive instincts, a cannon of a shot and the ability to win faceoffs consistently. Combine this with heavy penalty kill minutes and a consistent presence on the second powerplay and the Oilers have found themselves a prospect that may not make it through NHL waivers in the Fall of 2023. All it cost was money.

Heading into the season, there was a lot of pressure on Raphael Lavoie. Despite a tremendous twenty game segment in the 2021/22 season, Lavoie’s season was very inconsistent and he ended up suffering a serious injury. The injury delayed the start of his 2022/23 even missing the Young Guns Classic in Penticton along with the first six games of the Bakersfield Condor season.

Lavoie started slow again this season, but almost assuredly this related to his injury recovery and late start to his season. However, when the calendar turned to 2023, Lavoie found his stride. In the 43 games from January 1, Lavoie had 38 points in 43 games including a most impressive 21 goals. In other words Lavoie was scoring at a pace of .5 goals per game since the start of the new year.

This week was more of the same. In three games, Lavoie had one goal and one assist in three games. He also had 15 shots on net. His goal was a type that should get people excited. Lavoie’s shot can generate scoring chances from everywhere including from a long ways back like this one.

Lavoie also had a tremendous assist on a Noah Philp goal. Most will focus on the great pass, but I was more interested in the play that led up to the 2v1. Watch Lavoie handle the switch up top in his zone. He probably shouldn’t chase low, but once he commits he uses his body first to battle through some interference and then his quick stick breaks up an attempted slot pass. The rest is a beautifully executed 2v1.

Lavoie’s game has really found a new place. It’s much more consistent and it is much more focused on being defensively responsible. He’s doing everything he needs to play with the Edmonton Oilers next year. Just in time given the salary cap situation the Oilers are likely to find themselves in.

Honorable mentions to Dylan Holloway and Xavier Bourgault this week. Holloway had two points in three games and looked much more like the old Holloway late this week. Bourgault definited showed a spark this week with one goal and two assists in the three games. He really earned one assist the hard way on this Dylan Holloway goal.

Well folks that it all for this week. As always, send feedback below in the comment section or to me on Twitter @bcurlock. See you in the playoffs.