NORFOLK, VA. – The Bakersfield Condors, American Hockey League affiliate of the Norfolk Admirals, announced the recall of defenseman Ben Betker on Tuesday afternoon.
Betker, 22, was assigned to Norfolk on Wednesday, February 22 and played in five games with the team. The 2013 draft pick of Edmonton had points in four out of those five, totaling three goals and two assists from the blue line.
Hailing from Cranbrook, British Columbia, Betker played 15 games with Bakersfield to start the season before his reassignment. The 6’6” – 223 lbs. blue liner will now return to the American Hockey League to help the Condors in their playoff push.
Joining Brodie Dupont, Zach Pochiro, Jaedon Descheneau, Mikael Tam, Frankie Simonelli and Eetu Laurikianen, Betker is the seventh Admiral to climb the ladder to Bakersfield this season. John Kurtz, Alex Ranger and Steven Summerhays have all joined other American Hockey League clubs over the course of this season on a loan basis.
Without Betker or Gabriel Verpaelst the team now hits the road on a four-game road trip over the next week with stops in Elmira on Thursday and Friday, Manchester on Sunday and Reading next Tuesday.
Following the contests the team returns home for “St. Hat Trick’s Day Weekend” on March 17 and 18. Friday, March 17 will feature green ice at Norfolk Scope as the team dons specialty green jerseys as well. Furthermore, there will be drink specials presented by Smartmouth Beer.
On Saturday the 18th there will be a cap giveaway presented by BB&T. It’s also Pucks and Paws Night, so fans are encouraged to bring their dog to the game for just a $5 donation that is forwarded to a local animal shelter of their choice. Following the game the team’s green jerseys will be auctioned off with precedes benefiting MDA research.
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