Jamie Cooke's #28 jersey was raised to the rafters, as the Condors Legend was honored during the first intermission on Saturday, Dec. 15. Cooke, who was on-hand for the intermission ceremony, is the Condors all-time leader in goals (143) and is second in assists (170) and points (313). In addition to the ceremony, Cooke took pictures and signed autographs for fans at the Condors Photo Booth. Click here to view the Jamie Cooke tribute video that was played that night.

Paul Rosebush's #17 jersey is next in line to be honored at The Nest, as his number will be retired on Saturday, Dec. 29 during the KGET-TV 17 & Quad Knopf Paul Rosebush Bronze Statue Giveaway and #17 jersey retirement. In addition to a retirement ceremony for Rosebush's jersey number, the first 2,000 fans, 17-and-older, in attendance will receive a bronze statue of Paul Rosebush. Rosebush is the Condors all-time leader in games played with 416, is third all-time with 239 points and 129 goals, first with 20 game-winning goals and first with 900 penalty minutes. Doors open at 7 p.m., puck drops at 8 p.m.

All season ticket holders are invited to take the ice with the Condors immediately following the home game on Sunday, Dec. 30. There will be limited skate rentals available for $5, or you can bring your own skates. Season Ticket Holders can enter through the blue doors behind section 110 immediately after the game ends.

The holiday season is different for Condors players - they are away from their families, there is no snow on the ground, and there are different Christmas customs. Some VERY different customs compared to back in their various home locales.

Take David Kudelka, for instance. He has tried as much as possible to bring holiday customs to the states from his native Czech Republic for his family, to make it a little more like home.

"Our Christmas is on the 24th in Czech Republic," says David, noting that the 25th is reserved for meeting up with extended family members. "There is a tradition, on the 24th, on Christmas, that you don't eat all day. From the time you get up until dinner, and for the kids, they are told that if they do that they will see a golden pig."

Huh?

"Yeah, a pig. A golden pig. You never actually see the pig, but that's what they tell you. Then you spend all day decorating the Christmas tree and watch the kids' holiday movies and everything.

"Then you have dinner and the traditional dinner is carp and potato salad and fish soup. Nobody can get up from the table until everything is eaten - not to go to the bathroom, not to get another drink, nothing. If you do it is supposed to be bad luck and you will not get invited back next year.

"After dinner the kids all go out to play and later, someone rings a bell and that signals that Santa has come and there are presents out. But instead of Santa, he is called 'Jezisek' (pronounced YEH-zhee- SHEHK, and means 'little Jesus') and you don't ever see him. He has no sleigh or reindeer, it's just him and he is more invisible than anything. You don't see him, he's like God."

Golden pigs, Jezisek, carp for dinner - it's all about the magic of Christmas in the Czech Republic!

Former Condors forward Connor James was called up to the NHL by the Pittsburgh Penguins last week. He made his Penguins debut on Saturday, Dec. 15 against the New York Islanders. To read more, click here.

The Condors take the road on Friday, Dec. 21 to face off against the Stockton Thunder with game time slated for 7:30 p.m. The two teams met in Stockton last Friday when the Condors picked up the 5-3 victory. Bakersfield will then head down to Phoenix for a match-up against the RoadRunners on Thursday, Dec. 27, with opening face off scheduled for 6:11 p.m.

Both games can be heard live on the All-New KGEO AM1230 with the "Voice of the Condors" Kevin Bartl. The games can also be heard at no cost on www.bakersfieldcondors.com, and can be viewed live on the internet through B2 Networks.

Don't miss out on your chance to be one of the lucky 100 fans that will walk away from the My45 What U Didn't Get for Christmas giveaway with some of the most coveted gifts this holiday season. The Condors will be giving away 50 Hannah Montana Singing Dolls and Pop Star Stages, 25 Guitar Hero III video games and 25 Transformers Converting Arm Blasters. The What U Didn't Get for Christmas giveaway will be held at The Nest during the game on Friday, Jan. 4. Doors open at 6 p.m., puck drops at 7 p.m.

If you want to give a friend or loved one a gift that will keep on giving this holiday season, be sure to check out the Condors Holiday 4-Pack Ticket Plans. The 4-Packs offer fans great tickets to premium Condors games this season with the added bonus of becoming a Ticket Plan Holder.

