HOLTY’S BLOG: NEW RIVALS!

/in , /by

It’s almost as if the AHL got together and said “we should announce something on Thursday, because that’s a Holty’s Blog day and he needs content.”

You may think I’m nuts for thinking that, and that’s fine, but as I’ll remind you, it’s my blog, and I’ll do what I want.

Now for the blog…

– Before we get to the AHL providing content for the blog, thank you to everyone who came out to Craft Tap House last night for the Game 7 Watch Party.

– It was a tough loss, but at least there was cake in the arena. I thought for sure it was going to be the difference to have that Slepyshev deflected shot find the back of the net.

– What a great year for the Oilers. The finality of a season ending, especially in that manner, is the worst, but if you take the whole season as a whole, things are certainly progressing upward.

– Speaking of progressing upward, how about the haul for former Condors in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs?

– Holty enough about your food, what’s this AHL news? Well, the Condors will play 11 teams over 68 games next season including new to Condorstown opponents: Chicago, Iowa, and Rockford. Add in returner Manitoba and the entire Pacific Division, and those are your 11 foes.

– Also part of the announcement was the divisional alignment for 2017-18. Nothing earth-shattering for the Pacific Division, but in the Central, Charlotte moved over to the Eastern Conference. That means there are unbalanced divisions out West (7 Central, 8 Pacific), and the playoff format will be voted on in early July.

– So wait, that means the five California teams and Tucson are playing fewer games again? Yes. Is it perfect? No. But it’s honestly not that big of a deal. You only pay attention to the teams you play/your division, so I really don’t care how many games or how many times teams play each other in the East. It’s honestly two separate leagues. Truly not as catastrophic as some keyboard warriors make it out to be.

– The bigger deal is where to go in Des Moines, Rosemont (Chicago), and Rockford. Between Matthew Riley, Greg Lowe, and Chris Herschberger, I should be all set on Des Moines. Plus, old friend of the program Bob Mills is in Rockford and Kevin Bartl started there so that’s taken care of. I’ll take any and all suggestions for Rosemont. Hoping there’s a day off there somewhere. I don’t do 3-in-3s.

– Good find on Patrick Russell with this article and his debut for the Denmark National Team. He scored earlier in the week.

– Lock of the week? I’ll take Nashville and Ottawa to advance.

Until next time Condorstown…

Ryan Holt aka Holty enters his 7th season as Voice of the Condors in 2017-18. Iowa and Illinois sound lovely in January. Follow him on Twitter @CondorsHolty for more nonsense or shoot him an e-mail to RHolt@bakersfieldcondors.com with questions, comments, or blog ideas.