HOLTY’S BLOG: SPEAKING OF

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Just got back up to the warm office from the freezing confines of downstairs. So consider this the report from the fort.

You may rather I freeze when writing a blog, but as I’ll remind you, it’s my blog and I’ll do what I want… plus I think better when I’m warm.

Now for the blog…

– We start on the ice where Ethan Bear is back skating as a full participant at practice. Talked to Gerry Fleming this morning and barring setback, is on track for the games this weekend in San Jose.

– Speaking of the fish, they just swept Tucson in Tucson. That’s big for them and gets them back over .500. The Condors need a good weekend this weekend in Silicon Valley.

– Speaking of needing a good weekend, Mike Griffith had a good article looking at the Condors against the rest of the Pacific Division. It’s a very real and honest take.

– Speaking of real and honest, the Oilers are getting back to health. Adam Larsson is due back any game now, Cam Talbot is close to coming back, and Andrej Sekera is skating with the team. There will need to be decisions made when and if they get back to full strength.

– Speaking of full strength, which was a pretty impressive three-in-four road trip for the Oilers in Montreal, Toronto, and then wrapping in Columbus. Chasing Carey Price and Sergei Bobrovsky is no easy feat and Laurent Brossoit bounced back nicely with three really good performances.

– Speaking of bouncing back, that’s what the Condors need to do this weekend. After their streak of scoring the opening goal in eight straight games ended on Saturday, the team has to find their game before coming home for two weeks. As Derik Johnson said last night on Insider, and I concur, I think Saturday’s game is more of an anomaly than a reality for the team. They’ve been rock solid defensively pretty consistently for the last month.

– Speaking of being rock solid defensively, Ryan Mantha was the subject of this week’s Future Watch on the Oilers website. I like his assessment of the 20-game mark being a good benchmark for reassessing his game and looking to take it to the next level.

– Speaking of next level, next week when the Condors come home, you can bid on player stockings. The team all went out and bought gifts to fill their stockings and proceeds benefit charity. Eddie Pasquale’s is full of fishing equipment for the avid outdoorsman, and Mark Fayne has a paint watercolor storm trooper helmet inside. Nice work from the team.

– Speaking of nice work, this is really well done video on Jujhar Khaira and what he means for the growth of the game in his hometown of Surrey, B.C. Look for an article on Ty Rattie soon as Hometown Hockey shifts to his hometown of Airdrie, Alberta next week.

– LOCK OF THE WEEK? The Patriots are dead. They can’t possibly lose to Miami and then go on to win anything. Brady is washed up, Belichick can’t coach, and the defense is horrible.

… ya right. Pats (-2 ½) and over 54. Something like 34-24 on Sunday.

Until next time Condorstown…

Ryan Holt aka Holty is the voice of the Condors and is currently in his 7th season. His has a secret Sunday morning breakfast spot that he’s not telling anyone about before the 3 p.m. game at the Shark Tank. Follow him on Twitter @CondorsHolty for more nonsense or shoot him an e-mail to RHolt@Bakersfieldcondors.com with questions, comments, or blog ideas.