The Condors are also offering a Condors 4-Pack gift certificate, making the 4-Pack a can't-miss holiday present. The gift certificate allows fans to purchase the 4-Pack without making the game and seat selections, so the recipient of the coolest gift of the holidays can choose the games they wish to attend and where they want to sit.

For more information about the Holiday 4-Packs, including the schedule of 4-Pack games, click here, or contact the Condors office at 324-PUCK (7825).

The Condors are also slashing prices by 20% on select items for the upcoming holiday season, ranging from t-shirts and hats, to glassware and blankets, and more deals than we have room to list! The sale will last through Thursday, Dec. 20, so don't waste another minute before heading down to the Team Store, located right across the street from Rabobank Arena on Truxtun Ave. The store will be closed Dec. 21-Dec. 25 and Dec. 31- Jan. 1. Normal hours for the team store are 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and Noon-3 p.m. on Saturdays. Online shopping is also available at www.bakersfieldcondors.com.

Also, Pink Condors Jerseys (see above) have arrived and are on sale now! For more information regarding Condors merchandise, contact the team store at (661) 324-NETT (6388).

Inevitably things get overlooked on Christmas lists every holiday season. However, this year the Condors front office is making sure Santa knows exactly what it wants with a Christmas list highlighting the single gift that each front office member most desires. Here's what we came up with:

The Condors and American Business Machines have been partners for six seasons, since the 2002- 03 campaign. In addition to in-ice logos, bench signs and a concourse leaderboard, they were featured on the 2007-08 magnet schedules and also support the Condors charity efforts by sponsoring the Jersey Off Our Backs Raffle and Auction coming up on February 9th.

Family owned and operated for over 70 years and three generations in Bakersfield, American Business Machines handles sales and service for Canon office products, including copiers, printers, fax machines and scanners, and cover the entire Kern County area. They supply the Condors with the necessary products to keep the office running.

"It's a great organization and we try to align ourselves with other great companies," said Ryan Jones, General & Sales Manager with American Business Machines. "It's great name recognition and exposure to get our name out. We want to let people know the Jones family is part of the community and want to support it. Plus, we love the family involvement at Condors games."

For more information about American Business Machines, call 324-4741 or log on to www.abm1.com.

The Condors had many firsts during their Inaugural Season in 1998-99, but only one shutout. Brad Guzda was one of the first Condors fan favorites, and tended the nets for Bakersfield in both 1998-99 and 1999-2000. He was between the pipes for a heartbreaking 1-0 shootout loss on the road against the Colorado Gold Kings on New Year's Eve, 1998.

"He was a good guy," said Kevin Barrett, former Condors defenseman, a teammate and often a roommate of Guzda that season. "But he was the epitome of a goalie - just kind of a weird fella. He had a yo-yo that he would go around and play with all the time the day of a game."

"It's unusual to lose like that, but especially in that arena (World Arena in Colorado Springs). Because of the Olympic-sized ice there we had a lot of 6-5 and 7-6 games against them. And that season especially, we did a lot of congratulating the goalies because we weren't very good."

"There isn't a lot I remember about that game," continued Barrett, "but I remember that I didn't like the restaurant we went to afterward to celebrate New Year's away from our families. But Guzda took it pretty hard; he was usually pretty hard on himself after a loss."

Guzda finished his Condors career with a 27-34-4 record in 70 appearances, but missed most of the 1999-2000 season to injury after starting out 16-6-0 with a .911 save percentage.

The Condors took the Gold Kings to the end of regulation and overtime that night, 0-0, but succumbed to Colorado in the extra session, accounting for the final score - and a strange way to record a shutout.

Thursday, Dec. 20: The Condors Coach's Show will be pre-recorded this week, as the team departs for Stockton for Friday's game. Because of the Thursday night NFL game, the Condors Coach's Show will air from 7 to 8 p.m. with Condors players, Head Coach Marty Raymond and the "Voice of the Condors" Kevin Bartl on the All-New KGEO AM1230.

A note from Amy Rosebush, wife of Condors Legend Paul Rosebush -

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If you are interested in finding out how to get FREE Pampered Chef® products, half price, and even discounted items for having a fun get together with family and friends, please email me at amyrosebush@hotmail.com or by phone (661) 477- 4592. I would love to come to your home and share great recipes and cooking tips with you. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!!!!!

Amy Rosebush
Independent Consultant