Today is the day Firebirds fans have been waiting for as the Coachella Valley Firebirds return to the ice for the first time since Game 7 of the Calder Cup Final on June 21 when they host the Bakersfield Condors at 7 p.m. Festivities will include a red carpet arrival by the players outside Acrisure Arena, a banner ceremony, and, of course, game one of the 2023-24 season. Follow along live tonight as the Coachella Valley Firebirds kickstart the 2023-24 season in the home opener against the Bakersfield Condors.
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Firebirds lose opener: Bakersfield 3, Coachella Valley 2
The Firebirds had Acrisure Arena rocking in the third period when they scored two quick goals to tie the game.
First it was newcomer Cale Fleury and then seconds later Kole Lind tied the game. Coachella Valley continued the momentum, peppering the goal, but they could never take the lead.
With less than two minutes to go, Bakersfield’s Noel Hoefenmayer whistled one past the Firebirds Chris Driedger to give the Condors the lead back at 3-2.
Coachella Valley pulled the goalie had a few final shots on goal, but couldn’t get the equalizer. Coachella Valley outshot Bakersfield 38-28 in the game but will start the season 0-1.
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-Shad Powers
Bakersfield Condors add to lead over Firebirds in second period
Coachella Valley played much better in the second period, peppering the goal, but Bakersfield’s Calvin Pickard has been stout in goal.
A late giveaway by Ville Petman led to a clean breakaway for the Condors late in the period. Firebirds goalie Chris Driedger made the initial save, but an easy rebound goal by James Hamblin doubled the Condors lead to 2-0.
The soldout crowd is waiting to explode at the Firebirds first goal of the 2023-24 season. Will it happen tonight
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-Shad Powers
First period sees Bakersfield goal, big fight
It was a sluggish first period for the Firebirds to open the season. In fact, the only thing that got the crowd fired up was one of the better fights we’ve seen at Acrisure Arena.
The Firebirds’ Jacob Melanson was called for a penalty sending Noel Hoefenmayer into the boards. Hoefenmayer got up and lunged at Melanson. Gloves dropped and the two went at it for about 10 seconds before they fell to the ice and were separated. As Melanson exited the rink (his penalty time was longer than the time remaining in the period so he just went to the locker room) he implored the crowd to roar and they did.
Seconds later, the roaring was silenced when Bakersfield scored the period’s only goal. Lane Pederson got loose and went in alone on Firebirds goalie Chris Driedger and scored over his right shoulder. Driedger played well in the period, stopping eight shots. The Condors outshot the Firebirds 9-8.
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-Shad Powers
Banner unfurled, puck drops on new season
A packed Acrisure Arena roared as the team was introduced one by one, followed by the unveiling of a Western Conference Champion banner. The banner, positioned to the left of the American Flag on the East side of the rink, commemorates last year’s trip to the Calder Cup final.
A nice touch during the pregame buildup was having a group of about 50 youth hockey Firebirds skating on the ice and holding a large American flag for the anthem. After all the pageantry the puck was finally dropped on the new season at 7:14 p.m.
The new season has begun.
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-Shad Powers
Four-legged fan
The return of the Firebirds also means the return of some of the Firebirds fans who have become popular at the arena, and that includes Rip.
Rip is the service dog of Nicole Letourneau, and they went to about 75 percent of the games last year and have season tickets this year. Nicole and Rip, a Rottweiler wearing a Firebirds jersey like always, are able to sit in an accessible section where Rip can lay on his Firebirds blanket. Nicole said he usually wears earphones to cut down on the noise when the action starts.
“Once we figured out that there would be room for him, we started coming and he loves it,” Letourneau said. “And, of course, everyone wants to take a picture of him because he usually wears orange Crocs, but it wasn’t too hot tonight so he’s not wearing them.”
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-Shad Powers
Firebirds fans are psyched for home opener
Indio resident Michael Aubry followed the Firebirds all last season, attending several games, including Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals inside Acrisure Arena. On Friday, he brought his father to his first game so that he could catch a glimpse of what the fuss was all about.
“I had to bring my dad to check this out,” Aubry said. “Sold out crowd, some new faces, and bunch of returning players from last season? Yeah, we wouldn’t miss this.”
Aubry said that he’s convinced his father will be a diehard Firebirds fan after tonight.
−Andrew John
Fashion and hockey arrive at Acrisure
Flanked by about 200 adoring fans, the Coachella Valley Firebirds players hopped off a bus Friday afternoon and entered Acrisure Arena through a winding red carpet.
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The event took place two and a half hours before the Firebirds begin the 2023-24 season at 7 p.m. against the Bakersfield Condors.
Fuego was first off the bus followed by the captain Max McCormick and assistant captains Andrew Poturalski and Gustav Olofsson.
The players were dressed in suits, some wore stylish hats, some had ties, some went the Don Johnson Miami Vice route. Newcomer Cale Fleury won my best-dressed award for his matching big-checked suit.
‑ Shad Powers
How do I get tickets to a Firebirds game?
Tickets for tonight’s home opener are all sold out, so if you don’t already have one, you’re too late.
However, the team does have two more home games in October. They host the Ontario Reign on Oct. 25 and the Abbotsford Canucks on Oct. 31 for a special Dia De Los Muertos night. In all, the team will have 36 regular-season home games. Check here for ticket info.
‑ Shad Powers
Western Conference champions banner
Fans are encouraged to get to their seats early on Friday night, because before the game against the Bakersfield Condors there will be a banner ceremony. The team will hang a banner as AHL Western Conference champions after last year’s remarkable run to the Calder Cup Final.
Rumor has it there may be other banners revealed, too. We’ll have to wait and see what those are all about.
‑ Shad Powers
Red-carpet arrival
Friday’s festivities will start at 4:30 p.m. with a red-carpet arrival of the players and coaches. Dressed in their suits, players and coaches will get off the team bus, and enter Acrisure Arena via a red carpet lined with cheering fans seeking selfies and high-fives. Fans are encouraged to be there to welcome the team home.
Following that, the patio, which now features the new team merchandise store, will open at 5 p.m. and the doors to the arena will open at 5:30 p.m. There will be live music, games, photo opportunities with Fuego, prizes and giveaways.
‑ Shad Powers
New gear:What’s in the new team merchandise store?
Source: https://t-tees.com
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