[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

For those who were asking about Breen, Dan Kinvig of the Abbotsford News did an article on him. He basically just confirms what we all knew was the case with Breen; that his play was quite poor through training camp and into the beginning of the season and now he's picked it up as of late.

Link: http://www.abbynews.com/sports/heat/138333789.html

Breen struggled at the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton in September, compounding matters by pulling his groin midway through the prospect showcase event. Then he fought the puck at Calgary Flames training camp, and was reassigned to the Heat without tasting so much as a single exhibition game.

In Abbotsford, he continued to flounder – he was scratched from the lineup twice in the first month of the regular season.

Breen has been looking more like himself lately, though. He’s been moving the puck with more confidence, and has reasserted his role as a key cog on the Heat’s terrific penalty-killing unit.

“It was weird,” he mused. “I don’t know why it happened, but it wasn’t the start I was looking for.

“I think it was maybe how things went in Penticton, and it just snowballed. Mentally, it was weighing on me, and after training camp I guess I got a little down on myself. But I just needed a little confidence to turn it around.”

“I’m playing a steady defensive game – making simple plays and simple passes, and seeing the game a lot better,” he analyzed. “The coaches stayed on me and helped me out, my teammates helped me out, and I’ve been able to turn things back around.”