Game Preview: Condors Home Opener Tonight against Grand Rapids
October 9, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
CONDORSTOWN, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors begin their inaugural season in the American Hockey League (AHL) tonight against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Dignity Health Home Ice at Rabobank Arena. Puck drop is at 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. (5:45 p.m. for season ticket members)
GAME: Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers) v. Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)
PROMOTION: First 5,000 fans, 5 and older, will receive sunglasses, because our future is so bright you have to wear shades. Presented by Eyewitness News, 101.5 KGFM, and Dignity Health
TIME: 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m. / 5:45 p.m. for season ticket members)
WATCH: Condors Countdown with Condors Head Coach Gerry Fleming
BROADCAST: Video (AHL Live) | Radio (98.5 The FOX FM - this weekend only) | MOBILE (iHeartRadio App - 98.5 The FOX FM
HIGH DRAFT PICKS ON CONDORS ROSTER
The Condors feature two, top-7 NHL Draft picks on the roster in C Leon Draisaitl and D Darnell Nurse. Draisaitl, 19, was selected third overall by Edmonton in the 2014 NHL Draft. A year prior, Nurse went seventh overall to Edmonton in the 2013 draft. 16 players on the current roster are NHL Draft picks and 20 are under NHL contract with Edmonton.
BEHIND THE BENCHES
Both teams feature head coaches entering their first full seasons as bench bosses with their organizations and two men certainly familiar with one another. On the Condors side, head coach Gerry Fleming takes the reigns after guiding the Oklahoma City Barons to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs a season ago. Fleming took over the team midway through the season. The man he took over for, Todd Nelson, now leads the Grand Rapids Griffins in his first game behind the bench in the Red Wings organization. Nelson coached parts of five seasons with Fleming in Oklahoma City, before being promoted to interim head coach of the Edmonton Oilers for the second half of the 2014-15 season. Nelson joined the Griffins over the summer.
CONDORS NOTES
Bakersfield returns four of the five leading scorers from the 2014-15 Oklahoma City Barons in RW Andrew Miller, RW Matthew Ford, D Brad Hunt, and LW Ryan Hamilton... In addition, G Laurent Brossoit returns between the pipes. He was 2nd among all AHL goaltenders in 2014-15 minutes played with 3,049 over 53 appearances... The roster features an international flair with six players hailing from outside North America... 14 players on the roster have NHL experience
GRIFFINS NOTES
Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan enters his fourth season with the Griffins and is the longest-serving captain in team history... The Griffins are 11-5-2-1 overall in season openers and 12-5-2-0 overall in road openers... Grand Rapids returns 21 players from their 2014-15 squad, including both netminders G Jared Coreau and G Tom McCollum...
TRANSACTIONS
10/5 - C Leon Draisaitl assigned by Edmonton (NHL)
10/5 - G Ben Scrivens assigned by Edmonton (NHL)
10/4 - D Nikita Nikitin assigned by Edmonton (NHL)
DEFLATED FOOTBALL GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY - CHOOSE FROM 9 TEAMS
On Saturday, the first 2,000 fans, 17 and under, can choose from nine different team footballs as part of Deflated Football Giveaway presented by Eyewitness News and Dignity Health. They include the masters of deflation, the Patriots. Call 324-PUCK (7825) for more information on how to save money.
BECOME A CONDORS MEMBER; SAVE MONEY AND HAVE EVEN MORE FUN
Join the Condors on their historic move to the American Hockey League in 2015-16. Become a ticket member and enjoy all of the great benefits by contacting the Condors at 324-PUCK (7825) or click here for more information. Single-game tickets for Opening Weekend are on sale now at Axs.com.
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