Barracuda Bytes: NBA Then AHL
Aug 12, 2015What’s the good word Barracuda fans!? Eric Lindquist (PR and radio voice of the Barracuda) checking in to provide you with an inside scoop on everything Barracuda and whatever else I find interesting! We are less than two months from the Barracuda home opener at the SAP Center on Oct 9 and we are getting ready to rock!
AHL Schedule… The NBA is announcing their schedule today (August 12), which is great news for us Barracuda fans. The AHL can’t start working on the AHL schedule until they have the dates from all of the NBA teams that share buildings with AHL teams (San Antonio, Milwaukee, and Lake Erie). Now with the NBA schedule out, expect the Barracuda schedule within the next 2-3 weeks. The wait is almost over!
Barracuda Training Camp… I had a conference call with the Barracuda hockey staff last week to finalize plans for training camp at Sharks Ice at San Jose. We are looking to start camp the last week of September (we will release full schedule when finalized). AHL camp generally runs only a week or so because the majority of the player attending will have already been in camp for some time (rookie camp and then NHL camp). Make sure to check out my twitter feed @BarracudaVoice for weekly pics from the new Barracuda training facilities at Sharks Ice at San Jose.
AHL Logo Rankings… Our friends over at The Hockey News began a ranking of all 30 AHL logos on Monday starting with the 30th ranked logo (sorry Albany) and will countdown to the #1 logo with a logo released each day. Check out the thread by clicking HERE. Any guesses where the Barracuda logo will end up? I may/may not have a little side bet going with crew at the Bakersfield Condors on whether or not the Barracuda logo has a higher ranking than the Condors – time will tell!
Did You Know?... Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer is the longest tenured coach in the AHL as he will enter his 18th season behind the bench for the San Jose Sharks top affiliate in the AHL. Coach Sommer is an Oakland native and needs just 20 wins (he currently has 617 wins) to become the all-time winningest coach in the 80 year history of the AHL (Fred “Bun” Cook has 636 wins). Roy has coached an AHL record 1,344 games in the AHL and enters his 20th season in the Sharks organization.
Holy Reuben… I discovered “Freshly Baked” last week on 3rd Street in downtown San Jose (stick tap to Ben Guerrero from the SJ Sharks PR department for the lead) and had a killer reuben. This place bakes their own bread, is only open for lunch (or until they run out of their freshly baked bread), and only takes cash… my kind of place! Get the reuben on the freshly baked bread (they do have dark rye – but not baked there) with all the toppings… this place does not mess around – thank me later!
Possible Barracuda players (repeat from last week – no additions)... Any player on a two-way NHL/AHL contract with the San Jose Sharks or any player on an AHL contract (for example, Parkes and Young) is eligible to play for the Barracuda. This does not mean that they will necessarily play for the Barracuda. Players on one-way NHL contracts would have to clear waivers before playing with the Barracuda; unless it is on a conditioning assignment – like Mirco Mueller, James Sheppard, and Tyler Kennedy last season.
Here is a list of players that are currently under two-way NHL/AHL contracts or AHL contracts for the upcoming season: (in no particular order…I am just going to rattle them off!)
Forwards: Bryan Lerg, Micheal Haley, Chris Tierney, Barclay Goodrow, Trevor Parkes, Petter Emanuelsson, Nikolay Goldobin, Nikita Jevpalovs, Ryan Carpenter, Joonas Donskoi, Daniel Doremus, Jeremy Langlois, Tomas Hertl, Chris Crane, and John McCarthy.
Defensemen: Gus Young, Karl Stollery, Dylan Demelo, Joakim Ryan, Julius Bergman, Mark Cundari, Mirco Mueller, Patrick McNally.
Goalies: Troy Grosenick, Aaron Dell, and Joel Rumpel.
A good mix of these players will suit up for the Barracuda at some point this season! Barracuda fans can expect a few more signings before the start of training camp in mid-September – I will keep you posted!
Just a reminder… We don't have a schedule yet (it won’t be released until late August) but the AHL allows each team to release six guaranteed home dates before the actual schedule comes out. Five of the six dates for the Barracuda will also serve as Sharks/Barracuda doubleheaders at the SAP Center (can’t wait for those!). Check out the six dates below with some exciting promotions attached to them.
Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 – Opening Night at SAP Center
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015 – Movember for Men’s Health Awareness (Sharks doubleheader)
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 – Ugly Sweater Day (Sharks doubleheader)
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016 – Bobblehead giveaway (Sharks doubleheader)
Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 – Pink in the Rink (Sharks doubleheader)
Saturday, Mar. 26, 2016 – Beach Towel giveaway (Sharks doubleheader)
Please note that there will be separate admission (you will need two tickets) to the Sharks and Barracuda games on doubleheader days.
Tickets… The Barracuda ticket staff have been working hard all summer selling full and half season tickets and are now offering group seats for our six guaranteed dates. Individual tickets will not go on sale until after our schedule is released in late August. Give our crew a call at 408-287-7070 for more ticket info.
Questions?... If you guys have any questions about the Barracuda, AHL, or anything else… Shoot me an email at barracudavoice@sjbarracuda.com and I will make sure to have you covered in the next Barracuda Bytes!
Until next time Barracuda Fans…. See Ya!