GAME DAY PREVIEW PRESENTED BY RODRIGUEZ & ASSOCIATES

The Bakersfield Condors open their 29th season of hockey overall and 12th in the American Hockey League, traveling to Henderson to take on the Silver Knights at 6 p.m. It is the first of eight meetings between the two teams this season.

CURTAIN RAISED ON 2026-27 CAMPAIGN 

Bakersfield is 7-2-2 all-time in AHL season openers and for the fourth consecutive season, will open on the road. Last season, the Condors lost a high-scoring 7-6 shootout thriller in San Jose.

ON THE ROAD – GET USED TO IT

Road life will be common for the Condors for the first four weeks of the regular season. Nine of the team’s first 11 games will come away from downtown Condorstown including trips to Henderson, Calgary, Colorado, and three games in San Jose from now until November 10.

COACHING STAFF SHAKEUP 

Two new faces joined the Condors coaching staff in the offseason with the additions of Duncan Dalmao and Piero Greco. Dalmao spent four seasons as the head coach of the Indy Fuel (ECHL), leading the team to four straight Kelly Cup Playoffs berths. He will serve as an assistant coach with the Condors. Greco has an extensive resume as a goaltending coach, most recently spending eight seasons with the New York Islanders.

PACKING A PUNCH 

With James Hamblin (San Diego/Anaheim) and Roby Jarventie (Switzerland) moving on, the Condors turn to Eduard Tralmaks and Aku Raty to help fill the void. Tralmarks, 29, scored a career high 26 goals with Grand Rapids last season. Raty, 25, scored 20 goals in Finland last season and is three seasons removed from a 15 goal, 44 point campaign in Tucson.

HUTSON ENCORE 

Quinn Hutson was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team a season ago, tying a team goal scoring record with 30. He finished second in the rookie scoring race with 63 points in 67 games.

CARF GETS A SHOT 

With Atro Leppanen injured, second-year d-man Damien Carfagna will get power play quarterback responsibilities to begin the season. The New Jersey native led the team with a +18 rating a season ago and was fourth among AHL rookie d-men in scoring with 22 points (7g-15a) in 66 games. Bakersfield had the sixth best power play in the league last season at 22.2%.

THE MAJICIAN 

Viljami Marjala was the only Condor to play all 72 games a season ago and will be looked upon as the team’s top centerman this season. The Finnish-born Marjala had 60 points (17g-43a) last year and added six assists in three Calder Cup Playoffs games.

TWINE TANDEM

Matt Tomkins and Connor Ungar begin the season as the Condors goaltending duo. Tomkins set a new career high for wins with 20 last season going 20-13-7 with a 2.98 goals-against average and .904 save percentage. Ungar played for three ECHL teams last year, but raised his game with the Condors going 9-2-2 with a 2.51 GAA and .923 save percentage.

HOME OPENER SET FOR OCTOBER 17

Bakersfield will take on Calgary in the team’s home opener on Saturday, October 17 and will debut their new alternate jerseys! Join us for the Party on the Plaza pre-game as well! Get your tickets by clicking here.

UP NEXT 

The weekend wraps up in Henderson at 5 p.m. tomorrow. Catch the action on the McDonald’s Condors Broadcast Network (AM 800 Fox Sports Radio, iHeartRadio App, and AHLTV on FloHockey) beginning at 4:45 p.m.