Condra serving to lead Avs prospects to subsequent stage | TheAHL.com

by Scott MacDonald | AHL On The BeatErik Condra isn’t any stranger to being a frontrunner within the locker room. A veteran of over 350 video games within the NHL and almost 300 extra within the American Hockey League, Condra has been doing it for fairly a while now.It’s one of many causes he finds himself in Colorado.In the beginning of the season, the 33-year-old ahead was named an alternate captain of the Eagles. It’s a well-recognized place for Condra, who has now worn captaincy letters with every of his final three AHL organizations. He wore the “C” with the Syracuse Crunch for 2 seasons, earlier than adorning the “A” on his chest with the Texas Stars final 12 months.He’s every part you’d need in a frontrunner, and it’s one of many the reason why Colorado sought his companies in the course of the offseason. With a crew whose common age is roughly 24, having that kind of veteran presence could make a world of distinction to the event of the youth on the crew.“I believe once we look again to what Joe (Sakic), Chris (McFarland) and myself needed to construct by way of the personnel right here, we needed to ensure we surrounded our prospects with good character gamers,” stated Eagles normal supervisor and Colorado Avalanche assistant GM Craig Billington. “That is available in totally different seems to be and likes, ahead and protection, however it additionally is available in gamers which have expertise.“You take a look at a man like Erik, he’s worn a letter, gained championships. He’s an actual good man for our youth to be round, and man that may additionally assist us win hockey video games right here. He’s are available and finished an actual good job for us.”Condra has are available and made a right away impression on the younger gamers within the locker room already. Beginning up prime along with his head coach and all through the lineup, from his fellow forwards to the fellows on protection, everybody’s been impressed with the character and management he’s introduced with him to Loveland.“To begin with, he’s a consummate skilled,” stated second-year Eagles head coach Greg Cronin. “He’s clearly very mature, nice function mannequin off the ice [and] he’s a presence on the ice. He’s calm, he’s obtained a coach-like mentality. He can exit on any line or on the ability play and speak to the fellows from another view. He’s good about it, he’s not edgy about it; he’s not conceited, he’s very humble. He’s terrific.”When requested about what management seems to be prefer to him, Condra stated it’s actually all about integrity.“I believe all the time doing the appropriate issues,” he stated of his management type. “You already know you possibly can’t lead in case you’re not doing them your self. Nobody’s going to hearken to you, nobody’s going to concentrate in case you’re not doing the appropriate issues. After which having conversations, simply attending to know individuals. You already know the extra you get to know them, the extra belief you construct.”Condra added that he lends loads of expertise to the crew and he hopes that he can assist the youthful guys on the roster in any method that he can whereas he’s right here.“I’ve been by the highs and the lows. It typically could be a grind within the AHL and typically you don’t see a lightweight on the finish of the tunnel, however there’s all the time that gentle —- I’ve seen it. I’ve seen the darkness and I’ve seen the sunshine. There’s numerous guys that may make it and numerous guys which have the identical talent set, however being a professional every single day and taking good care of your self and your physique and your teammates, individuals see that. In the event you do these little issues every single day, hopefully you begin to rub off on a few of the guys and assist a few of these guys get to the NHL.”A type of guys he’s been rubbing off on is fellow Eagles ahead and Avalanche prospect A.J. Greer, who has been skating on a line with Condra within the early elements of the season.“He’s an excellent man, everybody loves him right here. He’s in all probability the most effective vets I’ve performed with in my 4 years [as a] professional,” Greer stated of Condra. “He takes care of everybody, makes certain that everybody’s good. He’s actually a man that’s comfy in each state of affairs. You already know, he’ll enable you to out on and off the ice. He’s a man that works actually laborious in follow and by no means provides up and type of units a typical for us younger guys.”Regardless of taking part in a unique place, first-year professional defenseman Conor Timmins agrees that the altruistic vet has been a serving to hand on and off the ice.“Clearly he’s been round for a very long time. He performed numerous NHL video games and he’s only a good man within the [locker] room,” Timmins stated of Condra. “He’s man to go to for something whether or not it’s off ice or simply little tips about ice. He’s simply actually been useful.”For Condra, he’s excited to hitch a gifted younger crew and take the following step in his profession in Colorado.“You see the talent — they’re unbelievable gamers — after which the younger guys that we have now right here within the group, they’ve finished job of stockpiling the cabinets,” Condra stated of becoming a member of the Eagles. “They’re quick, they will play and I’m enthusiastic about this 12 months.”Because the solar begins to set on the horizon of Condra’s profession, he’s much less frightened about statistics and setting data than he’s about settling down and discovering the appropriate spot for him at this stage of his life and hockey profession. It’s secure to say that he’s actually discovered a match within the Eagles’ locker room, and in a broader since, he’s discovered a good higher slot in Colorado.“I believe as I’m getting older, I’ve a household and I wish to be an excellent spot for my household in addition to myself. I’ve heard nothing however good issues about Colorado, Fort Collins and Loveland and the Colorado Eagles followers and group. That was one of many the reason why I picked right here. I needed to be in a great place, metropolis and this was excessive on my listing.”