Bobby Robins traded? Why????

From: Tina

Comments: Bobby Robins traded? Why???? This makes no sense!!!!!!

Reply: Tina, the short version is that he asked to be traded to be closer to his family. The long answer is in the following letter that Bobby provided us in order to share with the fans. Read on… He’s a good dude, and we’re going to miss him this season.

-The Mailbag Guy

To the Fans, Supporters, Staff, and Management of the Bakersfield Condors:

Thank you all for a memorable time in Bakersfield during the 2010-2011 ECHL hockey season. Last year was my first time in California, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much support for hockey there is, even though there is no snow on the ground! What an awesome experience to take the ice at the Rabobank Arena and see and hear 6000 screaming Condors fans! Perhaps even more impressive is the level of commitment and professionalism of the staff and management of the Bakersfield Condors. After visiting local schools and partaking in promotional events around the city, I can see why Bakersfield is called CondorsTown.

I will always cherish my time as a Condor.

As many of you heard, I have been traded to the Chicago Express of the ECHL. I was honored to be one of the players added to Bakersfield’s protected list of qualifying offers, as this means the organization saw something special in me and wanted to keep me around. After the season ended I spoke with the management and new Coach Matt O’Dette, and let them know that my hockey life was starting to take a toll on my personal life, because I was spending over half the year so far from home, and not able to see my family.

I am from a small town in Northern Wisconsin, and my family stays there even when I leave for the hockey season. It was a very difficult time for me being away from my family, and the Bakersfield management and coaching staff agreed to trade me to Chicago so that I can see my family more and play close to home.

I am grateful for their understanding in this matter, and I know that my family is grateful as well.

It was a difficult decision to not return to the Condors, but in the end, I knew that family was most important to me, and that I had to play near my home.

I have had the opportunity to speak at lengths with Coach Matt O’Dette, and while he was looking forward to having me on his team, he understood that family takes priority. He is a good man, a family man, and a great hockey coach, and Bakersfield is lucky to have him. I personally would like to thank Matt O’Dette and Matthew Riley for willing to work with me in contract negotiations, and honoring my request to play closer to home.

The Bakersfield Condors are truly a class act organization, and I wish them the best of luck for the coming hockey season.

Thanks to the fans and supporters who cheered for me and believed in me, and made my experience in Bakersfield a great one!

Sincerely,

Bobby Robins #25