Condors' Bench Boss Woodcroft Eager For AHL's Return

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BAKERSFIELD, Ca. -- Bakersfield Condors coach Jay Woodcroft is far from the type of guy who takes anything for granted, and a pandemic-forced hiatus from his profession only fueled his desire to get back to doing what he loves.

“I can tell you I had a real jump in my step ever since they announced that the American Hockey League was going to be played,” he said Wednesday. “It’s 11 months basically since we were last able to do what we love. Just for me, when you have something that’s taken away from you, you spend a lot of time reflecting on what’s important and when you get the chance to do it again you make darn well sure you make good on it."

“I have a sincere appreciation for every single day. I consider myself lucky that I get to do a job I love and be around a group of people in our staff, coaches and players I really enjoy being around.”

On Friday, the Condors get back to AHL regular-season play with a two-game set against the San Diego Gulls in Irvine, Ca., at the practice facility for their NHL affiliate, the Anaheim Ducks. That is 336 days removed since their last AHL regular-season game back on March 9.

It is a far different world now than back on March 9 when 7,642 fans were on hand at Mechanic’s Bank Arena in Bakersfield to witness a 4-3 shootout win over Stockton.

Among the many protocols now familiar to most, games will be played with no fans in attendance.

“These are the times we live in,” Woodcrtoft said of the lack of fans and numerous other protocols that have been put in place to try and limit exposure to Covid-19.

As for hockey, the Pacific Division is set for a condensed 40-game schedule which ends in mid-May.

The Condors feature a lot of familiar faces up front, but return - at least to start the season - zero goaltenders and just one lone defenseman from last season: Vincent Desharnaris who played six games.

The NHL implemented a taxi squad of 4-6 players that stay with the NHL team this season. Most of those players would ordinarily be with their respective AHL teams.

But  this is no ordinary season. Especially for the Condors who are on an island so to speak.

With travel restrictions and quarantine requirements between the U.S. and Canada, it is difficult to move players between Bakersfield and Edmonton. That is not the case for the rest of the Pacific Division teams, whose NHL franchises are nearby, or right next door.

Case in point: Arthur Kaliyev played in a preseason game for the Ontario Reign on Sunday. On Tuesday he was with the LA Kings and scored his first NHL goal.

“That can’t happen for us,” said Condors General Manager Keith Gretzky. “It is the way it is. This is a different year. There is nothing you can do about it. The way we look at is the 20-some odd players that are here, are here.”

Just another pandemic wrinkle says Woodcroft.

“I think it’s the job of a coach at the American League level to coach the people in front of you,” he said. “Worry about the people in front of you.”

No doubt the strength of the Condors this season is at forward where prospects Ryan McLeod (second round pick in 2018), Tyler Benson (second round pick in 2016) and Cooper Marody (sixth round pick 2015) will be supplemented by the addition of new veterans Alan Quine, Adam Cracknell and Seth Griffith.

“I think our (general)  manager Keith Gretzky and the guys up in Edmonton with Ken Holland and his entire staff, they've given us a lot of tools to work with,” Woodcroft said. “There’s a lot of  experience up front. Those players are really good additions in terms of experience level, in terms of skill level. They will help guide some of our younger players up front.

“Those additions go alongside some of the key pieces we returned from last season as well. Guys like Brad Malone, Cooper Marody, Joseph Gambardella, Tyler Benson.”

Rookie Olivier Rodrigue, a second round draft pick in 2018 and son of Condors goaltending coach Sylvain, is the expected starter in net.

With Mike Smith injured, the Oilers have five goaltenders up there, including Stuart Skinner and Dylan Wells, both of whom are currently on the taxi squad and have played for Bakersfield in prior seasons. Skinner played in his first NHL game last Sunday and came away with the win (8-3) over Ottawa.

Defensively, the Condors are far different than the past couple of seasons when the likes of Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, William Lagesson and Evan Bouchard - now all with Edmonton - ate up lots of minutes (and put up lots of points) roaming the blueline.

“We’re quite proud of the fact that we graduated four players up the food chain who are on an NHL roster right now on the backend,” Woodcroft said. “We spent a lot of time with those young players.”

The current group of seven defensemen feature three rookies and two veterans. Just two of the seven (Theodor Lennstrom and Markus Niemelain) are on NHL contracts.

Veterans  Kevin Gravel and Ryan Stanton (who played for the Condors in 2017-018 and 2018-19) have been brought in to provide veteran leadership.

“We're excited about our (defense) group down here,” Woodcroft said. “We think we’re long, we think we have good defenders and we brought in good veterans to compliment these younger players.”

The key to success may be a simple as staying healthy and keeping Covid at bay.

“We laid it out there right from our opening meeting; Safety is our North Star,” Woodcroft said. “That’s what is going to guide our decision making, how we travel, how we behave at the rink, how we spend time at a hotel, how we eat our meals. Everything comes down to safety.”