HOLTY’S BLOG: HAPPY NEW YEAR

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We are on the cusp of the final home game of 2017 as Tucson comes to town for a 7 p.m. game tomorrow night. Let’s look back at the best moments of the year shall we?

You may want them ranked, but that would take prior planning from me and as we all know I don’t plan. And it’s my blog and I’ll do what I want.

Now for the blog…

– THE OUTDOOR CLASSIC. Any discussion of greatest moments of 2017 really begins and ends with the Outdoor Classic. Not only the best event in Bakersfield sports history, but if you look at the whole month, it has to rank as one of the best community events ever hosted in Bakersfield.

– NHL ON NBC ranked the outdoor game as one of the best in 2017. Again, I don’t like rankings, but how can you argue?

– THE NHL ALUMNI/CELEBRITY GAME. Lost in the mass hysteria of the following night, the NHL Alumni/Celebrity Game with Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Rob Blake and many more could not have been better. Everyone had a fantastic time, the game was fun, and more importantly, you could really tell NHL legends were impressed with the entire event. I don’t get star struck often, but when you have Gretzky and Blake hanging out and sharing stories in a locker room at Memorial Stadium, it is hard not to be a fan.

– THE RECORD TEDDY BEAR TOSS. Brad Malone’s goal this past November brought over 10,500 Teddy Bears onto the ice for local charities and non-profits. It’s always the biggest night of the year, but with the money raised from the specialty jerseys, the teddy bears, and the big win, it was raised to another level this year. It was the first of back-to-back sellouts too, which had never happened before in team history.

– THE OILERS PLAYOFF RUN. To see the impact Condors alumni had on the Oilers playoff run this past spring was special. Leon Draisaitl, Zack Kassian, Darnell Nurse, Anton Slepyshev, and more helping get the Oilers to Game 7 against Anaheim was fun to watch. I think the early season struggles from Edmonton this year makes you realize just how thin the line is between being really successful and being on the other end. The difference is not that great.

– JOSH CURRIE’S SEASON-ENDING OVERTIME HAT TRICK. You always want to leave a season on a positive and Currie capped 2016-17 in a great fashion with an overtime hat trick. In fact, in his last two hat tricks, he’s scored all three goals for the team. He’s in year one of a two-year AHL contract and should he play as often as he had, he’ll end that contract in the top-5 in team history in games played.

– JESSE PULJUJARVI’S EMERGENCE IN EDMONTON. I think this is a great storyline which should end up making our 2018 list as well. He scored his 7th of the year last night and when we look back on his career however long from now, Bakersfield will have a big part of that tale.

– THE 20-YEAR ANNIVERSARY. From Stinson’s This Date in Condors History to Mission Bank’s Memorable Moments to the all-time jersey bracket, it’s been fun to look back on 20 years of Condors history. Here’s the Burgoderfer video we ran the other night. Here’s to 20 more!

– LOCK OF THE WEEK? I’m 7-0 over the last seven bowl games. I won’t tell you what I was before then. Let’s give you four today and let’s mix the spread in too. Virginia (PK), Oklahoma State (-5.5), TCU (-3), and Washington State (+2). Entertainment purposes only!

Until next time Condorstown… Happy New Year!

Ryan Holt aka Holty is the Voice of the Condors and is in his 7th season in Bakersfield. New Year Resolutions are stupid. Follow him on Twitter @CondorsHolty for more nonsense or shoot him an e-mail to RHolt@bakersfieldcondors.com with questions, comments, or blog ideas.