I can’t help but feel apprehensive…

From: Tim

Message: The signing of Stewart and Greenham practically dooms any chance the Condors have of obtaining an affiliation. Although these two net minders are more than capable, I can’t help but feel apprehensive about our team’s chances of advancing through the playoffs. Has a non-affiliated ever won the Kelly Cup?

Reply: You’re in luck, Tim. The Mailbag Guy decided not to field this one, but instead send it to Head Coach Matt O’Dette. Here is his reply:

Actually, Tim, not having an affiliation prompted the need to sign two quality goaltenders, not the other way around. We went out and got these goalies because we had no affiliation takers. In my opinion, our goalies are better than any goalie that might get sent here. Not all affiliated goalies are league leaders.

Vegas made it to the finals last year as a non-affiliated team. Alaska won the year before with very few, if any, affiliated players. We all know that if you’re affiliated and your American league team calls up six of your top guys in March, your playoff chances are doomed. Especially now, with the AHL and ECHL seasons so mismatched on the calendar.

All of the teams know we are looking for an affiliation and know where to find us. We can’t put everything on hold waiting for the call back for an affiliation. It is what it is and we’re trying to take the advantages out of our current situation. One being that we can choose the goalies that we want, because a non-affiliated team is highly attractive to goaltenders. We probably wouldn’t have gotten either of them if we were affiliated.

As for the goalies we have, Greenham was brought up to the AHL by two different teams last season after leaving college, including by Hershey in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Stewart has won two division titles in two seasons, and has a 17-3-0-1 career record in March. He knows how to win late in the year, and we know these guys CAN carry us in the playoffs.

– Head Coach Matt O’Dette