HOLTY’S BLOG: GETTING THE BAND BACK

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Kevin Bartl used to always say “the season is really here once (former equipment manager) John Doolan arrives back in Bakersfield.” Well, it’s August 16 and Condors Equipment Manager Al Oman arrives Monday. I’m not declaring that the season is actually here, but it’s getting close.

You may want in-season blogs because the content is better, but as I’ll remind you, it’s my blog and I’ll do what I want. Plus, I think there are some good things to discuss in this week’s edition.

Now for the blog…

– We start on a personal note, but good friend Adrian Denny was named the Director of Communications and Broadcasting with the Tucson Roadrunners today after spending the better part of two decades in Utah with the Grizzlies. With the additions of him and Kevin McGlue (Colorado), we’re getting the band back together out west. Plus, Adrian enjoys Rusty’s Pizza more than anyone, so we’ll be sure to drop that on the schedule for when the guys from the Old Pueblo visit.

– Tough news out of Edmonton as Andrej Sekera will be sidelined indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a torn Achilles tendon. After missing most of last season as well, it certainly shuffles things along the blue line heading into training camp.

– Oilers radio voice, @EdmontonJack, tweeted out the four likely scenarios with Sekera out for the foreseeable future. 1) 2018 1st round pick Evan Bouchard stays a full season; 2) Ethan Bear becomes an everyday player; 3) Kevin Gravel and Keegan Lowe both hang in Edmonton; 4) Edmonton brings in another d-man with the cap space created because of the Sekera injury

– If the Oilers decide on Option 4, then it’s likely the injury wouldn’t have much of an impact on the Condors. However, my opinion is that there is likely to be a combination of a few of those options. I could see a scenario where Bouchard stays, but is sent back to junior and then there are a few call-ups from the Condors. Or a situation where Bouchard doesn’t stay and Edmonton rolls with a combination of the three guys (or more) under contract already.

– Of course, all of these hypothetical situations come with the disclaimer that all of these decisions are WAY above my pay grade.

– One-time Condors veteran Kris Newbury signed earlier today with the ECHL’s Brampton Beast. It will be his 16th professional season between four leagues, including the NHL. That’s a heck of a career.

– The NHL dropped its “Wednesday Night Rivalry” branding and presented a more diverse schedule this year on national broadcasts. Edmonton will be featured on NBC / NBCSN seven times this season, including three on “Wednesday Night Hockey.” Always good to see the bosses more readily available on TV down here and guaranteed to see players who have had impacts in Condorstown already.

– Condors legend Paul Rosebush was officially inducted into the International Softball Congress Fastpitch Hall of Fame over the weekend. Not just a hockey player!

– LOCK OF THE WEEK? Well, I hope you all followed my Brooks Koepka lead. We’ll cool the jets on golf for a week until the FedEx Cup playoffs get underway. The Little League World Series starts today. I probably won’t watch much, if any of it, but hey, let’s have some fun. I’ll take the Southeast Region champs from Peachtree City, Georgia over Japan. I’m mostly sad that Big AL won’t be there. Check this out 

Until next time Condorstown…

Ryan Holt aka Holty enters his 8th season as the Voice of the Condors in 2018-19. He was a defensive-minded catcher aka he couldn’t hit. Follow him on Twitter @CondorsHolty for more nonsense or shoot him an e-mail to RHolt@BakersfieldCondors.com with questions, comments, or blog ideas.