Who woulda thunk a kid from central Indiana, where basketball gets first billing for 364 days of the year -- the Indianapolis 500 has its one day -- would become a hockey fan. From working as public relations gopher with the Peoria Rivermen for a season, to covering numerous Charlotte Checker games to marrying a girl from Roseau, Minn.; hockey has grown on me. It's gotten to the point where my oldest son thinks we're going to a hockey game anytime we drive downtown.

But these past 2 weeks of talking with Condors beat guy Mike Griffith and listening to Condors media guru Kevin Bartl describe the talent on this year's team has me primed for the season to start tonight.

I'm excited about the Condors season, and I think the community should too.

For the first time since joining the ECHL, the Condors will have a roster full of NHL-caliber players. Sure they've had guys like Yutaka Fukufuji and Connor James earn a spot in the NHL. And Alexandre Bolduc has had a swig of Molson in the NHL but those were just one standout on rosters of "just keeping the dream alive" Double-A talent.

This year's roster is like a freshman sorority girl at an off-campus party -- LOADED.

Winger Shawn Weller, defensemen John de Gray and Eric Regan, along with goaltender Justin Pogge are proven commodities at the AHL level. Stu Bickell, MacGregor Sharp and newest Condor Dan Sexton excelled at the collegiate level. And we can't forget Pogge has seven games in net with the Toronto Maple Leafs. And then you have the Ducks' 2007 first-round pick Logan Macmillan, third-rounder Maxine Macenauer and goalie Timo Pielmeier joining the Ducks' organization after successful stints in juniors.

In a year, you might see a two or three former Condors playing with the big boys in Anaheim.

Better hop on the bandwagon while there's still room. I just grabbed four spots for myself and my family.