HOLTY’S BLOG: THE SCHEDULE IS OUT

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Today will be a quick blog, because I’m on vacation and let’s face it, vacation > work.

You may like long blogs, 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…

– The big news this week was the unveiling of the 2018-19 schedule which begins at home on October 5 and 6. You can download, print, sync or view the schedule in any format by clicking here.

– Some highlights include Teddy Bear Toss on Saturday, Nov. 24 against Tucson and Field Trip Day against Ontario on Thursday, Nov. 29. Love early and / or afternoon games, especially at home. Even better on the road, and we’ll get one of those in Des Moines when the Condors take on the Wild at 10:30 a.m. Central Time on Nov. 8. Of course the last time we were in Iowa for games, this happened:

– Thought we had a really good schedule release video, but Iowa mixed in food, so they take the cake.

– It will be good to see old friend of the blog Kevin McGlue when the Colorado Eagles return to Rabobank Arena on Nov. 17 and 20. Since the Condors left the ECHL, the Eagles had won two of the three Kelly Cups, including back-to-back titles.

– Seems like every season finishes with a lengthy, flight-heavy, road trip and this year’s April 1 – April 7 jaunt through Winnipeg and San Antonio is no different. It’s one of three weeks this season (Dec. 20 Stockton –> Loveland, January 10 Austin –> Loveland) where the Condors will fly out of a road city to another road city. Just makes things a little trickier on the operations end of things.

– Should note that the preseason will be a home-and-home with Stockton on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. in Bakersfield and then Sunday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. up the 99. All before the home opener, against the Heat of course.

– Of course the best part of the schedule is the divisional alignment and no longer having to explain point percentage. Seven teams are in the Pacific, all play 68 games, and the top four with the most points move on to the playoffs. Simple math makes life much easier.

– Though the player front has been quiet, I still think there will be additions to the organization in the coming weeks. On the Condors UFA front, Zach O’Brien signed with the Toronto Marlies. Their ECHL team is the newly formed Newfoundland Growlers, where Zach is from.

– LOCK OF THE WEEK? Well since Belgium was bounced in the semifinals, I fell a bit short there. I’m headed to Fenway on Sunday for the final game before the All-Star Break. It’d be too easy to take the Sox since they’re dominant, but I’ll say they score at least 7 on Sunday. Hopefully not a #HoltyJinx

Until next time Condorstown…

Ryan Holt is the Voice of the Condors and enters his 8th season in 2018-19. He’s on vacation, don’t bother him.