September 07, 2011 7:00 AM
Note: This is the first in an 11-part series of oponnent previews leading to the start of the regular season on Oct. 7. Keep checking back for a new team every few days.
Head Coach: Jim Playfair
Record with Abbotsford: 77-61-9-13
2010-11 Season
| |
POS |
NAME |
H |
W |
DOB |
NAT |
| |
G |
Leland Irving |
6-1 |
176 |
4/11/88 |
CAN |
| |
G |
Joni Otto |
6-1 |
191 |
5/16/91 |
FIN |
| |
D |
Chris Breen |
6-7 |
224 |
6/29/89 |
CAN |
| |
D |
T.J. Brodie |
6-1 |
183 |
6/7/90 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Jordan Henry |
6-2 |
198 |
2/11/86 |
CAN |
| |
D |
John Negrin |
6-3 |
200 |
3/25/89 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Joe Piskula |
6-3 |
208 |
7/5/84 |
USA |
| |
D |
Derek Smith |
6-2 |
199 |
10/13/84 |
CAN |
| |
D |
Clay Wilson |
6-0 |
195 |
4/5/83 |
USA |
| |
LW |
Carter Bancks |
5-11 |
180 |
8/9/89 |
CAN |
| |
C |
Lance Bouma |
6-1 |
210 |
3/25/90 |
CAN |
| |
C |
Paul Byron |
5-9 |
170 |
4/27/89 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Bryan Cameron |
5-10 |
175 |
2/25/89 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Guillaume Desbiens |
6-3 |
216 |
4/20/85 |
CAN |
| |
C |
Ryley Grantham |
6-3 |
207 |
1/7/88 |
CAN |
| |
C |
Roman Horak |
6-1 |
160 |
5/21/91 |
CZE |
| |
LW |
Ryan Howse |
5-11 |
195 |
7/6/91 |
CAN |
| |
LW |
Quintin Laing |
6-2 |
200 |
6/8/79 |
CAN |
| |
LW |
Logan MacMillan |
6-2 |
189 |
7/5/89 |
CAN |
| |
LW |
Stefan Meyer |
6-2 |
195 |
7/20/85 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Greg Nemisz |
6-3 |
195 |
6/5/90 |
CAN |
| |
C |
Gaelan Patterson |
6-0 |
205 |
8/22/90 |
CAN |
| |
RW |
Jon Rheault |
5-11 |
200 |
8/1/86 |
USA |
| |
C |
Mitch Wahl |
6-0 |
200 |
1/22/90 |
USA |
| |
C |
Ben Walter |
6-0 |
185 |
5/11/84 |
CAN |
The Abbotsford Heat finished the 2010-11 season just a few points shy of clinching a playoff position in the Calder Cup Playoffs. In only their second season in the AHL, the Heat’s 86 points were four points short of their inaugural season’s 90 points, when they advanced to the second round in the postseason. The team’s roster scored the fewest goals of any AHL team (196), but balanced the lack of offense with sound goaltending that allowed the seventh fewest goals in the AHL (212). However, in the offseason, Abbotsford acquired several snipers to spur point production, while retaining several key roster pieces from 2010-11.
One of the biggest marquees from last season was the shutdown performance in the crease by netminder Leland Irving. The third-year goaltender ranked first in the AHL in shutouts (8) and minutes (3437), second in wins (30), fifth in saves (1518) and 10th in goals against average (2.30). Irving, who will be returning for the 2011-12 season, played a crucial role in helping Abbotsford post low defensive numbers. On the other end of the ice, the Heat will be looking to offensive-minded defenseman T.J. Brodie, who led the team in assists as a rookie last season. Brodie’s 34 points ranked him third in scoring on Abbotsford, and fourth in among all AHL rookie defensemen.
To offset the low scoring from the 2010-11 season, Abbotsford inked two WHL standouts in Roman Horak and Ryan Howse. Both forwards skated for the Chilliwack Bruins last season, and scored over 70 points in 64 and 70 games, respectively. Howse, the 20-year-old left winger, finished second among all WHL skaters in goals (51), and 16th in total points (83). Skating with Howse on the Bruins, Roman Horak, totaled 78 points (26g, 52a) during the regular season, and added a goal and two assists in five playoff games.
