ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS (0-1-0-0) @ BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (0-0-0-0)
PUCK DROP: 7 p.m.
DOORS OPEN: 6 p.m. (5:45 p.m. for Condors365 Members)
PROMOTION: 25th Anniversary Opening Night presented by Eyewitness News, Groove 99.3 FM, and Dignity Health. Everyone in attendance gets a commemorative 25th Anniversary Collage Poster. PLUS, Paul Rosebush will be honored with a ceremonial puck drop.
TICKETS: Click here to purchase
RADIO: Fox Sports 800 AM & IHeartRadio App (click here)
VIDEO STREAMING: AHLTV (FREEVIEW Weekend) — (click here)
GAME PREVIEW presented by Rodriguez & Associates
WELCOME TO OPENING NIGHT
Tonight is the 25th home opener and eighth in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Condors. Bakersfield is 15-8-1 in season and home openers all-time and 5-2-0 in the AHL. The Condors beat the Canucks 5-3 on Opening Night last season and swept them in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
LEADING SCORER BACK FOR MORE
Seth Griffith set AHL team records for goals (30) and points (80) last season. In 479 AHL games, the Wallaceburg, Ontario native has 449 points (158g-291a).
HAMMER TIME
James Hamblin was assigned by Edmonton earlier in the week. The third-year Condors center signed a two-year NHL deal late last season and had 21 goals a season ago.
BROTHERLY LOVE
Calvin Pickard joined the Oilers organization on a two-year NHL deal this offseason. The veteran netminder had 21 wins with Grand Rapids last season and played the fifth most minutes of any AHL goaltender last year. His brother Chet was a goaltender on the 2013-14 ECHL Condors.
BENCH ADDITIONS
Colin Chaulk begins his first full season as head coach after going 19-12-1 as a midseason replacement last year. Joining him behind the bench are Keith McCambridge, who was a head coach in the Winnipeg organization, and Josh Green, who played two decades professionally, mostly in the NHL.
VETERANS BOLSTER BOTH ENDS
Jason Demers was signed to a tryout agreement earlier this week. The 34-year old brings 699 NHL games of experience. Greg McKegg signed a two-year NHL deal after spending last year with the New York Rangers.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Condors hit the road for five games beginning tomorrow at 5 p.m. in Ontario. Bakersfield’s road trip continues on to Henderson, Tucson, and back to Ontario before returning home on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. against San Diego.
