Wild Announce ECHL Affiliate

by BReynolds on Aug 25, 2010 4:30 PM CDT

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The Wild have announced they have signed an affiliation deal with the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL. The Condors are based in Bakersfield (shocking), California. If you remember, the Wild had an affiliation agreement with the Johnstown Chiefs last season, but the team has since moved.

ECHL deals are of minor consequence, especially since the Aeros generally loan players to ECHL teams near Houston, such as the Florida Everblades. The affiliation with the Chiefs resulted in exactly zero prospects being sent to Johnstown.

You can find all of your Condors gear on their site as well. Make sure you order two, and send one to me. Thanks.

The Condors are so excited to announce this deal, they have posted this picture before entering their website:

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Um... yeah. About that...

Press release:

Minnesota Wild ANNOUNCES ECHL AFFILiATION WITH BAKERSFIELD CONDORS DURING 2010-11 SEASON

    BAKERSFIELD Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors, host of the 2010-11 ECHL All-Star Classic, today announced they will serve as the official ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild. The announcement was made today by Condors President Matthew Riley and Wild Assistant to the General Manager/Houston Aeros General Manager Jim Mill in front of media, season ticket holders and corporate partners.

    “The Minnesota Wild and Houston Aeros are excited to partner with the Bakersfield Condors for the 2010-11 season,” said Mill. “Bakersfield has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in their 12 seasons of hockey.”

    The agreement is anticipated to bring several prospects to Bakersfield to continue their development. Since 2001, the American Hockey League affiliate for Minnesota is the Houston Aeros, also owned and operated by Wild ownership group Minnesota Sports & Entertainment.

    The Wild become just the second NHL affiliate in Condors history. In the past two seasons, 22 players have moved up from the Condors to the American or National Hockey Leagues, and in 2009-10, five Condors suited up in both Bakersfield and the NHL, all with Anaheim, last season’s Condors affiliate.

    “We’re pretty excited to be associated with a strong organization like the Wild,” said Riley. “It’s a great tie-in for the State of Hockey to work alongside Condorstown to prepare their prospects for the next level. We’re looking forward to a great partnership.”

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Comments

Really?!

They couldn’t find a picture with two CURRENT Wild players? Or use our newest logo? Lol!

by taralynn09 on Aug 25, 2010 4:45 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed that.

by Yabbs on Aug 25, 2010 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL

They have now changed the image, must have read this post.

by RAU on Aug 25, 2010 7:33 PM CDT reply actions

They have indeed. I also sent them the info via Twitter, so they likely got it.

Hockey Wilderness
Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota

Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.

by BReynolds on Aug 25, 2010 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Most excellent!

Regular lurker here, first time poster… Awesome!!! I live here in hell, I mean Bakersfield, and believe it or not, the Condors do have a really good fan base. I try to catch at least a couple games a year and the Rabobank is usually 3/4 full at least. My brother and I (MN natives) are huge Wild fans, now we have a reason to go to Condors games more often. This may be shrug-your-shoulders news to you guys, but for me; not only will I get a chance to root for future Wild players, I don’t have to root for future “Disney’s Los Angeles Mighty Ducks of Anaheim but not featuring Emilio Esteves” or whatever they call themselves this year! I couldn’t be happier.

Now, who do I call about getting Granlund sent over? Still in Finland, you say? Alright, we’ll take Larsson, then.

by Oi Oi Boy on Aug 25, 2010 11:42 PM CDT reply actions

Welcome!

So glad you joined us. I would love it if you could provide reports on what you’re seeing from the kids in Bakersfield this season. Don’t be a stranger!

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Aug 25, 2010 11:45 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I did not mean to make this seem like ho-hum news, but to most of our readership it will be. I am excited about this. I love the interaction between NHL/ AHL/ ECHL. I actually have emails out to the team and to one writer I found to learn more about the squad.

Any blogs about the team, or newspapers we should know about to follow the franchise? And as Nathan said, please, feel free to poke your head in and join the conversation. We love a new voice, especially one from an affiliated town.

As for Granlund… well… yeah. But hey, if you want Sheppard, you can have him.

Hockey Wilderness
Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota

Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.

by BReynolds on Aug 26, 2010 12:48 AM CDT up reply actions

We need CT to get us some info

by nemo1107 on Aug 26, 2010 5:51 AM CDT up reply actions

We going to have to have Oi Oi Boy for this one. Glad to see you join us!
But I’ll see what I can dig up.

Hockey Wilderness - Front Page Writer
CircularTheory - Follow me for prospect updates!

by danccchan on Aug 27, 2010 5:15 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I’d be happy to give progress updates as best I can. I don’t know a whole lot about the team itself as I never seem to find time to go to games except for 1 in particular. Every Thanksgiving weekend, usualy Saturday night, the team has an annual Teddy Bear Toss where as soon as the Condors score their first goal, the fans are encouraged to litter the ice with (new) teddy bears which are then donated to be passed along to less fortunate children at Christmas. It’s always a big deal and it’s always a packed house, and we do literally cover the ice with thousands of stuffed animals.

This year, now that the team is a Wild affiliate, I’ll try to catch at least 2 games per month so if anyone’s playing really well, or mucking it up, I’ll be sure to pass word along. As far as blogs or papers, I’m not aware of any, but I’ll look around and see if I can find anything.

by Oi Oi Boy on Aug 26, 2010 8:17 AM CDT reply actions