Also expected to make his debut with the Heat this season is AHL veteran defenseman Clay Wilson. Wilson, a scoring defenseman much like Brodie, has notched 108 points (26g, 82a) in his previous two seasons in the AHL. Abbotsford will be looking for point production from these three signees to complement last season’s goaltending and find a way back into the playoffs.
Roster Notes
Returning Leaders:
• (D) T.J. Brodie - Scored 34 points (5g, 29a) in 68 games. Led Heat defensemen in scoring. Ranked second among Heat skaters in assists. Added two power-play goals.
• (G) Leland Irving - Posted a 30-24-2 record with a 2.30 GAA and .913 SV%. Ranked first in AHL in shutouts (8) and minutes (3,437).
Key Losses:
• (C) Matt Keith - Scored 35 points (20g, 15a) in 77 games. Led all Heat skaters in points, goals, PPG (5) and SOG (216). Only 20-goal scorer on Heat.
• (D) Keith Seabrook - Scored 20 points (4g, 16a) in 48 games. Added a goal and two assists in 15 games with MTB. Whistled for only 26 PIM in 63 games.
• (W) Ales Kotalik - NHL veteran who scored 22 points (6g, 16a) in 25 games with Abbotsford last season traded to Buffalo Sabres on June 25, 2011.
Key Additions:
• (LW) Ryan Howse - Scored 83 points (51g, 32a) in 70 games with WHL Chilliwack Bruins. Ranked second among WHL skaters in goals. Added one goal in five playoff games.
• (D) Clay Wilson - Scored 48 points (12g, 36a) in 66 games with RCH. Totaled 108 points (26g, 82a) in previous two AHL seasons. Notched five points (3g, 2a) in 15 NHL games with FLA last season.
History
| |
ABBOTSFORD |
| |
Established |
2009-10 |
| |
All-Time record |
77-61-9-13 |
| |
2010-11 Record |
38-32-4-6 (4th North) |
| |
2010-11 Playoffs |
N/A |
| |
Calder Cup championships |
0 |
| |
Division championships |
0 |
| |
Conference championships |
0 |
| |
Regular season points championships |
0 |
| |
|
|
| |
VS. CHARLOTTE |
| |
2010-11 |
N/A |
| |
All-time |
N/A |
The Abbotsford Heat hockey club is currently the top AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames. The club is the westernmost city in the AHL, and the only AHL team west of the Central Time Zone. Originally the Maine Mariners, the franchise has been associated with the AHL since 1977.
The franchise played 10 years as the Mariners, posting 80-points-or-more seasons eight out of 10 seasons. The Mariners captured the AHL championship in back-to-back seasons from 1977-79, and added a third title in 1984, becoming one of only four AHL teams to win the Calder Cup with a losing record during the regular season. From 1987-1993, the franchise operated as the Utica Devils and the AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. Under this affiliation, the team was unable to advance past the first round of the playoffs, and experienced losing seasons three of the six years in Utica.
In 1993, the Calgary Flames purchased the Devils, and relocated the team to Saint John, New Brunswick. In Saint John, the Flames won the 2001 Calder Cup championship under leadership of current Heat head coach, Jim Playfair. Again, in 2005, the team was reestablished, this time to Omaha Nebraska as the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. The Ak-Sar-Ben, which is “Nebraska” spelled backwards, was also the name of the arena of the original Omaha Knights.
After two seasons in Omaha, the Flames relocated their AHL franchise to the Quad Cities in 2007. The team was owned by QC Sports Ventures INC, an ownership group based out of the Quad Cities. They became the third team to attempt to place an AHL team in the Quad Cities, joining San Jose and Edmonton. In 2009, QC Sports Ventures ended their agreement with the franchise, and the Flames relocated their affiliate to Abbotsford, British Columbia. The team hosted a “Name the Team” contest, on May 14, 2009, announced the team as the Abbotsford Heat.
Abbotsford and Charlotte will square off four times in 2011-12, with each team hosting two games in its home arena. Charlotte did not play Abbotsford in its inaugural season.
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